Charity, Not Revenge

“No one heals himself by wounding another.” St. Ambrose

Out of the blue, sometimes, ideas come to me for an article from some passing comment, a brief interaction with someone or from something I read. When I read about Pope Francis being brought to tears upon his trip to Albania and heard the testimony of Cardinal Ernest Simoni, I felt compelled to do research. Martyr is a difficult word to digest. Who would choose to be one? I am always fascinated by the Roman martyrs that Nero had put to death in brutal ways. June 30th passes through my mind often. I was in a café once, and the worker was Albanian and even told me the stories of what his parents experienced. Reading about Cardinal Simoni, who spent years in camps, being brutalized with torture – both physical and psychological and obviously spiritual – and survive is no small feat. Yet, after he was released, and the terrible regime fell, he preached in the countryside and hills in Albania. When the regime collapsed in 1991, Cardinal-designate Simoni returned to ministry by serving isolated mountain villages, urging Christians caught up in a cycle of revenge to let go of their hatred and embrace God’s love. It is easy to hate, to seek revenge and to want to hurt back. We are Catholics – we do not.

“The source of justice is not vengeance but charity.” St. Bridget of Sweden

St. Stephen, basically the first recorded martyr in the Church answered back to his accusers and told them how stubborn they were. They carried him away and stoned him to death while Stephen prayed for them. St. Rita of Cascia actively dissuaded her sons from carrying out a revenge kill to avenge their father’s death. St. Fulgentius of Ruspe was a sixth century bishop. He defended the faith to many people, and it was said that Boniface of Carthage wept openly when he would listen to Fulgentius preach. He defended the Filioque and any other Catholic doctrine that he thought  was necessary. When he was physically abused by an Arian Priest, he did not fight back. He was determined to leave justice to God.

“When you are angry with someone, the way to find peace is to pray for that person and ask God to reward him or her for making you suffer!” St. Therese of Lisieux

How often do we get angry? Bosses, family, friends and yes even the Church can frustrate us. But when we are wronged, we do not respond with the notion that we want others to suffer. Never. It is not easy to turn the other cheek as we have been taught. Forgiving someone for the hurt they have caused us is always a challenge. However, example after example in our faith teaches us to continually work and pray towards this great goal. I think about Cardinal Simoni in Albania, or Cardinal van Thuan who was imprisoned in Vietnam and any other person or saint who endured strife. They did it - probably with some doubt - they never surrendered. Cardinal Simoni was offered the temptation to deny his faith. He did not. Are we ready to endure? Do we have the courage to ask for help? Let us befriend Christ because he suffered for us. He still needs companionship - so do we.

“Anger is as a stone into a wasp’s nest.” St. Pope Paul VI