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During my homily on All Saints Day, I preached about the fact that we are all called to be saints. We do not become saints after we are dead. We are saints during our life…meeting the challenges of our day and using our God-given gifts and talents to DO God’s will!
There is much we can learn from Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, (1898-1963). A summary of his endeavors in Give Us This Day, the October edition, “While serving at the Vatican after the German occupation of Rome, O’Flaherty organized an ambitious network to rescue and shelter fugitives from the
Nazis—both Jews and Allied prisoners of war, many of whom had escaped following the collapse of Mussolini’s regime.
Operating under the noses of the Gestapo, O’Flaherty and the priests, nuns, and laypeople who assisted him set up safe havens throughout Rome, some of them in churches, monasteries, and private homes. Operating without official approval from his superiors, O’Flaherty showed such ingenuity in his clandestine activities that he became known as the “the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican.”
Though the Gestapo learned of his exploits, they were powerless to stop him as long as he remained on Vatican territory. The head of the Gestapo, Col. Kappler, had a white line painted at the opening of St. Peter’s Square, warning O’Flaherty that he would be killed if he crossed beyond it. It is estimated that over 4,000 Allied prisoners of war and an untold number of Jews were rescued in this way.
After the war, O’Flaherty received many honors. For many years, he regularly visited Col. Kappler in prison and eventually received him into the Church.”
Article from “Give Us this Day” Oct 2020 edition page 298
O'Flaherty was portrayed by Gregory Peck in the 1983 television film, The Scarlet and the Black. It is an awarding winning film worth watching. I highly recommend it to your entire family!
See: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086251/ has access to the movie on Prime Video.
http://msgrhughoflaherty.50webs.com/framesetHOF.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_O'Flaherty
During these days, with all the election uncertainty and political unrest, take the time to pray and be inspired by the life and times of a humble, altruistic, brave and tenacious servant of the Lord!
God Love you,
