"To the poorest daughter of Carmel,
honor speaks louder than fear."
Georges Bernanos, one of the greatest Catholic authors of the past centuries, died sixty years ago, in July 1948. One of his last works was the poignant play on one of the most majestic moments of the life of the Church: the martyrdom of the Carmelite sisters of Compiègne, in 1794, in the hands of the revolutionary French Republic.
Mother Marie: Sister Blanche...
First Commissary: I forbid you to continue...
Mother Marie: You have the power to force me to silence, but none to command me to it. I represent here the Reverend Mother Prioress and I shall take no orders from you.
A Commissary: Confounded old hag! She cannot be made to hold her tongue, fellow Citizen, but remind her that the Republic has a machine at its disposal that will leave her somewhat short of breath!
First Commissary: Enough! I repeat that you must behave as a true representative of the people! [He turns to Sister Blanche:] Young citizen, you have nothing to fear from us, who are your liberators! Say but one word, and you will find yourself beyond the sway of those who, to better put you in their power, have not feared to offend nature in usurping even the sacred name of "mother". Henceforth, you are under the protection of the Law.
Mother Marie: But first she is under my protection. Do you think I shall permit you to take any further advantage of the terror of a child? I shall take great care to avoid a language that you cannot understand. You know nothing of that which holds us here and keeps us united unto death - or, if once you knew it, it is now doubtless forgotten. But here are still perhaps words which are common to us, and which can touch your conscience. Well, sir, you must know that, to the poorest daughter of Carmel, honor speaks louder than fear.
Georges Bernanos
Dialogues des Carmélites
Dialogues des Carmélites
On the day following her feast, the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel would receive her dear French daughters, martyred for their faith in her Son and for their fidelity to His Church.
O glorious Martyrs of Compiègne, pray for us!
posted by New Catholic at 12:00 AM
6 Comments:
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Am finishing up a day of fasting on bread and water as Our Lady suggests.
Doing penance for my sins and yours dear brothers and sisters.
May the true testiment of faith shine forth and uncover the darkness of our stealthy enemy.
Deo Gratias.
Holy martys of Carmel pray for us.
- A Franciscan Brother
Omnes Sancti, quanta passi sunt tormenta, ut securi pervenirent ad palmam martyrii!
-Commune Plurimorum Martyrum,
Breviarium Romanum
O glorious Martyrs of Compiègne, pray for us!
May Our Lady of Mount Carmel inspire courage in all our hearts, especially our leaders', so that clarity and truth rule once more in our bosoms!
The vile revolutions of the last two (+) centuries have produced nothing but misery and the loss of Christian Faith. In every instance these so called liberal revolutions have produced blood baths and have populated heaven with holy martyrs.
Tomorrow is the feast of the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia ( http://tinyurl.com/6xu4jn )
Czar Martyr Nikolai II and all you Royal Martyrs of Russia pray for us!
ICXC NIKA
John
Je vous salue Marie,
Pleine de grâce,
Le Seigneur est avec Vous,
Vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes,
Et Jésus, le Fruit de vos entrailles est béni.
Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu,
Priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs,
Maintenant et à l'heure de notre mort,
Amen.
Thanks for this. The first story of a Catholic martyr that moved me personally was that of St. Margaret Clitherow, which I happened across unexpectedly in a book rack in a Catholic church in York, UK. Learning that her erstwhile home was to be found in the center of York in the famous Shambles district, I paid a visit there, as well as to the site along the river where she was pressed to her death by weights being placed upon her. Above all it was her simple faith and trust in God and commitment of her family and children to His care that was most amazing to me.
Here again, with these faithful women during the scourge of the French Revolution we encounter a similar amazing faith. Thank you for the reminder; and thank God for their faith.
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