In 1901, the closing of all convents and the expulsion of religious began in France. It was in that year that the following incident occurred in Reims, recounted by Cardinal Langenieux, archbishop of that city. In Reims there was, among others, a hospital that sheltered only patients afflicted with contagious diseases, who could find nowhere else any nurse willing to care for them.
In such hospitals, only the Sisters of Charity usually tend the sick, and that was the reason why the religious of that house had not yet been expelled.
One day, however, a group of municipal councilors arrived at the hospital, telling the Superior that they needed to visit all the wards and rooms of the institution, because they had to send a report to the Government. The Superior attentively led those gentlemen to the first ward, where there were patients whose faces were eaten away by cancer. The councilors made a hurried visit, their expressions clearly showing how repugnant they found it to remain there.
They then passed to the second ward; but there they encountered patients afflicted with worse diseases, and were forced at once to take out their handkerchiefs, for they could not bear the stench.
With hurried steps they went through the other wards, and when they left the hospital those men were pale and visibly moved.
One of them, as he took leave, asked the Sister who had accompanied them:
— How many years have you worked here?
— Sir, it has been forty years.
— Forty years! exclaimed another in astonishment. Where do you draw such courage?
— From the Holy Communion that I receive daily, replied the Superior. And I tell you, gentlemen, that on the day when the Most Blessed Sacrament ceases to be here, no one will have the strength to remain in this house.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário