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September 18, 2006Sr. Leonella’s Victory - UPDATED:::SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATE:::
The Associated Press is confirming that Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, an Italian missionary sister of advanced years who spent her life in service to the poor in third world countries, was specifically targeted by her assassins. As she died, she forgave her killers. I cannot help thinking about the 16 Carmelites of Compiegne who were guillotined during the French Revolution, and of whom I wrote just two weeks ago. William Bush writes about them movingly in To Quell the Terror; he recounts how they went to their deaths singing hymns of praise to God, and how they forgave their executioner before they knelt beneath the blade, how they stated their desire to offer up their lives for and end to “the Terrors.” Bush notes that Robespierre was himself guillotined some ten days after their deaths, and with him went the worst of it. So, we have seen this before - over and over again, in fact - the blood of consecrated innocents being spilled and ultimately overcoming terror. We should not really be surprised to be seeing it again. Let us mourn Sr. Leonella, but let us also recognise the victory she has won. As a religious vowed to God, Sr. Leonella made a gift of her life, a gift freely given, and (as my son Buster noted here: If someone takes the Gift and spits on it or whatever - they’re only destroying what was given to them, they are destroying what is “theirs.” They don’t in any way destroy the Giver of the Gift, or lessen the Giver…OR the Gift. So they have no power over it, they can’t dominate it. All they can do is destroy themselves within themselves.” Absolutely correct. If Sr. Leonella was murdered by the radicals and fundamentalists of Islam, and there is some reason to think that is the case, given that she was killed in Somalia, where a cleric is calling for the death of the pope, then her assassins have begun the process of destroying themselves. Unless, as Sigmund Carl and Alfred write, Islam can come to grips with the concept of forgiveness.. If so, there might be hope for them. UPDATED: Me Monk has a translation of Benedict’s telegram of condolence re Sr. Leonella’s victory. It’s pretty interesting - you’ll want to go read it. UPDATE II: Sr. Leonella is laid to rest Roundup: http://theanchoressonline.com/2006/09/18/sr-leonellas-victory/trackback/ 9 Responses to “Sr. Leonella’s Victory - UPDATED” |
September 18th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Hmm. The forgiveness of a martyer, for the whole world to see! There’s no accident here folks, trust me. This is the widsom of God, as was Benedict’s lecture.
I want to also add that the Anchoress is the ONLY journalist to my knowledge that posted on the seriousness (this was a HUGE overlooked event) of the fox news journalists who were forced to conversion. This may be a good time for all to brush up on St. Paul and “spiritual warfare”, or, stayed turned to the Anchoress. She “gets it” more than anyone in this country. at least I think so!
Kia
September 18th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
As she died, she forgave her killers.
Is there any doubt as to which religion is the “religion of peace”?
September 18th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
[...] The Anchoress is discussing the martyrdom of Sister Leonella with a comprehensive round up of commentary. She points out that Sr. Leonella had offered up her life to God as a gift. Her son provides us with the quote for today: “If someone takes the Gift and spits on it or whatever - they’re only destroying what was given to them, they are destroying what is “theirs.” They don’t in any way destroy the Giver of the Gift, or lessen the Giver…OR the Gift. So they have no power over it, they can’t dominate it. All they can do is destroy themselves within themselves.” [...]
September 18th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Anchoress, what I don’t understand is why Pope Benedict XVI would have said the Muslims worship the only true God. They worship Allah and just by the teachings of Allah they are contradictory to the teachings of Jehovah. They are not the same and I wish he would correct himself on this grievous error.
September 18th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
No Apology Necessary, So Stop It Already
I’ve been quite disturbed over the recent events that have caused the Pope, who quoted a Byzantine Emperor, to apologize for his insinuation that Islam is a message of violence and not of peace. The fact is, he was right, and we all know it. He nee…
September 18th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Isn’t that Saint Leonella? Martyrs are automatic saints, right? No canonization process necessary, right?
September 18th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
There has to first be a consensus that she was martyred. That could take years.
September 18th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
The Pope’s Actual Speech
I noticed the other day that Willy got a mention in the Corner for his excellent discussion of the Pope’s speech. Well done, and well played; good points all.
Some other interesting links:
The Anchoress’ work is good as well, with many u…
October 13th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
[...] Make no mistake, the 21st century will see an expansion of the Christian martyrology. Much of it is going unseen, in places we never think about, but some of it is becoming known. The priest in Turkey killed over Danish cartoons which “insulted” the prophet, Muhammed. Sr. Leonella, killed in Somalia, possibly because of a speech by Pope Benedict which angered millions who never seemed to read the thing. Of course, she may not have died because of Benedict’s speech. The elderly nun already required the protection of bodyguards because cowardly people hated the fact that she worked to help the helpless. “I forgive, I forgive,” murmered Sr. Leonella, as she died. [...]