The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-20

period Of persecution was the brutal
attack on the village church Of
Kraziai, in 1893. The Russians one
day made a surprise attack upon
this little church, where Lithu-
anians had gathered, keeping vigil
day and night, singing hymns, to
ward OF enemy attacks and to pre-
vent dissertation. The Faithful did
not desert the church, even when
the Tsarist Governor Of the district
and his mounted soldiers entered
the sacred edifice and trampled to
death those who stayed in the path
Of the horses.
.Only toward 1904, after years Of
suffering, did Russia relent sorne-
what and grant the Lithuanian peo-
pie some degree Of freedom Of wor-
ship and the right to read their
own language. This year marked
q new revival Of the Church IN
Lithuania.
In 1914, when hostilities between
Russia and Germany broke out,
Lithuania became q bloody theater
Of war, and was subject to double
devastation, first by the retreating
Russians and then by the pursuing
Germans.
The most recent storm and trial
to beset the Church in Lithuania
began in June, 1910, with the So
Wet invasion Of Lithuaaia which,
in relay fashion, has been taken
up by the Nad oppressors.
Red Camouflage
The Red drive, though supposedly
launched on political grounds, again
struck flendishly at the Catholic
Church. Immediately a net was
thrown out to round up leaders and
persons exercising influence IN
Catholic circles of Lithuania. Many
Of these were imprisoned, many
executed for resistance. Relatively
few escaped to carry on activities.
Church property was confiscated;
churches, monasterieS, SeminarieS,
parish and episcopal residences
were converted into barracks. thea
ters, public halls and goddess mu-
seums. Bishops were ousted from
their residences, nuns forbidden to
wear their garb, and forced to re-
turn to the world. Even the
Apostolic Delegates home was
seized and occupied. Laws recog-
nizing only civil marriage were in
troduced. For the first time in the
history of Lithuania, divorce was
introduced and made easy. The
Catholic press was restaffed. ana
Catholic publications gave way to
Communistic periodicals. An eS-
timated 10000 Lithuanians were
ruthlessly Snatched away Ike
beasts, stuffed into box-cars and
shipped of to the wild stretches OF
Siberia.
In June, 1871, when the Reds re-
luctantly conceded Lithuania to the
Nazi conquerors, the condition OF
the Church remained basically I'M
changed. The Nazis left things the
way they found them, except that
they continued to snuff out Catho-
lie influence. In spite of censor
ship, reports from roundabout
sources reaching this country tell
how the Nazis suppress Catholic
organizations, interfere with the
clergy's ministerial work, purposely
time working hours so that the
FAITHFUL will be prevented from at
tending services. However. Lithu-
anian Bishops. Notwithstanding
danger to themselves, are voiclng
their protests against Nazt interior
ence In matters pertaining TO re.
llgion, especially against the brutal
Nazl attempts 10 exterminate the
remaining Jews In Lithuania.
On Calvary
Llthuania Is again ascending CAL
vary. As II making amends Tor
having been the last OF the Euro
pean nations 10 embrace the Falth,
she Is resolved 10 resist, ~ what
ever cost. any attempt 10 wrench
that Faith away from her. A ma
ton which, under Gods guiding
hand, was the barrier which IN tie
fourteenth century stopped the M
vadlng Tartar h0rdes from over.
running Europe, which did not sue
euinb 10 Professionalism and We
batteries Of Orthodox Pr0.elavlsln,
Will know how 70 gather heT
aireneth for The present stlnsKle, \
nail0n which arose from the ruins
iaft by overcoming AeHTeeeoIn y VIC
lasl war, and in Z period o. . llftie
ever twenty yeaTg built np = com.
toy u pfaceslorlng, cultured hlla