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May 2010 - "The Shadow of His Wings" read by Matthew Arnold
Summary
Gereron Goldmann was a German seminarian who was drafted into the Nazi army with several other seminarians. He was moved up to the SS where he was requested to take an oath to Germany and to leave the Catholic Church. He refused and was sent back down to the lower ranks. He still desired to be a priest and came across a Sister he had known since he was a child. She informed him that she had been praying and making sacrifices for his Holy Orders for 20 years. Goldmann had a hard time believing it as he was being sent to Russia and hadn’t finished his studies yet.
Later, he was sent into battle and the enemy started firing, killing more than 400. Goldmann went to get a priest to give Communion and Confession to the dying. He had to ask the local bishop who allowed him to bring the Eucharist to his troops himself in light of the extreme circumstances. Later, Goldmann found himself in Rome but it was impossible to speak with the pope. He started to believe in what Sister had predicted would happen and eventually got an audience with the Holy Father to ask for Holy Orders. He met Pope Pius XII and mentioned Sister’s 20 year prayer vigil. The Holy Father gave him a note permitting the priesthood and he left.
Goldmann was then sent to the lines where an air attack injured many and he cared for the wounded. There was a path up a mountain to an abbey and Goldmann showed the note with the papal seal to the guards. He went to the church but it was empty except for a single monk. He showed him the note and he brought the archbishop out to see him. Goldmann requested him to ordain him a priest and the archbishop said he will ordain him at the tomb of St. Benedict. He went back down the mountain filled with joy and anticipation. A few hours later, the entire abbey was bombed because it was thought the Germans were being housed there. Goldmann had to run from the enemy but when he got back he was ordered to return to retrieve the wounded. His men abandoned him and he went to retrieve two captured men by himself. He and his men were then captured by the enemy. Goldmann noticed a cross on one of them, realized he was a priest, and told him he was a Franciscan. He showed him the note from the Holy Father and the priest asked who he was. They went to see the higher official and were sent to prison. The abbot took Gereron Goldmann ’s papers and his Holy Orders were to take place in spite of all the war and captivity. A French bishop was to ordain a German soldier. This was his proof that God answers the prayers of those who believe, the 20 years or prayers and supplication for this intention.
Later, he was in a Nazi stronghold and was forced to listen to an anti-Catholic talk. He then set up Mass with his 7 followers and hundreds watched. He started preaching a sermon every morning and had many listeners. Some of the Christians were beaten and Father Gereron Goldmann ’s room was ripped apart. Father Goldmann instructed them to pray the rosary and continue coming to Mass. Soon they began a small school of theology. Father Goldmann heard confessions for hours which infuriated the Nazi leaders. All were forbidden to listen to him during Lent. The Nazis then lost and the camp leader was removed. They began talk and construction of a chapel. Hundreds were attending daily Mass and many came to the Church.
They all had to join a work group in order to have food. He met a very holy Sister in solitude and told her he was thinking of going to an easier camp. She told him to leave but not before asking him who the biggest enemy of the Church was. Father Goldmann ended up meeting him one day and he asked him if he could go to confession. He made a public confession and finally received absolution and Holy Communion. Sister had taken the paper with this man’s name before the tabernacle and spent 6 hours every day for his conversion.
Then, French officers took Father Goldmann from the altar and hand-cuffed him. He was thrown in a cold cell naked. The next morning, a guarded car took him north. He was taken to court and was accused of many outrageous things. The Nazi camp had conspired against him and the judges told him he was to be executed. Before his execution, one of the Frenchmen asked him if he could go to confession. He was convinced of Father Gereron Goldmann ’s innocence but could not stop the execution. An order had come from Paris at that moment to reexamine the case, from the pope. That one confession stalled his execution enough to save his life.
Father Goldmann was then sent somewhere for punishment but a group of nuns stopped them on the way. He and his guards stayed there for a few days and then continued to the punishment camp. He was taken to the heavily guarded Nazi corner and thrown in the SS barracks. Father Goldmann spent 2 months in this prison but was then allowed to say Mass and go to confession. Shortly after, he was taken to a different barracks and was examined by the commander. Here he was permitted to say Mass for a while until it was discovered that he was innocent and released. He went to St. Therese’s tomb to thank her for her intercession.
Father Gereron Goldmann then had to complete his studies to continue preaching and hearing confessions. He took all of his class and passed all of his exams and was finally admitted to preach again. Despite obstacles and discouragement, the Church goes on and on, an unending thread weaving throughout all of humanity.
Scripture Readings
- n/a
Discussion/Study Questions
- If you were told to either renounce your Catholic faith or likely face execution, what would you do and why?
- How many similarities can you find between the life of Fr. Goldmann and our Lord Jesus?
- How hard is it too have trust in God when all of the earthly circumstances seem to point in the opposite direction? When in your life have you experienced something like this and how did you handle it?
Memorization
- n/a
Last Month’s Memorization
- Eph 5:21
- Eph 5:22
- Eph 5:25
Living Your Faith
- How did you put into practice what you learned from last month’s CD?
- What did this CD present that you can apply to your life this month?
- With whom can you share this CD or to whom will you give this CD that will benefit from hearing it?
