George Matulaitis Journal

238 heart becomes filled with bitterness and rancor and he takes his hate with him when he leaves, wanting to get back at those who have become his enemies. March 28 In the afternoon I gave a retreat conference to the ladies on following Christ. Yesterday, the seminarian Gaspar Wo=od kiewicz, a nationally conscious Belorussian, served Mass. His complaints and opinions were much the same as those of other Belorussians. April 28 I have not written anything down in this notebook for a whole month because I had taken my notes out of the house and hidden them. I was afraid that if the Bolsheviks searched my house, they would be found and used for evil purposes. In general, I had given various papers and documents to certain trustworthy persons so they would take them away and hide them. Now I can only jot down some of the more important things as I recall them. This whole period was very stormy and turbulent. For me it was a time of sorrow and heartache, a time to strain the efforts of mind, will, and nerves to the utmost, and a time of fervent prayer as well. On March 30th at 5:30 in the morning, I heard the doorbell ring. The young brothers and Father Joseph were praying in the chapel, while I was in my room getting ready to go say Mass and give a sermon at the Charity Chapel at the request of the Worshippers of the Blessed Sacrament. I went down and answered the door myself. In the doorway I encountered the same Bolshevik who had once come to the house and demanded that I move out of my apartment. He now announced that the commissar who was supposed to occupy my quarters had returned from Moscow and was at the train station. He would soon be coming here with his friends—seven persons in two cars. I must make room for him immediately. I replied that the former Bolshevik order directing me to give up my living quarters in favor of the commissar has now been revoked by the housing agency. He replied that, since today was a holiday, the man in charge of the