George Matulaitis Journal

43 properly here in Russia, who is to stop us from going to another country? If only we are really determined, we can find ourselves a spot somewhere—in Switzerland or America, for instance. If one road is blocked, why not look for another; if we cannot get in by one route, why not try a different one? If one door is locked, we can make ourselves another one. If one window is nailed shut, we can break open another one to let the light in. If they throw us out of one door, we can get back in by another one, even, by the back door if the greater glory of Christ and the good of His Church requires it. If they push us out of one window, we can climb back in through another one, if only we can let more light in and win everything for Christ and for His holy Church. October 26 If all sorts of pernicious organizations that anarchists, revolutionaries, and terrorists belong to manage to conceal themselves so well and continue to thrive and operate in secret, surely for the good of the Church and even for the good of that very same society from which we are forced to hide, we can find ourselves some secret nook and conceal ourselves from prying eyes? Surely we should be able to keep still about our plans and activities. The early Christians had to spend many years hiding underground in the catacombs, concealing themselves as best they could, and yet they continued to live and thrive, to work and organize their community—and very successfully and fruitfully. Are we not their children’s children? When the need arises, can we not follow in the footsteps of our holy forebears? They will help us with their prayers, their intercession, and protection. If only we had their courageous spirit! We need that spirit so badly today! In our day and age the Church is persecuted everywhere or, at the very least, her freedom to grow and minister to the faithful is sadly restricted. Many countries will not admit certain religious orders while others have expelled them 1 or will not allow them to receive candidates or to work in peace. What should we do, then? Should we renounce our vocation? Should we abandon the path God has shown us? 1 During the 19th century, most European countries had expelled the Jesuits at least once and some sev- eral times. Russia had protected them under Catherine II, but Alexander I drove them out in 1820. After the Polish-Lithuanian uprising in 1863, Alexander II cracked down on all religious communities in the Catholic countries under his rule.