Daring charity
From 1923 to 1939, his priestly ministry was exercised with an habitual discretion, in the most difficult of cases: in the midst of anarchists, Satanists, priests who had abandoned the priestly life...God alone knows the number of conversions of souls transformed by his gentleness, his patience and his strength.
| Mgr
Ghika is just above the Holy Father (at his left shoulder) |
The Martyr
Mgr Ghika founded a
"Fraternity of Saint John", which he installed in the Abbey of Auberive
in Haute-Marne in 1926. This religious family of priests, sisters and lay
people, encouraged and blessed by Pope Pius XI, animated by "the spirit of
St John", by the burning soul of its founder, developed rapidly. But unhappy
circumstances put an end to the community in just four years. Whatever his
supernatural qualities, the Prince was not a born organiser! This setback
was the heaviest burden the Prince had to bear in his entire life. World
War Two found him in Romania. With the permission of Cardinal Suhard, archbishop
of Paris, he stayed where he was to help alleviate the new physical and spiritual
misery which Providence had put in his way. The terrible bombardment of Bucharest
in 1944 showed his heroic devotion. Communism was installed in Romania
in 1948, and King Michael invited Mgr Ghika to follow him into exile in
Paris. But audaciously, Mgr Ghika continued to celebrate Mass publicly in
Bucharest, comforting, converting and baptising. In 1952, at 80 years of
age, he was arrested and disappeared into oblivion in the Julava prison.
He died a martyr on 17 May 1954. The procedure for the Prince's beatification
is in train. Let us hope that it succeeds soon, and let us pray for this
intention. God alone knows the fruitfulness of the Cross accepted with love,
and the unexpected heritage devoted to Him alone...
