Als Antwort Auf Gottes Ruf

This week's excerpt from Als Antwort Auf Gottes Ruf (In Response to God's Call, by Sister Anna Schwanz, translated by Sister Mary Perpetua Rehle, copyright 2016, Bonifatius) comes from the section entitled "The Second World War and the Destruction of the Motherhouse."

"The Nazi ideology had a disastrous effect on the old and the ill.  Whoever was not able to be absorbed into the workplace, 'was no longer of use to the national community.' He was considered useless and was treated accordingly.  Here a new need opened.  Many of the Sisters who had returned to the Motherhouse from their apostolates trained for nursing or studied to be caregivers, to be able to help these people.  So that the openness for social and caregiving activities would be more apparent than before, the Congregation for Religious in Rome permitted the expansion of Article 4 in the Constitutions:  'The Community will also undertake the administration of institutions and works of love for neighbor, which are suitable for the, especially care of the sick, activity in homes for the elderly, support of the poor, the blink, those at risk, the squalid, the mentally challenged, etc.'  The Sisters were convinced that in her ready openness to change and her willingness to address the needs of the times, Mother Pauline would have done the same."
. . .

"The most difficult war years were still to come: the Russian Campaign in 1941, the declaration of war on Japan by the United States and the resulting declaration of war on the United States by Germany.  'Thus almost the entire world was involved in destructive war.' The active mail correspondence from Germany with the General Superior, who was in North America, as well as the Sisters of both Provinces, was hampered."
. . .

"The Motherhouse and the Retreat House in Paderborn avoided seizure, when the Retreat House was repurposed as Maria Immaculata Reserve Military Hospital and was under military administration from May 1941 on.  The Sisters promised service as nurses and housekeepers.  By July 7, it was at capacity with 150 ill soldiers.  For the most part, they were not severely wounded.  Some suffered from eye injuries or from mental problems.  Several Red Cross workers supported the Sisters in their work.  All the soldiers' laundry was washed, ironed and mended in the Motherhouse, which also assumed responsibility for the meals at the doctors' center in the School for the Blind.  The soldiers felt comfortable, were grateful for the loving care, and helped with tasks as soon as they felt able.  They enjoyed the weekly visits from the hospital chaplain. . . . Thanks to this good spirit, one or the other Candidate who wanted to enter, could be received.  The management of the hospital requested her as temporary worker from the Employment Office and she could then, as a Postulant, work in the military hospital.

Additional military hospitals were established in the Minor Seminary, the Leokonvikt, the Priests' Seminary and the male residence in the School for the Blind.  In all of these, the Sisters assisted with the nursing and the housekeeping."

Reflection:  What do you find most interesting about this excerpt?  Perhaps you could share this with someone today.