Tibéhirine Martyrs Beatified
"Of
Gods and Men" is a 2010 French Film (with English subtitles), which (as
the DVD cover says) is "loosely based on the life of the Cistercian
[Trappist] monks of Tibéhirine in Algeria from 1993 until their kidnapping in
1996." As Islamist extremists arise and killings begin in the area, the
monks and villagers all are in fear. The monks, being French and therefore
foreigners, are particularly vulnerable. The moral question they face,
individually and as a community, is whether to go or to stay. There is no right
answer. It is a good versus good dilemma.
These
Trappist monks were not the only ones in danger. Any foreigner and any
Christian had the same danger, and many were killed. On December 8, 2018, the
Catholic Church beatified in Algeria a bishop, these seven Trappist monks (who
did stay and were martyred) and eleven other religious men and women killed by
extremists in Algeria in the 1990's.
These
Trappist monks were not the only ones in danger. Any foreigner and any
Christian had the same danger, and many were killed. On December 8, 2018, the
Catholic Church beatified in Algeria a bishop, these seven Trappist monks (who
did stay and were martyred) and eleven other religious men and women killed by
extremists in Algeria in the 1990's.
“Of Gods and
Men” is a powerful movie, definitely worth seeing. It tells the story of the
monks’ life there, the very pleasant life with their local Muslim neighbors
before the extremists, and then the atrocities. It also well portrays the inner
psychological and spiritual struggle, or peacefulness, of each monk as he makes
his decision whether to stay and likely be killed or leave and save his life.
One brother
in particular has an enormous struggle. In a pivotal scene he tells the Prior,
"Dying here, here and now, does it serve a purpose? I don't know. I feel
like I'm going mad."
The Prior
responds, "It's true that staying here is as mad as becoming a monk.
Remember, you've already given your life. You gave it by following Christ when
you decided to leave everything. Your life. Your family. Your country. The
family you could have raised."
We continue
to see this anxious brother continue his daily routine in the garden, at Mass,
chanting the Psalms ("O Lord, hear my prayer.... The enemy pursues my
soul." Ps 143:1-4). Then one evening for the first time we see him calm.
He writes: "You. You envelope me, hold me, surround me. You embrace me.
And I love You." Grace has come. He is at peace.
There is an
early scene where the old and sickly brother who is a doctor is asked by a
young village girl if he has ever been in love. He replies, "Several
times, yes. And then I encountered a love even greater. And I answered that
love. It's been a while now, over 60 years." We see from the start and
throughout the film that love is real for Br. Doctor. He is exhausted caring
for all the frightened villagers who come to him for medical help. In another
scene he is alone in a community room and goes over to a picture of Jesus being
scourged at the pillar and rests his hand and cheek against it lovingly,
remaining there in silence. In their last meal together before the monks are
kidnapped, it is Br. Doctor who, instead of doing the usual mealtime reading,
bring out two bottles of wine and inserts a cassette tape, and they listen to music
that night, not speaking (as is usual), but their hearts and emotions are
beautifully portrayed in their faces. It was as a “last supper” for them.
In scene
after scene we see each brother is making his journey of decision whether to
stay or go. What is beautiful about the filming is that the Liturgy and the
Psalms chanted in Chapel speak to their struggle every step of the way.
Eventually they all do decide to stay. The Prior articulates their decision
this way: “We found salvation in undertaking our daily tasks. The kitchen, the
garden, the prayers, the bells. Day after day. We had to resist the violence.
And day after day, I think each of us discovered that to which Jesus Christ
beckons us. It is to be born. Our identities go from one birth to another. And
from birth to birth we'll each end up bringing to the world the child of God
that we are. The incarnation for us is to allow the filial reality of Jesus to
embody itself in our humanity.” And this they did – to the cross.
Dibby Green
Originally published in the print edition of the Mojave Desert News on January 18, 2019.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Website: ollcalcity.org.