Monthly Spiritual Message, April 2008
By Fr Carl Schafer OFM
April 25: Anzac Day
A nation, like a man or woman, comes to maturity through pain. On April 25, 1915, units of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps went ashore at a little cove on the Dardanelles. Australia came of age in Anzac Cove.
A nation’s vitality is measured in struggles, sacrifices, and even tragedy. On this day, we remember, not only those who lost their lives at Gallipoli, but also those who died in France and Flanders, Palestine and Mesopotamia, the Western Desert, Syria, Greece, and Crete, in the skies above England and Europe, in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic; and those who died closer to home, off the coasts of Java, Timor, and in the Coral Sea, in New Britain and Bouganville, in Korea and Vietnam, recently in Afghanistan; in all theatres of war, in Europe, in the Middle East and in Asia, especially in Papua New Guinea.
In moments of tragedy, a nation has no time to reflect. Those who fell – our own fathers and brothers, your husbands and sons – some complainingly, some indifferently, some resignedly, and some heroically, all lost their lives for us. Whether they knew it or not, their vocation was self-sacrifice. They were called to save the land that they knew and loved.
They saved Australia for us, and for our future. That future is now.
Now, years later, when we remember those days, and the men and women who were sacrificed for us, we have time to think. Those who died bought us more time to reflect, to see ourselves clearly and the world around us, time to realise our calling.
There are Australians who see no special purpose for Australia. They don’t accept that God has any plan for us. Even if God exists, He has no interest in world affairs, they say. People are born, eke out an existence, and die, and all to no purpose. Self-sacrifice is insane; heroism is futile. Their grandfathers, fathers and brothers went looking for adventure. They found pain, and died.
People of faith see it differently. God loves us, and has plans for us. God loves those who threaten us. He has plans for them. God has brought us to maturity through tragedy and sacrifice, at a cost that was almost extreme. We count our northern neighbours in hundreds of millions, not Christian and even anti-Christian. But we, by the will of God, are a tiny, mainly Christian nation. Our service men and women fought to defend our freedom to be that way. We still survive as Christians.
I do not speak of destiny or fate. These are pagan ideas. I speak of God’s will and his calling us and keeping us. I believe that Australia has a vocation from God. We are Christ’s door to Asia. He stands at the door even now and knocks. Furthermore, Asia has come to us. Our door has been opened wide. We have a vocation from God also with regard to them.
North Africa was once intensely Christian. Sainted bishops graced those lands, St Augustine and St Cyprian among many others. Christian mothers bore children in prison. Fine soldiers laid down their lives for their country and their Christian faith. However, Christian North Africa died with them, many centuries ago. We do not want this to happen to Australia.
Rome was no sooner Christian than she was crushed by pagan hordes. But Rome brought her conquerors to the feet of Christ. Only the Christian faith survived those invasions, but Rome fulfilled her calling, and continues to do so by God’s grace. Surely, this is Australia’s vocation, to preserve the Christian faith for Asia and for Australia itself.
We pray for the survival of the land that we know and love, that Australians died for; not in vain, we trust. We pray for the survival of our Christian and Catholic faith and way of life.
In today’s Eucharist and in the two minutes’ silence observed this day, we pray for our fallen who could show no greater love than the sacrifice of their lives. And in the face of new threats, we pray for strength to fulfil our own calling. Let our response be humble and grateful, and courageous.
On Anzac Day, we are not out to glorify war. Our heroes are not the war-mongers. War spells the victory of hatred and inflicts maximum injury, mainly on innocent people. We pray today for all those, combatants and also non-combatants, who have lost their lives through the ravages of war, that our merciful Saviour will claim them as his own.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred let us sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.
Carl Schafer OFM
National Spiritual Assistant SFO – Oceania
