Late Fr Ciszek |
A Reflection on the Life of Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ Polish-American Jesuit priest, a U.S. born native of Pennsylvania who
in 1941 was imprisoned unjustifiably for 23 years in several Soviet Russia Gulags, including the infamous Lubyanka prison,
until his release in 1963.
He authored two books about his experiences, "With God in Russia" -1964, "He Leadeth Me" -1973
detailing the grueling experience of his imprisonment and
providing remarkable insights into his own inner spiritual life and how that sustained him.
He died in 1984, and his cause for canonization is proceeding.
1939 - Sep 1 - Hitler invaded Poland followed quickly by the Russians.
1940 - Mar 15 - Crossed into Russia under the assumed identity of Wladimir Lipinski for 1500 mile train trip to Chusovoy in the Urals.
1940-41 - Worked as an unskilled logger.
1941 - Arrested as a Vatican spy and sent to Lubianka prison in Moscow, where he spent six years, most of which in solitary confinement.
1942 - Jul 26 - Signed a confession and found guilty of espionage. Remains in Lubianka four more years.
1946 - Sent by train 2500 miles to Krasnoyarsk then 20 days by boat to Norilsk in Siberia where he shoveled coal into freighters and then transferred to the coal mines for one year.
1947 - Transferred from mining coal to construction worker in an ore processing plant.
1953 - Oct - Sent to work in mines for two years.
1955 - Apr 22 - His 15 year hard-labor sentence is complete. Freed with restrictions to city of Norilsk. Writes to his sisters in USA.
1955 - Word reaches United States that he is still alive in Russia.
1958 - KBG instructs him to move to Krasnoyarsk where he establishes mission parishes.
1960 - KBG transfers him 100 miles south to Abakan. Works as auto mechanic for four more years.
1963 - Apr - Receive letter form sisters in USA.
1963 - Oct 12 - Returned to the U.S. in exchange for two soviet agents.
1963 - Oct 13 - Visits St. Michael's Russian Catholic Church in New York City.
Read more on the website:
imagesofheaven.org/Index/WalterCiszek.html
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