Was God present during the War? - Kara Pacewicz

Franciscan Center at Harmeze.

The first day I spent in Poland, Father Manfred came to lecture us on his knowledge about the Holocaust. As I stated in earlier blogs, Father Manfred’s lectures are incredible. He is very philosophical and has realistic and relatable facts and opinions. The first question that popped into my head during his lecture was, “Where do you think God was during the Holocaust?” Today Father.

Manfred dedicated his entire lecture to God and if he was present during the War.

There is one idea that Father Manfred talked to us about that really helped me understand my beliefs and my thoughts on where God exactly was during the Holocaust. He told us that he talked to another survivor, and asked him where God was and his thoughts about the topic. The survivor answered back, “What about God? Of course we called and cried out, but it isn’t God who should save us but other people.” As Father Manfred said this, I sat and thought for a few seconds. I have been searching and searching for an answer on to where God was during the War, and what my beliefs were, and this simple sentence answered it all.

God loves each and every one of us; no matter our actions he will forever love you. God is one that we must never loose faith and hope in. We should love God with all our heart and all our ability. Some may believe that during the War, God was unfaithful to us, and some may ask the question, if he loves us then why let this happen? If we believe God isn’t being faithful that does not mean in any way that we should stop being faithful. God works in his own ways, just because you may loose hope for a little, it does not mean loosing faith is acceptable.

During the War the prisoners were crying and upset, they cried to God and prayed everything would end. God was also crying, he was crying from above because of what was happening to the ones he loved on earth. God isn’t one who wants to be seen crying, says Father Manfred. If we cry to God and show him anger, that will hurt him and make him more upset. Crying means care and love, and God will forever care and love.

Father Manfred’s lecture today gave me hope in where God was during the War. God was always there, he was always looking down, and he was always helping. God was also suffering, he was suffering from up above because those he loved were being tortured and loved, and the bystanders who he also loves, were not doing much to help. God had to wait and watch from above until Liberation occurred on January 27^th, 1945 in Auschwitz. 

Father Manfred signing my book that he wrote, "And Your Conscience Haunted You."