To read a story about Father McGrath, please visit: www.tmmoreau.com/mcgrath.html
McGRATH MEMOIR NOW AVAILABLE!!!!
You can purchase "Perseverance Through Faith: A Priest's Prison Story"
FROM WWW.AMAZON.COM:
paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Through-Faith-Father-McGrath/dp/1436369274...
hardcover: http://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Through-Faith-Father-McGrath/dp/1436369282...
And shipping is FREE!! Just remember to choose and click on FREE Super Saver Shipping at checkout before you submit payment.
Visit Columban Fathers Blog: http://columbanmissionlife.blogspot.com/2008/10/perseverance-through-faith-pr...
Video is from "Missionaries of the People." To learn more about Columban missionaries, visit the Missionary Society of St. Columban's website at www.columban.org.
FATHER W. AEDAN McGRATH AND THE LEGION OF MARY
By Theresa Marie Moreau, researcher and editor of "A Prisoner's Story: The Memoirs of Father W. Aedan McGrath"
A single ring from the doorbell echoed through the rectory on Rue Maresca, home to the Missionary Society of St. Columban priests quartered in Shanghai.
It was around 11:30 p.m., on the night of September 6, 1951.
With a big smile on his face, the Rev. Fr. Malachy Murphy answered the door, expecting friends from Huchow to be on the other side.
Instead, he found eleven police officers, all wearing white caps and drab green uniforms, standing dour-faced on the front steps.
Stationed around the perimeter of the three-story rectory, dozens and dozens of soldiers from the People's Liberation Army stood watch. Their job: to make certain no one escaped the rectory. Murphy alerted his superior, the Rev. Fr. Edward MacElroy, who promptly greeted his unwelcome guests.
"We want the names of everyone here," one of the officers demanded of MacElroy, who methodically ran down the litany of resident priests, finally coming to the Rev. Fr. William Aedan McGrath.
"That's the one we want," an officer blurted. "He's being arrested on suspicion."
"On suspicion of what?" MacElroy interrupted.
"Read tomorrow's paper," taunted the officer, as he and the others pushed their way inside and advanced upstairs to the second floor, on reconnaissance for Communist enemy McGrath (pronounced mc-GRAW), spiritual director of China's Legion of Mary, a Roman Catholic laity-based organization founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921.
For two hours, the authorities searched McGrath's room, with its bed, night stand, a book of Gospels and a copy of Thomas à Kempis' "My Imitation of Christ." They found nothing. Nonetheless, the officers arrested the priest, pushed him into the hallway, sealed the door to his bedroom to limit access, then escorted him downstairs, where he kneeled before MacElroy for absolution.
On his way out, McGrath happened to look at his watch. It was 1 a.m.
It's now September 7, the vigil of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foundation day of the Legion of Mary, he thought to himself, chuckling. The Communists have selected a good day, today...
...After two years and eight months, guards entered McGrath's cell and dragged him out. He had just finished making his third novena to St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, author of "True Devotion to Mary."
"You are going to be executed," guards taunted him.
McGrath was brought before a tribunal. He had never once seen a lawyer the entire thirty-two months he spent in Ward Road Prison.
"Do not talk," they warned, then read out his "crimes" of "disrupting the youth of China." Nonetheless, they ordered his release, adding a final caution: "Leave this country and never come back."
It would be his last day of imprisonment and his first of freedom.
"What's the date today?" McGrath asked someone nearby.
"April 28, 1954," was the reply.
April 28, the unofficial feast day of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort.
.
.
.
TO READ THE ENTIRE STORY OF FATHER McGRATH, GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE:
tmmoreau.com/mcgrath.html
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
catholique clandestine olympics chine chinois eglise persecuted underground roman catholic church communist china jesus christus messias gott christ christentum bibel evangelium papst kirche katholisch evangelisch deutsch pierre vogel satan lucifer teufel katholik katholizismus exorzismus exorzist teufelsaustreubung vatican pope benedict xvi rome holy see motu propio beijing reds regime mao zedong pius xii
Loading...
My this is my friend's great uncle, thats insane
fakingmyownsuicide 2 years ago
Father Aedan McGrath, pray for us!
CJKpi 2 years ago
I too would love to see more video of Aedan McGrath. I always loved his tales of his life in China and the Philippines. He had the story of protecting locals during the rape of Nanking (Nanjing). There was the story of boat of pilgrims capsizing in the South China Sea! Someone must have some more video of him telling of his life! Please, if you have any post them.
Thanks,
Maria McGrath
bobsgals 2 years ago
Is there any more video of Aedan McGrath being interviewed? Would love to see it. thanks
donniemcgrath 2 years ago
It was no doubt in my mind the Holy Spirit in that bird. He did come in the form of a "dove" once some 2000 years ago. Amazing. Glory be to God and God rest the kind, gentle priestly soul of this dear man.
susiefromomaha 2 years ago
A friend gave me a copy of Fr. W. Aedan McGrath's posthumously published book, "Perseverance Through Faith." It is a remarkable. Pope John Paul II invited Fr. Aedan to say mass with him in 1980, at the Vatican. Both attributed their deep (and prolife) spirituality and love of Jesus living in Mary as keeping them "sane" under Chinese and Soviet persecution.
michiganois 2 years ago
Its important that people learn and become aware of what happened and how it affects the faith in the today's world.
alleric2000 3 years ago
Very touching and poignant. God bless Fr. Aedan. I wish I could post on my blog, but I see the embedding has been disabled.
susiefromomaha 3 years ago
When I think of the Catholic faith lived out in the face of a cynical, dehumanizing and arrogant world, THIS is the face of Christ that the Church reveals to the world--to those who have eyes to see. Peace and All Good+
michiganois 3 years ago
This is quite an uplifting little video. Fr Aidan seems very balanced considering what he went through. We must pray for the Chinese people.
boggerman07 3 years ago