Abstract
He Leadeth Me is genuinely an extraordinary testament of faith that describes the life of Fr. Walter Ciszek S.J. Servant of God Father Ciszek was a Jesuit priest from Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. He entered his novitiate with the Society of Jesus in 1928 in Poughkeepsie, New York. During this time, Pope Pius XI appealed for priests to serve in Russia as missionaries. Father Ciszek answered this call to serve as a missionary in Russia, for which he was sent to Rome to study theology, Russian, and liturgy. He was ordained a priest in 1937 and appointed in 1938 to Eastern Poland. As the Soviets began their invasion of Poland in 1939, he joined the exiles leaving the country for safety in 1940 to cross the border traveling over 1,500 miles by train to the town of Chusovoy, which was part of the Soviet Union. As Fr. Ciszek writes, “I will never forget that feeling” of entering Russia. 1 “It was a mixture of natural elation at having reached a goal, coupled with a deep interior peace and joy.” 2 However, Fr. Ciszek, at the same time, realized he would be completely cut off from his family, his Jesuit community since he could not communicate with them any longer from Russia. 2 The situation, rather than bringing him down, is a realization. A spirituality emerges from this realization, which is a common thread throughout this book. “A strong realization rushed over me that I was not cut off from God, that he was with me, indeed that I was dependent only on him in a new and very real way”. 3 Fr. Ciszek soon also realized there is the possibility of having “no apostolate at all,” but he saw this as providence. 3 Throughout this time in Russia, he was serving the people of God who were with him in any way he could. He worked as a logger while prudentially performing religious ministry since religious ministry was banned under the Soviet Union. Fr. Ciszek beautifully explains the tension that arises when life doesn't meet our expectations and our response to this tension “It is the same temptation faced by everyone who has followed a call and found that the realities of life were nothing like the expectations.” 3 He goes on to say, “a person who has entered religious life with a burning desire to serve God…., only to find that the day to day life in religion is humdrum and pedestrian as filled with moments of human misunderstanding, daily routines”. 3
The book offers an essential lesson for us in medicine, where life can be the same. Getting caught up in making medicine task-oriented is easy—morning labs, rounds, discharges, and teaching students and residents. This is a temptation all of us face every day. We often ask ourselves, “Is this why I went through all these years of training ?”. We are tempted to be in this task-oriented and fixed mindset rather than see each day, each moment, as a moment given to us by God, as Fr. Ciszek teaches us. Fr. Ciszek goes on to write, “No man, no matter what his situation is ever without value, is ever useless in God's eyes. No situation is ever without its worth and purpose in God's providence,” 3 Fr. Ciszek lived this out when under the suspicion of being a spy for the Vatican was arrested and sent to Lubyanka prison in Moscow, where he spent five years in solitary confinement. His description of solitary confinement provides an insight into what he experienced “Solitary confinement, in short, must be very much what some theologians paint as the principal torment of hell: the soul, at last, recognizing its mistakes for what they were and condemned forever to the loss of heaven.” 4 Fr. Ciszek went through a time of immense trial during his solitary confinement. Still, he could recognize providence even in this situation through his time of prayer, which was always a constant. 5
He was convicted of espionage, after which he spent fifteen years in brutal labor camps, tirelessly working day and night while still seeing God's providence in these moments. He prayed every day, even for those who tortured him. He celebrated the sacraments secretly and even ministered to others in the camp. And this is where he began to see his calling for why God called him to be in Russia. He writes, “If we could constantly live in the realization that we are sons of a heavenly Father, that we are always in his sight and play in his creation, then all our thoughts and our every action would be a prayer.” 4 What a beautiful realization Fr. Ciszek teaches us. This spirituality of Fr. Ciszek can apply to every aspect of our life.
Fr. Ciszek was given an additional four years in the labor camps with no particular explanation, following which he was released to work in Siberia in the coal mines. He describes these four years as a time when he almost lost hope. He writes, “my own abilities were now bankrupt, and he (God) was my only hope.” 5 He says, “the situations themselves were His(God) will for me.” 6 While in Siberia, he continued his ministry to the people in Norilsk, Siberia, by offering them retreats, celebrating the liturgy, and hearing confessions. Due to his ministry, he was moved to another town in Siberia, where he spent four more years. In SIberia, he was first able to write letter to his sisters in the United States, who had thought he had passed away. Finally, in 1963, he was released to the United States in exchange for two Soviet agents.
This book is an outstanding witness of trust and confidence in God. Having wanted to serve in Russia as a missionary but initially sent to Poland, he looked to see the providence of God in every moment. This is a lesson all of us can learn, to see providence in every moment. His missionary heart led him to cross the border to Russia, but the mission was not what he expected. He was confined to working as a logger, went into solitary confinement, arrested, questioned daily while in prison, forced to sign a confession, and endured many other daily tortures. But through daily prayer and his closeness with Jesus, he was able to experience the intimate love of the Father in everything he did. Fr. Ciszek saw this present moment, where he is right now, as the most critical moment through which God wants to be with him. His love for the Eucharist grew stronger during these times of imprisonment. He celebrated Mass daily, saying the prayers from memory, sometimes while lying in bed to avoid being caught. He celebrated Mass for the others in the labor camps who would wake up in the middle of the night to receive the Eucharist even after fourteen to fifteen hours of hard labor every day. He gave himself to the Lord daily and to others in whatever situation. Father Ciszek sought every day to do the will of God. The will of God is what was before him at this moment. Through this understanding, Father Ciszek understood what suffering was and what ministry was. This simple reality of accepting the situation before him as the will of God was the truth that Father Ciszek lived.
This book is an inspirational read. The lessons Fr. Ciszek teaches can be applied to many different aspects of our life in medicine.
We learn to look ahead in medicine, whether it's patient care or career planning. And although it is healthy to plan, whether it’s patient discharges, what we want to do after residency, or where we want to go in our career, Father Ciszek offers us an important lesson. The most crucial moment in our lives, the will of God in our lives, is the moment right in front of us. Whether the patient in front of us or when we are at home with family or friends, the Holy Trinity is working through us and provides us with the opportunity to allow God's will to act. It is through faith, just as Fr. Ciszek teaches us, that we can respond to these situations. By understanding this, we experience the intimacy and the providence of the Father, who always provides for us, looks ahead for us, and allows us to experience the joy of the present moment. Father Ciszek shows us that finding meaning in life happens through accepting the present moment in front of us as the will of God. As Fr. Ciszek points out, “Perfection consisted simply in learning to discover God's will in every situation and then in bending every effort to what must be done.” 6 This book is filled with simple, practical yet profound wisdom and offers valuable guidance for those in medicine. More importantly, the life of Servant of God Fr. Ciszek described in this book provides us with an exceptional influence and one that is relevant in today's world.
