August 9
The following words are on display in a
public place. Many thousands of people
have read them:
“Obedience, honesty,
order, cleanliness,
truthfulness, sacrifice,
and love of one’s country.”
They are fine qualities and values for a
person to have and develop, and the
words are intended to inspire the readers.
Where are they written?
They form the inscription on the ceiling
of one of the administration buildings in
Dachau, the Nazi concentration camp,
near Munich. Prisoners were to read
these words frequently. It is good, of
course, to develop such values as are
listed, but there is something “twisted”
and horrific when we remember where
it is that these words are seen:
“Obedience, honesty,
order, cleanliness,
truthfulness, sacrifice,
and love of one’s country.”
In silence I can try to imagine myself
there as an inmate at Dachau, reading
those words whilst thinking of what was
going on in that terrible place. I can also
try to think of what might encourage me
there.
(pause…)
This is an excerpt from the page of this date in
‘Praying Each Day of the Year’,
a 3-volume book
by Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC.
August 10
Andrew Carnegie said:
“The man who dies rich,
dies disgraced.”
We can pause to ask ourselves what he
may have meant by those words.
(pause…)
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus,
you talked about the need for us
to have our priorities right,
and not to hoard possessions.
You said that where our treasure is,
there our heart and commitment
will really be.
Touch our hearts
that we may love people
and use things
- and never the other way around.
Inspire us to seek first your kingdom
and use our talents and gifts
for the benefit of others. Amen