Three Drops of Wine

Yesterday, while attending the 49th International Eucharistic Congress, I listened to a talk given by Elizabeth Nguyen Thi Thu Hong about her brother, Francis-Xavier Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan (1928-2002). Imprisoned by the Communist Government of Vietnam in 1975 for his faith and relationship to the 1st President of South Vietnam, he spent 9 years in solitary confinement.

Instead of being bitter and defeated during this period of isolation, Francis-Xavier found life in the body and blood of Christ. He chose to embrace his suffering and turned it into glory.

Everyday at 3:00 p.m., the hour of our Lord's crucifixion, Van Thuan celebrated Mass in the privacy of his cell. Friends had sent him a small bottle of wine labeled "medicine for stomach ailments" and he used this during the Eucharistic Liturgy by placing three drops of wine and a drop of water in into the palm of his hand. Three drops of wine and a drop of water, what a lasting image.

Here are some lasting words as written by Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan on the Feast of the Holy Rosary, October 7, 1976, Phu-Khanh prison:

I am happy here, in this cell, where white mushrooms are growing on my sleeping mat, because You are here with me, because You want me to live here with You. I have spoken much in my lifetime: now I speak no more. It's Your turn to speak to me, Jesus; I am listening to You.

I'm listening too Lord, to the people of love and hope you chose to share with us today - Van Thuan and his sister Elizabeth.