On the night of April 14, 1912, a total of 1502 people were killed on the Titanic, and only 705 were saved. The Titanic is is a well-known movie but is also a painful real-life tragedy. In fact, there were countless moving moments that were not in the movie, and together these moments provide inspiration for everyone.
When the Titanic was about to sink, the passengers were in chaos on the deck. At that moment, the Rev. John Harper, seeing the emergency, stood out recklessly, shouting at the crowd in front of a lifeboat: "Christians stand up!" Everyone froze, and then continued to push to get on a lifeboat. The pastor shouted again, "Christians stand up! We are all saved. We need to allow other who have not yet had a chance to receive the Gospel get on the lifeboats!"
At first, dozens of Christians came out of the crowd and decided to give the opportunity to be rescued in the lifeboats to non-Christians. Rev. John Harper called on Christians from all over the ship to gather on deck and join hands in a circle.
Rev. John Harper said with tears, "Brothers and sisters, our lives are in danger, but we have believed in Jesus, and have the hope of eternal life. Don't be afraid. However, there are still many people on the ship who have not yet believed in the Lord. They have not yet been saved. If they lose their lives at this moment, they will perish forever. If we do not compete with them for a place on one of the lifeboats, more people who have not yet believed in the Lord will be rescued. In the future, they will still have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
Following his directive, this group of Christians joined hands and sang in unison the hymn: "Nearer my God to Thee" as the ship sank slowly into the sea.
Jesus said, "Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15: 12-13 NIV) Facing disaster, they were fearless in their persistence and fearlessness and hope for others to survive, that their sacrifice would build a bridge of life for others. A hundred years have passed, and a similar story today is taking place in Italy.
Italy has become the worst affected country in Europe and has the world's largest number of deaths from the coronavirus. In addition to frontline medical staff fighting the virus, priests are also performing their mission. During this dark time, they have used themselves as wood to light a fire, to illuminate the plight of desperate patients, and appease the souls of the dead.
The Pope encouraged Catholic priests to "have the courage to go out and visit the patients," but visiting patients in the intensive care unit led to the priests being exposed to many of the worst cases.
Seventy-two year-old priest Giuseppe Berardelli, living in the most severely infected area of Bergamo, Italy, was infected by the coronavirus. His parishioners bought a respirator for him, but he knew that there was a young adult who also suffered from the disease and needed a respirator, but had no money to buy one. Though Giuseppe Berardelli did not know the young man, he gave his respirator to him. Berardelli recently died from the virus, a true follower of Christ's example.
According to Catholic newspapers, at least 10 priests have died of the coronavirus in the diocese of Bergamo near Milan. Five other priests have died in Parma, while in the north there were cases of priests dying in Brescia, Cremona and Milan.
According to the US Catholic media site CNA, dioceses around Milan, Italy have reported that 30 priests have died during the coronavirus outbreak. The Current Affairs Bulletin, issued by the Italian Bishops' Mission, states that at least 28 of these priests died after being infected.
The number of priests who have died exceeds the number of doctors who have sacrificed their lives. Faith makes some elderly people accept death and leave the hope of life to the younger generation. "For there is a better country, where the Lord is with you, and it is good beyond compare."
Faith keeps the priests committed to their duties. They fear no virus and strive to help the people of God through difficult times. They are not afraid of life or death, and they deserve the most beautiful accolades.
At present the Italian government is clearly overwhelmed, and these priests are like warm sunshine, shining into the lives of patients, to help them out of their difficulties into safety.
The world is sick, very sick, but it always gets better. We have experienced it too many times, but with love, hope is not far away.
The pandemic has no borders. Let's pray for Italy, Europe, and for the world.
-Translated by Kevin Feng
