Monday, March 13, 2017

Priests Speaking Latin in Communist China

"The Communists now attempted to force the men to spy on the members of the Bureau, but Bishop Walsh and his priests protected both the servants and themselves by conversing entirely in Latin.  Whenever they forgot themselves and spoke in Chinese, the servants would plead, 'Please to keep on talking Latin.'  The embattled priests even played gin rummy in Latin.  Their library had been closed and cards were their only means of relaxation after supper.  Bishop Walsh would spin a card down the table and announce, 'Ego habeo reginam rhomborum.' ('I have the queen of clubs.')  The servants, when questioned now by the Reds, could truthfully say they understood not a word spoken by the priests." 

-Raymond Kerrison in Bishop Walsh of Maryknoll

1 comment: