Good men, dying

FAME, the Filipino-American Memorial Endowment, Inc. has constructed a beautiful memorial of those who perished, and of those who endured, the horror of the prison ships during World War II. The memorial has been built at Subic Freeport, because 300 meters away from it is the Japanese prison ship, Oryoko Maru, at the bottom of the sea.

I had a very good friend, Carl Hausmann S.J., who was on that prison ship when it was sunk by American bombs, from American planes. Carl went into the prison camp in Mindanao, deliberately, so that the prisoners of war would have a chaplain. He was put to work like all the others — six days a week, with one day off. But Carl never took the day off. On his day of rest he would substitute for another prisoner who was sick, or very weak. And he shared his meager rations with the sick, because he felt they needed it more than he did.

He was on the Oryoko Maru when it was sunk on December 15, 1944. He swam ashore, was taken prisoner again and put on a second prison ship. That second ship was sunk, by American planes. He was placed on a third prison ship, the Brazil Maru, and on that ship he died. His body was lifted out of the hold in a cargo net. The other prisoners do not know whether he was buried at sea, or whether the body was used as fuel to stoke the ship on to Japan.

So when the organizing committee asked me to say the invocation for the dedication ceremony, I accepted at once. I felt that – somehow – it was my obligation to Carl Hausmann. I think he was a saint. An unknown saint, who will never be canonized.

Lord God,

Look down on us

who are praying for those we love,

who suffered and died here,

61 years ago.

For them, the agony they suffered here

was like your fall under the cross,

on the way to Calvary.

You went on, to suffer and die for your children,

whom you loved.

They went on, to suffer and die for their people,

whom they loved.

The Americans entered the military

to defend their native land,

the land where they were born;

to defend their homes, their families;

to save the poor and the powerless

all over the world,

to keep them safe from tyranny and oppression.

The Japanese entered the military

because they believed their leaders,

who said that they were fighting for their human rights:

lebensraum, room to live, freedom,

liberty, equality, a place in the sun.

The Japanese fought and died

with the same courage, and with the same idealism,

as our American boys.

It was a tragic moment in our history

Lord, give us the grace to understand

the wisdom of the words you spoke to Peter,

on that First Holy Thursday, in the Garden of Gethsemane,

after he had cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest:

"Put down the sword!

Those who take the sword

Will perish by the sword!"

We know that this is true.

All of us are waiting for the time

when some Colonel, in some unknown country,

will panic. . . . .and press the button on his atom bomb.

Then the other Colonels, in all the other countries,

will press the button on their atom bombs. . . . . .

And when the smoke settles,

nine out of ten of us will be dead,

and the tenth, who is alive,

will be envying the dead!

Lord, you created us as your children.

You meant that we should live as one family,

brothers and sisters, suffering with each other,

rejoicing with each other. . . . .helping each other,

reaching out to each other, caring, sharing,

living together in friendship,

living together in love.

Please help us to break down the walls between us —

between nations, between rich and poor,

between the members of different religions!

Help us to build bridges among the Christian

sects all over the world,

so that we will really be one!

Help us to build bridges between Christians and Muslims,

between Buddhists, Taoists and Jews,

so that all of us will live together

in reconciliation, unity and peace!

Please give us the grace to understand

the meaning of the words you spoke to the Apostles,

and to all the people on the hills of Galilee:

"Little children,

love one another,

as I have loved you."

Help us to live that way with everyone,

so that never again will there be a group like us,

standing on a shore, on a beach that once was

red with the blood of those we love,

weeping for their death.

Help us to live like men, so that there will

never be another Oryoko Maru.

* * *

'I did not regret the long ride to Subic, to pray for the men who died there. But I did regret that it caused me to miss the funeral of another good, close friend: Father Francisco Araneta, S.J.

Everyone called him "Fritz". As a young Scholastic, studying for the priesthood, he was a laughing, outgoing natural leader. He was everyone’s friend.

Much later, as the President of the Ateneo de Cagayan, he made that college a University. Transferred to Quezon City, he made the Ateneo de Manila a University! He was always selfless, always apostolic, trying to do all he could to help the poor.

It was a shock when Fritz left the Society of Jesus, years ago.

He signed himself out of the Jesuits and then signed himself into the diocese of Malaybalay, one moment later. He went on to do magnificent work as a confessor. He was always a sympathetic, understanding, compassionate priest.

Years went by. Then Fritz was critically ill in the hospital. A letter came to the Philippine Provincial Superior from our Father General Kolvenbach, saying: "If Father Araneta wishes to return to the Society of Jesus, we are willing to accept him."

I was commissioned to present this to Fritz, in the hospital. Without even taking a deep breath, he said: "No.". . . . .

His niece asked him: "Fritz! Why not?" . . . . . Fritz said, quietly: "I am not worthy."

That did it! I said: "Fritz, let’s have a division of labor here. It’s not your job to decide if you are worthy! It’s the General’s! He thinks you’re worthy!" So Father Araneta re-entered the Society of Jesus, repeated his novitiate, renewed his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and died peacefully as a Jesuit priest. He was interned at Novaliches while I was praying for the men who went down in the waters of Subic Bay.

The Prisoners of War in the Oryoko Maru died for their people. Father Fritz Araneta lived for his people. He gave his life for others day by day, year by year. The Prisoners of War, Carl Hausmann and Fritz – they were all good men!