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A dangerous adventure - Africa 1982 I have been to journey in a small, two-engined mission plane. The non-stop flight over the jungle was to take 6 ½ hours. All went well until we reached Kivu. The lake on which Bukavu lies was hidden from sight by clouds. Our radar was damaged. The control tower of the airport gave no signals, having run out of diesel and therefore being without electricity. We had no other choice than to dip down out of the clouds every 3 minutes and look for the lake among hills and volcanoes. Ten or twenty times we came down low without result, seeing nothing but jungle and hills. I was praying the rosary. When a break in the clouds gave a sudden view of the ground we were flying only 60 feet from a hillside. A hut flashed past. A Negro family fled out into the open in panic. Our plane skimmed the tops of the banana trees and soared up into the safety of the sky. How long had we been flying blindly among the mountains without knowing? A remarkable feeling of peace came over me. After flying without bearings for 1 ½ hours the end could not be far off. How much fuel had we still? I thought of Mother Hadewych waiting for me, of my collaborators in far-off Europe, of the benefactors who would learn of the accident from the press… Although I was not afraid of death I made a promise to the Mother of God, who has always been my refuge in every danger. Was it she who opened up the clouds so that we suddenly caught sight of Lake Kivu glistening in the sun? We followed the lakeshore to the airport. On landing we had 10 minutes fuel left. What did I promise Mary? I promised her to dedicate our work to her and to urge you to pray the rosary with me every day. Why should we not honour Mary with the words the Archangel Gabriel addressed to her in reverence and with the greeting of her cousin Elisabeth, who experienced the power of our Lord’s blessing through her intermediary? Mary is not dead. As the first of our human race she has been taken up in glory into the life of the omnipotent God, with her body and her soul, with ears that hear our pleas, with eyes that see our wretchedness, and with a heart that loves us as only a mother can love her children. She is very near to us! Why should we not meditate with her the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of our redemption, in which she is so deeply involved? They are the very essence of our Christianity, which consists in living the life of Christ on earth. Why not experience with her the joy, the sorrow and the glory that she shared with Jesus and which move Him to hear her prayer for us sinners now and at the hour of our death? Yes, we dedicate our Work and ourselves to you, Mary, Mother of Jesus, purest of virgins, powerful advocate, model and example for all, Immaculate! Keep us in the love of your Son, protect us from the evil of the world and guide us safe to the heart of God. And grant, Mother, when we have passed the dark door of death and stand before the judgement seat of your Son, grant that we may meet you there, with a smile in your eyes, and that with peace of heart we may say: Hello, Mother! |
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