Dr.

Robert Hickson

26 November 2013 Saint Leonard of Port Maurice

The Hope and Help of the Half-Defeated: G.K.C.s Visit to Poland in the Late 1920s and H. Bello s Ballade to !"# Lad$
%pi&#aph: !et"een t#em$ t#e% #ave near&% ki&&ed t#e t#in' ()#ristendom* b% "#ic# "e &ive.+ ,-... )#esterton$ As I Was Saying$ 1/36$ 0. 601 222 'ot onl$ has (sia )o##o*ed all the *#on& thin&s f#o+ %"#ope $ )"t %"#ope has )o##o*ed all the *#on& thin&s f#o+ (sia ....3#e ver% u'&iest t#in' t#at our civi&i4ation ever 0roduced$ t#e costume and #abit of t#e industria& nineteent# centur% in t#e bi' to"ns$ 3H53 #as rea&&% s0read over t#e "#o&e "or&d (#ence 5sia*$ as Ch#istianit$ has ne,e# sp#ead- as hi,al#$ has ne,e# sp#ead- as +ono&a+$ has ne,e# sp#ead- as de+o #a $ and the i,i ideal ha,e ne,e# sp#ead. 6e #ave not succeeded (as of 1/2781/2/* in makin' t#e remote 5siatic fee& &ike a )#ristian9 but "e #ave succeeded in makin' #im &ook &ike a cad. This see+s to +e one of the st#an&est and +ost siniste# of all histo#i al ont#adi tions. *hen *e onside# *hat Ch#istendo+ has had to &i,e- and *hat it has &i,en /to "s01 . !ut "#i&e this )li&ht of ,"l&a#it$ "as s0readin' from :uro0e to 5sia$ somet#in' "as a&so s0readin' from 5sia to :uro0e. 5nd t#e stran'e t#in' is t#at this "as also a )li&ht. ;ts inf&uence "as not so immediate&% a00arent....!ut it #as been onside#a)le9 and$ ; t#ink$ ,e#$ deplo#a)le. 2hat has o+e to "s o"t of (sia $ "#atever e&se t#ere ma% be in 5sia$ has )een despai#. ;t #as been all those ne&ati,e and ana# hi al ideals of disdain fo# the indi,id"al- of indiffe#en e to the #o+an e of #eal life- of pessi+is+ and the pa#al$sis of the fi&htin& spi#it . ;t is ideas t#at #ave come out of t#e de0t#s of 5sia9 and es0ecia&&% a&& t#e "ron' ideas.+ ,-... )#esterton$ <n :uro0e and 5sia$+ in Generally Speaking$ 1/27$ 1/2/$ 00. 2=$ 2>$ 26?m% em0#asis added1 222 ; confess t#at ; #ad never #eard of it (t#e !att&e of Muret$ 11812 Se0tember 1213* in m% &ife$ t#ou'# ; kne" t#e rou'# out&ine of t#e 5&bi'ensian stor% (and of t#e -nostic8)at#ar Heres%*. 3#e !att&e of Muret (as Hoffman Nickerson@s book on The Inquisition: A Political and Military History of Its Esta lish!ent $ 1/23$ 2nd :dition 1/32?"it# a ne" Preface b% H. !e&&oc?"as subseAuent&% soon to convince )#esterton* "as one of the +ost e3t#ao#dina#$ thin&s that e,e# happened in the *o#ld ....3#e !att&e of Muret is more and not &ess romantic "#en "e rea&i4e t#at it "as a *a# of philosophies?a fi&ht )et*een the +$sti al +ate#ialis+ of the sa #a+entalist and the dise+)odied idealis+ of the pessi+ist.+ ,-... )#esterton$ <n t#e 6ritin' of Histor%$+ in 1

Generally Speaking$ 1/2781/2/$ 00. 176817B?m% em0#asis added1 222 -ood evenin'$ sir (said C&ambeau "it# 0&acid im0udence+ to t#e m%sterious Hindoo #umbu'+ in t#e 'arden*. Do %ou "ant an%t#in'D+ Euite s&o"&%$ &ike a 'reat s#i0 turnin' into a #arbour$ t#e 'reat %e&&o" face (of t#e ta&& man+* turned$ and &ooked at &ast over its "#ite s#ou&der. 3#e% ( i"e.$ Cat#er !ro"n and C&ambeau* "ere start&ed to see t#at its (im0ersona&* %e&&o" e%e&ids "ere Auite sea&ed$ as in s&ee0. 3#ank %ou.... 4 *ant nothin&. 3#en$ #a&f o0enin' t#e &ids$ so as to s#o" a s&it of o0a&escent e%eba&&$ #e re0eated$ 4 *ant nothin&.+ 3#en #e o0ened #is e%es "ide "it# a start&in' stare$ said$ 4 *ant nothin&$+ and "ent rust&in' a"a% into t#e ra0id&% darkenin' 'arden. 3#e )#ristian is more modest$+ muttered Cat#er !ro"n9 #e ( i"e.$ t#e )#ristian* "ants somet#in'.+ 6#at on eart# "as #e doin'D+ asked C&ambeau.... ; s#ou&d &ike to ta&k to %ou (C&ambeau* &ater$+ said Cat#er !ro"n.... 5s t#e% (soon &ater* turned into it (t#e front door"a%+* t#e% sa" t#e ( omni0resent 5siatic+* man in t#e "#ite robe for t#e t#ird time....Cat#er !ro"n and C&ambeau$ #o"ever$ ke0t t#is "eird contradiction to t#emse&ves.... M% fat#er$+ said C&ambeau in Crenc#$ "#at is t#e matter "it# %ouD+ Cat#er !ro"n "as si&ent and motion&ess for #a&f a minute$ t#en #e saidF 5"pe#stition is i##eli&io"s- )"t the#e is so+ethin& in the ai# of this pla e. 4 thin6 its that 4ndian7at least pa#tl$.+ He sank into si&ence$ and "atc#ed t#e distant out&ine of t#e ;ndian$ "#o sti&& sat ri'id as if in 0ra%er. 5t first si'#t #e seemed motion&ess$ but as Cat#er !ro"n "atc#ed #im #e sa" t#at t#e man s"a%ed ever so s&i'#t&% "it# a r#%t#mic movement$ Gust as t#e dark tree8to0s s"a%ed ever so s&i'#t&% in t#e "ind t#at "as cree0in' u0 t#e dim 'arden 0at#s and s#uff&in' t#e fa&&en &eaves a &itt&e. 3#e &andsca0e "as 'ro"in' ra0id&% dark$ as if for a storm$ but t#e% cou&d see a&& t#e fi'ures in t#eir various 0&aces. 5tkinson "as &eanin' a'ainst a tree "it# a &ist&ess face....and t#e fakir sti&& sat ri'id and %et rockin'$ "#i&e t#e trees above #im be'an to rock a&most to a roar. Storm "as certain&% comin'. 2hen that 4ndian spo6e to "s$+ "ent on (Cat#er* !ro"n in a conversationa& undertone$ 4 had a so#t of ,ision $ a ,ision of hi+ and all his "ni,e#se . 8et he onl$ said the sa+e thin& th#ee ti+es. 6#en #e first said @; "ant not#in'$@ it meant on&% t#at #e "as im0enetrab&e$ t#at 5sia does not 'ive itse&f a"a%. 3#en #e said a'ain @; "ant not#in'$@ and ; kne" t#at #e meant t#at #e "as sufficient to #imse&f$ &ike a cosmos$ t#at #e needed no -od$ neit#er admitted an% sins. (nd *hen he said the thi#d ti+e- 4 *ant nothin&- he said it *ith )la9in& e$es. (nd 4 6ne* that he +eant lite#all$ *hat he said. that nothin& *as his desi#e and his ho+e. that he *as *ea#$ fo# nothin& as fo# *ine. 2

that annihilation- the +e#e dest#" tion of e,e#$thin& o# an$thin& 8888+ ,-... )#esterton$ 3#e 6ron' S#a0e$+ from #is #o!plete $ather %ro&n Stories'm% em0#asis added1 222 !ut ; am ta&kin'$ not of t#e ideas t#at are dee0est in 5sia$ of "#ic# ; necessari&% kno" &itt&e9 but of the (sian ideals that ha,e )itten deepest into %"#ope- of *hi h 4 6no* onl$ too +" h. 5nd it strikes me as an astonishin& antithesis and #e,e#sal t#at neit#er of t#e t"o 'reat civi&i4ations (:uro0e and 5sia* s#ou&d #ave 'iven its best to t#e ot#er. 2e ha,e &i,en the+ a disfi&"#e+ent. and the$ ha,e &i,en "s a disease . No" it is rea&&% in t#e matter of ideas t#at our o"n civi&i4ation is su0erior. 3#ere are some "#o do not be&ieve t#is9 because the$ al*a$s ass"+e that deep ideas +"st )e dep#essin& ideas. The$ annot )#in& the+sel,es to )elie,e- *hat is the t#"th- that the deepest of all ideas a#e inspi#in& ideas. !f those o"#a&eo"s and in,i&o#atin& on eptions$ t#e conce0tions t#at make it 0ossib&e to &ive$ Ch#istendo+ has had infinitel$ +o#e than an$ othe# "lt"#e 9 +o#e of t#e idea of free8"i&&9 +o#e of t#e idea of pe#sonal hi,al#$ and ha#it$9 +o#e of the lean *ind of hope. 3#e meta0#%sics and mora&s of t#ese t#in's #ave been "orked out b% our fat#ers fu&&% as dee0&% and de&icate&% as an% of t#e dark and disenc#anted meta0#%sics of 5sia. !ut t#e :uro0ean trave&&in' in 5sia (often as a commercia& missionar%+ merc#ant* does not seem to kno" t#at #e re0resents t#ese t#in's (of t#e #istoric$ s0iritua& and sacramenta& cu&ture of )#ristendom*....Ha,in& ne,e# lea#nt his o*n #eli&ion (suc# as t#e com0&eteness and cu&ture of t#e )at#o&ic Cait#*$ he is ,e#$ li6el$ to lea#n so+e)od$ elses. and that one *hi h is #eall$ infe#io# to his o*n.+ ,-... )#esterton$ <n :uro0e and 5sia$+ from #is ant#o&o'%$ Generally Speaking$ 1/2781/2/$ 00. 2682B?m% em0#asis added1 222 :s0ecia&&% after "itnessin' m% -erman "ife@s un&ooked8for res0onse ver% &ate t#e ot#er ni'#t "#i&e ,and moreso after1 ; read a&oud to #er for t#e first time -... )#esterton@s s#ort essa%$ 3"o 6ords from Po&and$+1 ; am no" even more confident in m% Gud'ment to recommend t#ese seven 0a'es to t#e c&ose attentiveness of t#e reader. Cor$ inter"oven in t#ese varie'ated 0a'es is so muc# of t#e affirmin' #eart and admirin' c#aracter of )#esterton?to inc&ude #is understated #umor and deft se&f8 iron%. Ma% "e not$ for eHam0&e$ even no" ima'ine #im in 6arsa" at t#e Gum0in' com0etition in t#e )oncours Hi00iAue$+ ,>=1 ridin' an e&e0#ant in a mi&itar% stee0&ec#ase "it# t#e Po&is# cava&r%D 5fter
1 -... )#esterton$ 3"o 6ords from Po&and$+ from #is 5nt#o&o'% of essa%s entit&ed Generally Speaking ,Ne" IorkF Dodd$ Meade J )om0an%$ 1/2/1$ 00. =/8>>. 3#is ant#o&o'% "as first 0ub&is#ed in London t#e %ear ear&ier$ in 1/279 and first 0ub&is#ed in Ne" Iork in Cebruar% of 1/2/. Curt#er 0a'e references "i&& be to t#e 5merican :dition$ and 0&aced in 0arent#eses in t#e main bod% of t#e teHt above. 5&& em0#ases?bo&d and ita&ics?"i&& #ave been added b% t#e 0resent "riter to t#e ori'ina& teHt$ un&ess ot#er"ise s0ecifica&&% indicated.

t#e Po&is# cava&r%@s 'racious invitation to #im to ride "it# t#em$ )#esterton more modest&% t#ou'#t$ #o"ever$ t#at #e s#ou&d be more usefu& as an obstac&e t#an a surmounter of obstac&es+K ,>=1 Moreover$ )#esterton 'ives a 'enerous tribute to #is dear friend$ Hi&aire !e&&oc$ but "it#out eH0&icit&% mentionin' t#e tit&e of !e&&oc@s Marian verse$ %et t"ice addin' a nuance of meanin' to !e&&oc@s ori'ina& 0#raseF Help of t#e Ha&f8Defeated.+ Cor$ )#esterton a&so ca&&s <ur Lad%F Hope of t#e Ha&f8Defeated.+ ,>3$ >>1 !e&&oc@s !a&&ade to <ur Lad% of )4estoc#o"a+ "as resonant&% in #is #eartK Less t#an ei'#t %ears after t#e Po&is# mi&itar% #ad uneH0ected&% defeated t#e Russian8 !o&s#evist arm% near 6arsa" u0on t#e Listu&a in 5u'ust of 1/20$ -... )#esterton made a 'ratefu& visit to Po&and. He kne" t#at t#at Mirac&e on t#e Listu&a+ #ad a&so s0ared a&& of :uro0e$ not on&% Po&and and even -erman% #erse&f$ from t#e intended strate'ic initiative of t#e )ommunist "est"ard ons&au'#t of Lenin and 3rotsk% and Mars#a& Mik#ai& 3ukac#evsk%$ t#ereb% strate'ica&&% movin' t#e Revo&ution into t#e rava'ed mora& vacuum of an a&read% eH#austed continent so soon after t#e November 1/17 5rmistice "#ic# on&% tem0orari&% #e&d back t#e rest of a Ne" 3#irt% Iears@ 6ar+ in :uro0e ,1/1=81/=>1. <n&% nineteen %ears after t#e !att&e of 6arsa" in t#e summer of 1/20 ,1282> 5u'ust1$ -erman% attacked Po&and ,on 1 Se0tember 1/3/1 and t#e !o&s#eviks a'ain attacked Po&and$ t#is time successfu&&% ,on 1B Se0tember 1/3/1. 5nd t#en Po&and "as to be furt#er betra%ed?even b% #er o"n 0ur0orted a&&ies in 6or&d 6ar ;;?but )#esterton$ t#ou'# #e kne" of t#e ear&ier t#ree Partitions of Po&and ,1BB281B/>1$ "as no &on'er a&ive to see t#at &atest #umi&iation and 0erfid%. 3#is com0act 0ortion of #istor% ma% a&so #e&0 us to 'ras0 )#esterton@s o"n more e&evated be'innin' to #is essa%$ 3"o 6ords from Po&and.+ Cor$ #e sa%sF 3#ere are certain t#in's in t#is "or&d (0er#a0s even t#e traditiona&&% mi&itant )at#o&ic )#urc#D* t#at are at on e intensel$ lo,ed and intensel$ hated . 3#e% are natura&&% t#in's of a stron' c#aracter and eit#er ver% 'ood or ver% bad. 3#e% 'enera&&% 'ive a 'reat dea& of troub&e to ever%bod%9 and a s0ecia& sort of troub&e to t#ose "#o tr% to destro% t#em. B"t the$ &i,e +ost t#o")le of all to those *ho t#$ to i&no#e the+. Some #ate t#em so insane&% as to den% t#eir ver% eHistence9 but the ,oid +ade )$ that ne&ation continues to eHas0erate t#ose "#o #ave made it$ ti&& t#e% are &ike men c#oked in a vacuum. 3#e% dec&are t#at it s#a&& be name&ess and t#en never cease to curse its name. 3#is curious case is 0er#a0s best i&&ustrated b% eHam0&es. <ne eHam0&e of it is ;re&and. 5not#er eHam0&e is Po&and. ,=/1 =

5fter &eadin' us first to ref&ect on t#ese t"o #istorica&&% )at#o&ic cu&tures situated in vu&nerab&e 'eo'ra0#ica& &ocations near?or bet"een?ot#er non8)at#o&ic -reat Po"ers+ or :m0ires$ )#esterton makes a transition to #is o"n s0ecific arriva& in t#e #istorica& cu&tura& nation of Po&and some time around 1/2B81/279 and #e s0eaks at once of t"o 0rofound and c#aracteristic 0#rases t#at #e soon #eard uttered t#ereF 6it#in ten minutes of m% ste00in' from t#e train on to Po&is# territor%$ ; #ad #eard t"o 0#rasesF 0#rases "#ic# struck t#e 0recise note "#ic# t#us ins0ires one #a&f of t#e "or&d and infuriates t#e ot#er #a&f. Most men #ave an immediate reaction to t#em$ one "a% or t#e ot#er9 t#e% t#ink t#em s0irited and 'enerous or t#e% "ou&d t#ink t#em eHtrava'ant and futi&e. 6e "ere received b% a sort of escort of Po&is# cava&r%9 and one of t#e officers made a s0eec# in Crenc#9 a ver% fine s0eec# in ver% 'ood Crenc#. ;n t#e course of it #e used t#e first of t#ese t"o t%0ica& eH0ressions$ ; "i&& not sa% (t#at %ou are* t#e c#ief friend of Po&and. -od is t#e c#ief friend of Po&and.+ 5nd #e after"ards said$ in a more 0&a%fu& and conversationa& moment$ 5fter a&& t#ere are on&% t"o trades for a manF a 0oet and a so&dier of cava&r%.+ He said it #umourous&%$ and "it# t#e de&icate im0&ication$ Iou are a 0oet and ; am a so&dier of cava&r%. So t#ere "e areK+ ,=/8>01 Cee&in' "arm&% comfortab&e to continue t#is re0artee$ )#esterton c#iva&rous&% re0&ies$ and "it# a sort of "inkF ; said t#at$ allo*in& fo# the diffi "lt$ of an$)od$ ha,in& an$thin& to eat $ if t#is "ere &itera&&% true$ ; entire&% acce0ted t#e sentiment and #earti&% a'reed "it# it. ,>01 5"are t#at t#is vie" "ou&d not be seen in t#e same manner b% certain kinds of 0eo0&e$ )#esterton brin's fort# a contrast in order to revea& t#at ot#er a&&8too8o0erative 0reGudice+F !ut ; kno" t#ere are some 0eo0&e "#o *o"ld not "nde#stand it e,en eno"&h to disa&#ee *ith it. ; kno" t#at some 0eo0&e *o"ld #ot&% and even furious&% #ef"se to see the :o6e in it . 3#ere is somet#in' in that pa#ti "la# so#t of #o+an e$ or ,if %ou "i&&1 in that pa#ti "la# so#t of s*a&&e#$ "#ic# moves t#em Auite 'enuine&% to a vio&ent irritation. ;t is an irritation common amon' rationa&ists$ amon' t#e drier sort of dons$ and amon' t#e du&&er sort of 0ub&ic servants. ;t is one of the #eal *o#6in& p#e:"di es of the *o#ld. ,>01 )#esterton t#en tries to understand "#% t#ere is$ sti&& in 1/27$ so muc# more indu&'ence of$ and s%m0at#% "it#$ t#e &ar'e&% Lut#eran8Prussian Mi&itar% )u&ture t#an "it# t#e more )ava&ier and Romantic 3raditions of )at#o&ic :uro0e$ es0ecia&&% t#ose of t#e Po&is# Mi&itar% )u&ture. )#esterton >

observes t#ere to be even more s%m0at#% for t#e crue& )a&vinist )ava&r% of <&iver )rom"e&& , ;ronsides+1 and #is stern&% disci0&ined Round#eadsF No" if a&& t#ose Po&is# officers (in #is "e&comin' mi&itar% escort* #ad been Prussian officers$ if t#eir s"a''er #ad consisted of silentl$ 0us#in' 0eo0&e off t#e kerbstone$ if t#eir ceremon% #ad consisted not in makin' 'ood s0eec#es but in standin' in a ro" Auite spee hless$ if t#eir faces #ad been &ike 0ainted "ood and t#eir #eads and bodies p"ffed "p *ith nothin& )"t an east *ind of p#ide $ t#e% "ou&d not #ave irritated t#is sort of critic (rationa&ist$ dr%$ and du&&* in t#is sort of "a%. 3#e% "ou&d #ave soothed #im$ "it# a ,a&"e sense t#at t#at is "#at so&diers and men of action ou'#t to be$ or rat#er +"st be. ; do not sa% #e "ou&d a00rove of ever%t#in' t#e% did9 but #e "ou&d a ept "#at t#e% "ere. ;t "ou&d not an'er #im or even seem to #im absurd9 as it does /see+ a)s"#d1 to +e*ho )elon& to the othe# half of +an6ind. ,>08>11 !ut$ in contrast to )#esterton@s #a&f of mankind$+ t#e ot#ers a&so seem to #ave an entire&% different$ and more cram0ed$ :t#os about t#e 0&ace of t#e So&dier in )ivi&i4ation. Moreover$ 6#at does an'er #im$ "#at does seem to #im absurd$ is the idea of the soldie# i,ili9ed$ t#e man "#o is no more as#amed of the +ilita#$ a#t t#an of an% ot#er art$ but "#o is interested in ot#er arts besides t#e mi&itar% art9 and interested in a&& of t#em &ike an artist. 3#at t#e man in uniform s#ou&d make a s0eec#$ and$ "orst of a&&$ a 'ood s0eec#$ seems comic$ &ike a 0o&iceman com0osin' a sonnet. 3#at #e s#ou&d connect a #orse so&dier "it# a 0oet a00ears meanin'&ess$ &ike connectin' a butc#er "it# a !udd#ist monk. ;n one #istoric "ord$ these people hate and ha,e al*a$s hated the Ca,alie#. ,>11 Des0ite )#esterton@s mu&ti0&e and re0eated reservations about t#e i+pe#sonal s0irit of 5sia$ its crue&t% and des0air$ and t#e 'rave absence of t#e Pure 6oman from its o"n kni'#t&% codes of #onor and 0rotection ,as is$ b% contrast$ t#e case "it# t#e !&essed Mot#er@s vivid 0resence in so muc# of 6estern )#ristian )#iva&r%19 #e a&so kne" of t#eir admirab&e 5siatic traditions of t#e Martia& 5est#etic$+ as it "ere$ "#ic# "ere to be seen$ for eHam0&e$ not on&% in t#e Men !udd#ist@s disci0&ined art of arc#er% and in t#e reAuirements of t#e "e&&8ordered tea ceremon% for a cu&tured Na0anese Samurai. !ut no" #e sees as a &ater deve&o0ment in t#e 6est$ 0er#a0s more discoura'in'&%$ t#at? "nli6e even t#at stern Samurai of 5sia "it# t#eir strict Mora& )ode of !us#ido bereft of t#e !&essed Mot#er?suc# Nudaeo8Protestanti4ed 6estern 0eo0&e a&read% mentioned above a&so seem to #ave a 'enera& revu&sion to t#e aest#etic$ 0er#a0s even to certain forms of beaut%$ to inc&ude mora& beaut% and its "e&&80ro0ortioned 0rotective sense #onorF

3#e% ("it# t#eir more strin'ent Protestanti4ed et#os* #ate t#e )ava&ier es0ecia&&% "#en #e "rites )ava&ier Son's (or Poems*. 3#e% #ate t#e kni'#t "#en #e is a&so a troubadour9 es0ecia&&% "#en #e a&"a%s s"a''ers about "it# bot# ra0ier and 'uitar. 3#e% can understand ;ronsides (t#e )a&vinist )ommander$ <&iver )rom"e&&* so&emn&% ki&&in' 0eo0&e in t#e fear of t#e Lord$ as t#e% can understand Prussian so&diers so&emn&% ki&&in' 0eo0&e in t#e fear of t#e 6ar8Lord. !ut the$ annot tole#ate the o+)ination of *it and "lt"#e and o"#tes$ *ith this )"siness of 6illin&9 it rea&&% seems to t#em 0rovocative and 0re0osterous. ;t seems es0ecia&&% 0re0osterous "#en t#e )ava&ier adds to a&& #is ot#er da44&in' inconsistencies b% bein' Auite as re&i'ious as t#e ;ronside (but a sacramenta& Roman )at#o&ic$ instead of a )a&vinist &ike )rom"e&&*. 3#e &ast touc# is 0ut to thei# an&#$ )e*ilde#+ent$ "#en t#e man "#o #as ta&ked 'ai&% as if nobod% mattered eHce0t &ancers and &%ric 0oets$ sa%s *ith the sa+e si+pli it$ and &aiet$$ 3#e one friend of our countr% is -od.+ ,>21 Curt#ermore$ in o00osition to t#e et#os of o&der c#iva&r% and of t#e )ava&ier$ 3#ese same critics common&% sa% t#at t#e% are irritated "it# t#is romantic t%0e )e a"se it al*a$s fai&s9 so t#e% are natura&&% even more irritated *hen it ,e#$ f#e;"entl$ s" eeds. Peo0&e "#o are read% to s#ed tears of s%m0at#%$ "#en t#e "indmi&&s overt#ro" Don EuiHote$ are ver% an'r% indeed "#en Don EuiHote rea&&% overt#ro"s t#e "indmi&&s. Peo0&e "#o are p#epa#ed to &i,e a ,ain )lessin& to a fo#lo#n hope are not unnatura&&% anno$ed to find that the fo#lo#n hope is o+pa#ati,el$ hopef"l- and not enti#el$ fo#lo#n .....(t#e% seem re&uctant to* admit t#at t#e 5rms counted for a &itt&e &ess and t#e Man for a &itt&e more. ,>21 3#en )#esterton 'ives an eHam0&e of #o" t#at is a&most eHact&% "#at #as #a00ened in modern :uro0e toda%$+ ,>31 and to t#e de0reciative detriment of t#e Po&es9 and #e t#us makes s0ecific reference to t#e decisive 1/20 !att&e of 6arsa"2 some seven %ears ear&ierF 1282> 5u'ust 1/20. !e'innin' on 16 5u'ust ,after t#e Novena from 6 5u'ust to 1> 5u'ust?Ceast of <ur Lad%@s 5ssum0tion1$ Po&is# Mars#a& Nos4ef Pi&sudski &aunc#ed t#e ke% sur0rise maneuver across t#e Listu&a sout#east of 6arsa" and drove on #is eH#austed troo0s to cut off t#e main Soviet8!o&s#evik Lines of )ommunication ,L<)s1 from t#e east$ causin' t#eir 0anic and retreat$ "it# 'reat &osses to t#emse&ves. 3#e Po&es$ after some furt#er victories$ t#en soon for'ed$ in Ri'a$ an 5rmistice "it# t#e !o&s#eviks of Mars#a& Mik#ai& 3uk#ac#evsk%$ in <ctober of 1/209 a fu&&er 0eace treat% bein' si'ned in Marc# of 1/21$ estab&is#in' t#e eastern borders of Po&and for a&most t"ent% %ears. 3#is victor% #a&ted t#e Soviet
2 See Lord :d'ar Lincent D@5bernon$ The Eighteenth (ecisi)e %attle of the World: Warsa& *+,- ,LondonF Hodder and Stou'#ton$ 1/311$ 1B7 0a'es. Lord D@5bernon "as t#e !ritis# 5mbassador to !er&in$ but resident in 6arsa"9 and #e "as not on&% 0resent t#ere in 1/20 durin' t#e Mirac&e on t#e Listu&a$+ but #e &earned&% kne" muc# about mi&itar% #istor% #imse&f$ as a basis of com0arison. His book@s ori'ina& 1/31 edition "as re0rinted in t#e Onited States in 1/BB b% H%0erion Press of 6est0ort$ )onnecticut.

attem0t to take over a&read% t#en &ar'e 0arts of )entra& and :astern :uro0e. !ut$ on 1B Se0tember 1/3/ ?not even t#ree "eeks after t#e 1 Se0tember 1/3/ -erman invasion of Po&and from t#e "est?t#e Soviet8!o&s#eviks$ in a ven'efu& s0irit$ invaded Po&and from t#e east once a'ain$ and t#is time successfu&&%$ soon becomin' ,after Nune of 1/=11 even an 5&&%+ of t#e 6est in t#eir maniaca& 6ar a'ainst Hit&er. Ho" man% kno" of t#is #istor%D 5nd of t#is tra'ed%. 3#ou'# )#esterton did not &ive to see t#at &ater tra'ed% and betra%a&?#e died in Nune of 1/36 ?#e deft&% reca&&s for us some of t#e im0&ications of 3#e Mirac&e of t#e Listu&a+ in 1/20$ a'ainst a&& oddsF 6#en t#e Po&es defeated t#e !o&s#evists in t#e fie&d of batt&e$ it "as 0recise&% that (name&%$ t#e uneH0ected success of t#e Re&i'ious )ava&ier*. 4t *as the old hi,al#i t#adition defeatin& e,e#$thin& that is +ode#n- e,e#$thin& that is ne essita#ian- e,e#$thin& that is +e hani al in +ethod and +ate#ialisti in philosoph$. ;t "as t#e MarHian notion t#at ever%t#in' is inevitab&(e*$ defeated b% t#e )#ristian notion t#at not#in' is inevitab&e?no$ not even "#at #as a&read% #a00ened (i"e.$ it cou&d #ave been ot#er"ise+K*. Mr. !e&&oc #as 0ut the Polish ideal into &ines dedicated to a 'reat Po&is# s#rine (and <ur Lad%*F Hope of the half-defeated9 #ouse of 'o&d$ 5h#ine of the s*o#d and to"er of ivor% (0urit%*.+ ,>31 !ut$ after t#is 'enerous reference to #is be&oved friend@s verse$ !a&&ade to <ur Lad% of )4estoc#o"a$+ )#esterton s#o"s #is additiona& modest%$ once a'ainF 4 a+ not dealin& *ith s" h &#eat +atte#s / &ike Po&is# .in' Nan Sobieski@s ear&ier8decisive 1673 victor% over t#e 3urks t#en invadin' Lienna to t#e sout#*$ but describin' an as0ect and an eH0erience (of m% recent visit to Po&and*9 and before ; &eave these Polish a,alie#s$ ; ma% remark t#at ; #ad anot#er c#ance of seein' t#em at t#e Gum0in' com0etition in t#e )oncours Hi00iAue9 and ; "i&& on&% mention one incident and &eave it9 fo# it is so+ethin& of a pa#a)le (as if to sa%$ in an #onorific "a%$ Thats :"st li6e the Poles.+ ,>>1*. ,>31 5nd )#esterton "i&& no" te&& us of t#is Parab&e of t#e )#iva&rous8)ava&ier S0irit$ in t#e case of a rider "#o did not fai& at t#e fina& test?inters0ersin' it "it# #is o"n modest% and comic se&f8 de0reciation as one "#o b&us#in'&% is$ a&as$ not suc# a #orsemanK 3
3 Cor eHam0&e$ #e sa%s$ as fo&&o"sF <ne of t#e &ancers 0&a%fu&&% asked me if ; "as 'oin' to com0ete9 ; made t#e o),io"s ans"er t#at$ +o"nted on +$ fa,o#ite elephant$ ; "ou&d "nde#ta6e to ste0 over man% of t#e fences$ tho"&h e#tainl$ not the last fen e of all$ "#ic# ; doubt if a 'iraffe cou&d )est#ide. !ut the &ene#al feelin& see+ed to )e t#at ; s#ou&d be +o#e "sef"l as an o)sta le than as a s"#+o"nte# of o)sta les9 and t#at if ; &a% do"n on t#e course$ it +i&ht )e e,en

3#e course (for t#e Gum0in' com0etition* consisted of t#e usua& hi&h o)sta les9 but the#e *as one "#ic# "as a00arent&% of a nove& 0attern and p#a ti all$ ins"pe#a)le. 5n%#o"$ one after anot#er in that lon& p#o ession of ad+i#a)le #ide#s$ Crenc#$ Po&is#$ and ;ta&ian$ failed at this final test ti&& fail"#e a+e to )e t#eated as a +atte# of o"#se ....3#ere "as some amusement and some 0it% for one %oun' Po&e$ "#o "as$ ; be&ieve$ a novice or a #elati,el$ "nt#ied pe#son$ "#ose mount in some fas#ion stumb&ed$ so t#at t#e rider "as s#ot over t#e #orse@s #ead. 5t &east ; t#ou'#t #e "as s#ot over t#e #orse@s #ead9 and then dis o,e#ed$ amid some ama4in' and Gerk% '%rations$ t#at #e "as "#at can on&% be ca&&ed lin&in& to the ho#ses ea#s. 6#i&e t#e #orse danced about t#e course in a d.gag. manner$ t#e rider seemed to cra"& do"n t#e neck in some incredib&e "a% and #olled )a 6 into the saddle . He found one stirru0 and tried in ,ain to find t#e ot#er. Then he &a,e it "p9 t#e stirru0$ not the #a e. He c&eared t#e fair&% &o" obstac&e before #im$ and t#en$ see+in& to &athe# a *ild i+pet"s f#o+ no*he#e $ "it# one stirru0 f&%in' &oose and s"in'in' in t#e sadd&e$ he ha#&ed the i+possi)le )a##ie#$ and$ first of a&& t#at com0an%$ *ent o,e# it li6e a )i#d. ,>>1 6ondrous&% seein' t#is uneH0ected attainment a'ainst a&& t#e odds$ one of )#esterton@s unnamed com0anions seated or standin' ri'#t beside #im s0ontaneous&% emitted a s#ar0 eHc&amation$ in :n'&is#+ ,>>1 and saidF Thats :"st li6e the Poles.+ ,>>1 ;n re0&%$ )#esterton@s additiona&&% evocative ,but s&i'#t&% misremembered1 fina& "ords from #is friend H. !e&&oc@s verse "ereF Hope of the Half-Defeated9 #ouse of 'o&d...+ ,>>1 Cor )#esterton and Hi&aire !e&&oc$ t#e recurrin' t#eme of #o0e$ 0erseverin' and resi&ient$ a&"a%s a&so ref&ected t#eir intimate 0ersona& t#"st in <ur Lad%$ t#e !&essed Mot#er and <ur Eueen. 5nd bot# men sa" t#at same dee0 devotion sti&& ,in 1/271 amon' t#e Po&is# 0eo0&e to <ur Lad% of )4estoc#o"a$ es0ecia&&% amidst t#e eH0erienced and remembered tra'edies of Po&and@s #istor%. 5 fe" "ords from !e&&oc@s !a&&ade to <ur Lad% of )4estoc#o"a+ = "i&& s#o" us t#at s0ecia& 0&uck of s0irit fi'#tin' a'ainst 'reat odds$ trustfu& and tenderF

*o#se than the *o#st o)sta le (i"e.$ t#at &ast fence of a&&$+ t#is fina& test$+ as it "ereK*.+ ,>=1 = H. !e&&oc$ Sonnets and /erse ,Ne" IorkF S#eed J 6ard$ 1/361$ 00. 1>081>1. 3#e !a&&ade contains t#ree stan4as$ eac# endin' "it# t#e same forcefu& and fait#8fi&&ed refrain$ "#ic# are t#en fo&&o"ed b% a some"#at Garrin' :nvoi of four &ines.

; Lad$ and <"een and =$ste#$ =anifold 5nd ver% Re'ent of t#e untroub&ed sk%$ 6#om in a dream St. Hi&da (of 6#itb%D* did be#o&d 5nd #eard a "ood&and music 0assin' b%F 8o" shall #e ei,e +e *hen the lo"ds a#e hi&h 2ith e,enin& and the sheep attain the fold. This is the faith that 4 ha,e held and hold(nd this is that in *hi h 4 +ean to die. ;; Stee0 are t#e seas and sava'in' and co&d ;n broken "aters terrib&e to tr%9 5nd vast a'ainst t#e "inter ni'#t t#e "o&d$ (nd ha#)o"#less fo# an$ sail to lie. B"t $o" shall lead +e to the li&hts- and 4 5hall h$+n $o" a ha#)o"# sto#$ told. This is the faith that 4 ha,e held and hold(nd this is that in *hi h 4 +ean to die. ;;; Help of the half-defeated- Ho"se of &old5h#ine of the 5*o#d (at Nasna -ora Monaster%*$ and To*e# of 4,o#$ (Purit%*9 S0&endour a0art$ su0reme and aureo&ed$ The Battle#s ,ision and the 2o#lds #epl$. 8o" shall #esto#e +e- ! +$ last (ll$$ 3o ven'eance and t#e '&ories of t#e bo&d. This is the faith that 4 ha,e held and hold(nd this is that in *hi h 4 +ean to die. En)oi P#in e of the de&#adations- )o"&ht and soldThese ,e#ses$ "ritten in $o"# #"+)lin& st$$ P#o lai+ the faith that 4 ha,e held and hold (nd p")lish /that >aith1 in *hi h 4 +ean to die.

10

<n <ur Lad%@s Ceast Da% of t#e 5ssum0tion?on 1> 5u'ust 1673?Po&is# .in' Nan ;;; Sobieski ,162/816/61$ after #e #ad successfu&&% dea&t "it# t#e S"edis# armies of invasion from t#e nort#$ reverent&% sto00ed at t#e Nasna -ora ,#larus Mons1 !enedictine Monaster% to 0ra% at t#e S#rine of <ur Lad% of )4estoc#o"a. Cor #e "as a&so t#en en route to t#e sout#?to Lienna?to combat t#e 3urks "#o "ere a&read% dan'erous&% 0resent at t#e -ates of Lienna. Sobieski arrived b% ni'#t on 11812 Se0tember 1673$ a&most a mont# &ater$ but sti&& in time "it# #is )ava&r% to &ead t#e mi&itar%8strate'ic defeat of t#e invadin' 3urks. ,:ver% %ear$ on 12 Se0tember$ t#ere is sti&& a s0ecia& Mass offered$ in 'ratitude for t#e de&iverance from t#e 3urkis# forces?t#eir decisive victor% Gegen die T0rken.+1 Sobieski@s com0&ementar% victor% soon t#ereafter$ at t#e !att&e of Parkan% ,B8/ <ctober 16731 effective&% ended t#e 3urkis# eH0ansion into :uro0e. Ho"ever$ &ess t#an a centur% &ater$ in 1BB2$ coura'eous Po&and$ after so often defendin' t#e Crontiers of :uro0e$ "as 'rave&% #umi&iated and 0artitioned for t#e first of t#ree times b% t#e 'reat 0o"ers of Prussia$ Russia$ and 5ustria8Hun'ar%. 3#e anti8)at#o&ic .in' of Prussia Crederick ,1B128 1B761 "as t#e initiator of t#e crime of t#e 0artition of Po&and. ,3#e &ast of t#e t#ree dismemberin' 0artitions "as in 1B/>.1 3#is is 0art of t#e #istor% "e must a&so consider as "e tr% to understand "#at t#e Po&es defended us a'ainst in 1/20. C!D( <n / Se0tember 1/3/?a &itt&e over a "eek after t#e -erman invasion of Po&and at t#e be'innin' of t#e mont#$ and sti&& ei'#t da%s before t#e #osti&e Soviet Onion$ as 0art of a 0re8arran'ed 0&an$ "as a&so to invade Po&and$ but from t#e east?a )at#o&ic 0riest and #istorica&8t#eo&o'ica& sc#o&ar$ P#i&i0 Hu'#es$ "rote a com0act and re&i'ious&% revea&in' t"o80a'e artic&e$ entit&ed 3#e Mirac&e of t#e Listu&a.+ 3#e artic&e "as 0ub&is#ed in :n'&and in The Ta let: The International #atholic 1e&s Weekly .> Cat#er ,&ater Monsi'nor1 Hu'#es &ike&% did not eH0ect suc# a Soviet incursion on 1B Se0tember 1/3/$ for at t#e time t#e Mo&otov8Ribbentro0 5'reement ,a&so ca&&ed t#e Na4i8Soviet Pact+1 "as sti&& a "e&&8ke0t secret$ a&t#ou'# t#e Na0anese kne" of it and t#erefore$ to 0rotect t#eir vu&nerab&e f&ank$ made t#eir o"n Neutra&it% Pact "it# Sta&in$ one "#ic# "as ke0t b% t#e Soviets unti& Gust before t#e t"o nuc&ear bombs "ere dro00ed in ear&% 5u'ust 1/=>.
> 3#is #e&0fu& artic&e?"ritten b% an #istorica&&% informed$ discernin' "itness of t#e time+ ,a 2eit3euge+1?can sti&& be retrieved$ t#ou'# "it# some difficu&t%$ from The Ta let@s :&ectronic 5rc#ive$ on 0a'es 336833B$ or 12813.

11

Cat#er Hu'#es be'ins #is ref&ections "it# t#e fo&&o"in' "ords 0ub&is#ed on / Se0tember 1/3/$ for a&read% #e #ad noticed t#e c#aracteristic Po&is# res0onse as an underdo'$ 'iven factors of t#eir intrinsica&&% vu&nerab&e 'eo'ra0#ica& &ocation and t#e difficu&t% in estab&is#in' and 0rotectin' t#eir frontiersF 3#e stand of t#e Po&es under t#e stress of t#e -erman assau&t9 t#eir immediate$ c#aracteristic counter8attack9 thei# ,e#$ e,ident spi#it to #is6 all and to pe#ish #athe# than s")+it9 a&& t#ese can #o&d no sur0rise for one "#o remembers t#e events of nineteen %ears a'o$ "#ic# #ave been ca&&ed$ b% "#om first ; do not kno"$ t#e mirac&e of t#e Listu&a.+ 3#ose events ou'#t to be reca&&ed$ for in :n'&and t#e% never$ at an% time$ received t#e notice t#e% deserved$ the noti e d"e to a +ilita#$ +aste#pie e $ "#ic# a "e&&80&aced observer (t#e !ritis# ambassador to -erman% t#en residin' in 6arsa"*$ Lord D@5&bernon$ described as t#e ei'#teent# decisive batt&e in t#e "or&d.+ ,121 5&t#ou'# it is m% intent to 0resent and accent some &itt&e8kno"n re&i'ious matters$ to inc&ude t#e coura'eous s0iritua& 0resence and conduct as a sacramenta& 0riest ,not as a di0&omatist1 of t#e future Po0e Pius P;$ a fe" ot#er facts "i&& #e&0 us to kee0 t#e 0ro0er seAuence and 0ro0ortion. Cor$ b% Ma% of 1/20$ t#e Soviets$ comin' out of t#e east on t#e "a% to 6arsa"$ #ad 0us#ed...as far as .iev (in t#e Okraine*$ "#ic# fe&& to t#em (t#e !o&s#evists* in t#at ver% mont#. Then the tide han&ed.+ ,121 3#e !o&s#eviks$ #o"ever$ sa%s Cat#er Hu'#es$ #ad as a strate'ic aim somet#in' far 'reater t#an t#e mere recover% of .iev or even t#an t#e conAuest of Po&and+F ,128131 Had t#e Soviet forces overcome Po&is# resistance and ca0tured 6arsa"$+ "rote Lord D@5bernon$ !o&s#evism "ou&d #ave s0read t#rou'#out )entra& :uro0e$ and mi'#t "e&& #ave 0enetrated t#e "#o&e continent.+ 3#at t#is is not t#e "i&d eHa''eration of an anti8)ommunist 0artisan is evident from t#e &an'ua'e in "#ic# t#e )ommander8in8)#ief of t#e Russian 5rm% #imse&f described his "lti+ate o):e ti,e. Lecturin' on t#e cam0ai'n of 1/20 to t#e students of t#e Mi&itar% 5cadem% at Mosco"$ in 192? (s#ort&% before Lenin died in ear&% 1/2=*$ Mars#a& 3ukac#evsk% dec&aredF 3#ere is not t#e s&i'#test doubt t#at$ if "e #ad succeeded in breakin' t#e Po&is# 5rm% of bour'eois and sei'neurs$ t#e revo&ution of t#e "orkin' c&ass in Po&and "ou&d #ave been an accom0&is#ed fact. (nd the te+pest *o"ld not ha,e stopped at the Polish f#ontie#. Li6e a f"#io"s to##ent it *o"ld ha,e s*ept o,e# all of %aste#n %"#ope. 3#e Red 5rm% *ill not fo#&et t#is attem0t to carr% t#e revo&ution outside our frontiers$ and if e,e# t#e bour'eoisie braves us to ne" fi'#ts$ t#e Red 5rm% "i&& #"sh it$ and sp#ead the #e,ol"tion th#o"&ho"t %"#ope.+ ,131

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5nd no"$+ Cat#er Hu'#es adds$ in somet#in' &ess t#an fort% da%s$ t#e Po&es retreated (from t#e east* four #undred mi&es before t#e ne" (!o&s#evik* advance.+ ,131 Moreover$ 3#en$ in Nu&% (of 1/20* Minsk (on&% 300 mi&es distant from 6arsa"* fe&& to t#e enem%....3#e situation of Po&and "as no" des0erate$ and it "as 'enera&&% re'arded as #o0e&ess....3o suc# an eH0erienced observer as Lord D@5&bernon$ t#en actua&&% on t#e s0ot$ Not#in' cou&d a00ear more certain t#an t#at t#e Soviet "ou&d ca0ture 6arsa".+ ;t is safe to sa% t#at all %"#ope sha#ed that e3pe tation. 5s t#e 5n'&o8Crenc# mission 0assed t#rou'# )4ec#o8S&ovakia (t#e recent&% created$ un8#istoric 0o&itica& entit%$ t#e fruit of t#e 3reat% of 3rianon*$ President Masar%k (a&so 0erfidious&% anti8Habsbur'* actua&&% did #is best to 0ersuade t#em to abandon t#e enter0rise. !% openl$ sidin' "it# t#e Po&es in t#eir hopeless 0osition *e *o"ld do the+ no &ood- and *e sho"ld do o"#sel,es +" h ha#+. 3#e 0o0u&ation #ere "as +o#e friend&% to t#e !o&s#eviks t#an to t#e Po&es$ and the *hole at+osphe#e *as se #etl$ hostile to Poland. Socia&ists and )ommunists$ e,e#$*he#e$ "atc#ed t#e Russian advance *ith the +ost ea&e# s$+path$. ;n -erman% t#e "orkers cou&d not )e #elied on to #and&e t#e s"pplies destined fo# the Poles . 5t Paris t#e D@5&bernon )ommission "as re'arded as no +o#e than a last despai#in& &est"#e of f"tile s$+path$. :n'&is# 0o&iticians #ad one 0re8occu0ation on&%F to 6eep lea# of an$ entan&le+ent $ "#et#er 6arsa" fe&& or not. Lord )ur4on (in !ritain* cou&d s0eak of t#e eHecutioner@s aHe as a&read% "it#in as an inc# of Po&and@s neck. (6e reca&& #ere t#e .at%n Corest massacre of t#e f&o"er of Po&is# <fficer )or0s t"ent% %ears &ater$ in 1/=0$ and &ess t#an a %ear after t#eir 1B Se0tember 1/3/ invasion of Po&and$ a de&iberate atrocit% "#ic# "as for %ears b&amed on t#e -ermans$ but "as$ in trut#$ ven'efu&&% 0er0etrated b% Sta&in and #is 3artari4ed+ !o&s#evists$ 0art of t#eir 0&anned Pa4 Tartarica.* ,131 3#us$ Cat#er Hu'#es summari4es t#e situation in :astern Po&and in t#e summer of 1/20$ and t#ereb% a&so 0re0ares us to consider "it# 'ratitude t#e 'enerous and nob&e 0riest&% acts of t#e future Po0e Pius P;F 5s t#e "eeks of constant tra'ic &oss "ent b%$ and t#e (0ara&%4ed* rea&i4ation 're" t#at Po&and "as to be &eft to #er fate? tho"&h in defendin& he#self she *as defendin& all that %"#ope 6no*s as i,ili9ation7 0re0arations "ere made to evacuate t#e ca0ita& (6arsa"*....and t#e di0&omatic cor0s 0re0ared to fo&&o" suit. 3#eir do%en (t#e senior di0&omatist of #onor 0resent in 6arsa"* "as the Papal '"n io- =s&#. @atti /the f"t"#e Pope Pi"s A41- tit"la# (# h)ishop of Lepanto / in parti us infideliu!51- /an1 app#op#iate and indeed p#opheti title. ,131

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;n t#is situation$ "e ma% "e&& "onder "#at Ms'r. Ratti #imse&f t#en considered ri'#t&% to be bot# the so"# e and spe ifi ontent of #o0eF the hope and the help of the half-defeated.+

Cor$ indeed$ sa%s Cat#er Hu'#es res0ectfu&&%F He 0resided dai&% at t#e meetin's of t#e ambassadors and #e kne" to a #air "#at t#e 0ros0ects "ere. Di0&omac%$ for t#e moment$ "as at t#e end of its resources. The ho"# had o+e *hen +an has no hope )"t in God (or$ 0er#a0s a&so$ as at t#e !att&e of Le0anto$ in His Mot#er$ Spes #hristianoru!6*$ Ms'r. Ratti te&e'ra0#ed Rome fo# lea,e to #e+ain in 2a#sa* *hate,e# happened. 3#e )at#o&ic bis#o0 (a sacramenta& successor of t#e 50ost&es* cou&d be of service even t#ou'# t#e Nuncio #ad no &on'er an% functions. ; am not$ &ike %ourse&ves$ a di0&omatist on&%. (s a p#iest 4 ha,e the d"t$ of helpin& to 6eep "p this peoples o"#a&e (&est t#e% des0air and 0eris#*$+ #e to&d #is co&&ea'ues (in 6arsa"*. 5nd$ indeed$ in s" h a #isis as this- a Ch#istian Capital )eset )$ an infidel ho#de- *he#e else o"ld an (# h)ishop of Lepanto )e if not *ith the defende#s in the ,e#$ )#ea h. ,131 6e are no" at or near t#e be'innin' of 5u'ust$ 1/20$ sa%s Cat#er Hu'#es$ andF Cor da%s no" t#e menaced cit% #ad &i,en itself to p#a$e#$ and on 5u'ust 6t#$ t#e Ceast of t#e 3ransfi'uration$ a &#eat no,ena )e&an$ to end on t#e t#e Ceast of <ur Lad%@s 5ssum0tion (on 1> 5u'ust*$ and as in some cit% of t#e Midd&e 5'es$ p#o essions sin&in& litanies of inte# ession filed ontin"o"sl$ th#o"&h the st#eets. This spi#it see+s to ha,e )een "ni,e#sal . 6#en t#e Nuncio (Ms'r. Ratti #imse&f* asked t#e Crenc# mi&itar% advisor of t#e a&&ied (t#e above8 mentioned D@5&bernon* )ommission$ -enera& 6e%'and$ *hat his e3pe tations *e#e (t#us "#at #is #o0es "ere*$ t#e so&dier re0&ied t#at a&& t#at "as 0ossib&e #as been arran'ed. The #est #e+ains *ith $o"# &ood p#a$e#s.+ ,131 5s to t#e enem% side$ 3#e !o&s#eviks #ad a&read% nominated the offi e#s "#o "ere to &o,e#n the #e apt"#ed Poland. (3#at is to sa%$ t#e )adre for t#e mi&itar% 'overnment of t#e occu0%in' forces.* ;n t#e "est$ hi&h politi al opinion *as so "nani+o"s in its e3pe tation of the *o#st?t#at t#e !o&s#eviks "ou&d "in (and often t#ose s&ot#fu& or "earied "estern &eaders$ if not in com0&icit% or at &east in s%m0at#%$ "ere even Auite indifferent about t#at f&a'itious resu&t$ as "as to be so a&so after 6or&d 6ar ;;*....;t "as on 5u'ust 1= t#$ 1/20$ t#at t#e !o&s#evik attack on 6arsa" be'an. ,131

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5midst t#e #eav% fi'#tin'$ Cat#er Hu'#es "rites$ t#e Po&es "ere #o&din' t#eir o"n$ )"t ha#dl$ #eali9ed that the$ *e#e not defeated+K ,131 ;ndeed$ Discoura'ement rei'ned su0reme (in 6arsa"* and ur'ent messa'es "ere sent ca&&in' for t#e return of Pi&sudski "#o$ t"o da%s ear&ier (on 12 5u'ust*$ #ad &eft t#e ca0ita& to take over (0ersona&&%* t#e command of the despe#ate +anoe",#e- on *hi h a&ainst all ad,i e- he had sta6ed all ....to t#e 0&eas of t#e 'overnment (in 6arsa"* #e turned a deaf ear. He #ef"sed to #et"#nhopin& a&ainst hope t#at 6arsa" "ou&d #o&d out $et anothe# da$ (unti& 1> 5u'ust$ <ur Lad%@s Ceast Da%* *hile he +ade his &#eat +o,e- an atta 6 on his ene+$s flan6 (and Lines of )ommunication* from #is 0osition "e&& to t#e sout# (and sout#east* of t#e ca0ita& (on t#e "estern side of t#e Listu&a*. His one on ession to the sit"ation "as to be'in #is advance a da% ear&ier t#an #e intended. 5t da"n on 5u'ust 16t# (t#e da% after <ur Lad%@s 5ssum0tion and t#e end of t#e Novena*$ #e moved for"ard and$ after t"o da%s of incredib&% ra0id marc#in'$ #is ra''ed and boot&ess (sic* arm% a+e "p *ith / a+e "pon1 the #ea# of the )esie&in& a#+$. He #ad succeeded be%ond a&& #uman ri'#t of eH0ectation. ,131 Thats :"st li6e the PolesK+ ,>>1 3#e furt#er detai&s of t#eir 0ursuit of t#e ra0id&% "it#dra"in' !o&s#eviks$ fearfu& and in 'reat confusion$ s#ou&d be c&ose&% considered and man% &essons$ time&ess and time&%$ &earned t#erefrom$ in addition to t#e ones t#at -... )#esterton "ou&d #ave us &earn. 3#ere is a 0assa'e from t#e #istorian and -reek statesman$ Po&%bius ,circa 2008117 !.)1$ "#ic# ma% a&so add to our ref&ectiveness in t#is conteHt. ;t comes from The Histories of Poly ius$ !ook ;$ t#e &ast "ords in section 3>$ and it "as es0ecia&&% admired b% MaGor -enera& N.C. ). Cu&&er$ #imse&f a 'reat strate'ic8minded mi&itar% #istorian "it# a s0ecia& attentiveness to t#e mora& factors of "arfare. ;n t#e "ords of t#e 0re8)#ristian 0a'an #istorian$ Po&%bius$ "e readF Cor it is #istor%$ and #istor% a&one$ "#ic#$ "it#out invo&vin' us in actua& dan'er$ "i&& mature our Gud'ment and 0re0are us to take ri'#t vie"s$ "#atever ma% be t#e crisis or t#e 0osture of affairs.+ 6 ,1>11 6e ma% t#erefore no" be #encefort# more attentive in our studies and &ives to t#e #istor% of <ur Lad%@s manifo&d and m%sterious interventions into time$ at ver% uneH0ected times$ a'ainst 'reat
6 See Po&%bius$ The 7ise of the 7o!an E!pire ,Harmonds"ort#$ Midd&eseH$ :n'&andF Pen'uin !ooks$ t#e )&assics$ 1/B/1$ 0. 70. 3#e above s&i'#t&% different trans&ation$ "it# a c&earer s%ntaH$ is to be found in MaGor8-enera& N.C.). Cu&&er$ The #onduct of War8 *9:+;*+<*: A Study of the I!pact of the $rench8 Industrial and 7ussian 7e)olutions on War and Its #onduct ,LondonF :%re J S0ottis"oode$ 1/611$ 0. 1>1?t#e 0assa'e Auoted b% #im comes near t#e be'innin' of #is )#a0ter ;P? 3#e )onduct of 6or&d 6ar ;.+

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odds$ and in subt&e and ins0irin' "a%s of merc%$ in order to #e&0 and 'ive #o0e to t#ose "#o are &o%a& to #er and to #er ;ncarnate Divine Son. < Mar%$ Ho0e and He&0 of t#e Ha&f8Defeated$ 0ra% for us?and mediate to us t#ose indis0ensab&e -races$ i&&uminatin' and fortif%in'$ es0ecia&&% in hora !ortis nostrae. Lest "e a&so$ un0re0ared and un0rovided for$ #ave to face t#e second deat#+ ,Saint 5u'ustine1$ t#e deat# of t#e sou& because of morta& sin. 88Cinis88 Q 2013 Robert D. Hickson

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