Alexander Ratiu
Encyclopedia
Alexander Ratiu was a Romanian Greek-Catholic
priest
, political prisoner
, and author.
He was a priest in Giurtelecu Şimleului, Romania
, and Plainfield, Illinois
.
where he was raised in Moftinu Mic, Sălaj County
(now Satu Mare County
). In Carei, he attended "Vasile Lucaciu
" State High School. Then he studied philosophy at Oradea
, where he was a colleague with Coriolan Tămâian. Also, he attended theological university studies at Blaj
. Then, at Rome
, he attended the Pio Romeno College and Propaganda Fide, where he completed work on a doctorate in theology. He was a classmate for seven years with Virgil Maxim (1923-1997).
, on July 20, 1941, he was ordained a priest of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite
, by bishop Alexander Evreinov
, for the Greek Catholic Diocese of Oradea Mare
in Transylvania
.
In the 1940s he was a priest in Giurtelecu Şimleului, until May 1947, when became a political detainee. In the 1948s, he opposed the Romanian Communist Party
persecution of the Catholic Church, and he refused to renounce his faith.
As a volunteer of the National Peasants' Party
, he worked at an electoral section at the Romanian general election, 1946
. In May 1947, he was a priest in Giurtelecu Şimleului. Between May 1947 and July 1948 he was arrested for his political activity against the Romanian Communist Party
.
In the Summer and the Autumn of 1948, he was for a few months a priest at Greek-Catholic Seminary in Oradea
.
He was arrested again on October 19, 1948 by the Communists and imprisoned for sixteen years, eighteen months in solitary confinement in the Sighet prison
. Between 1948-1964, Raţiu was imprisoned at Căldăruşani, Sighet prison
(May 24, 1950 - July 1955), Gherla
(1955-1959), Jilava
, Băteşti
, and penal colonies Strâmba and Stoieneşti from Great Brăila Island
. He was subsequently placed under obligatory domicile for another two years (1962-1964) - in which he was confined in Lăţeşti, Ialomiţa County
.
in 1970. He returned to the United States
in 1971 with his brother Grigore family. Raţiu met with Pope John Paul II
in Rome
and presented the situation of Greek Catholic Church in Romania
. He served in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois from 1974 until retirement. Ratiu was a priest at St. Mary Immaculate Church, Plainfield, Illinois
(1975-1982).
Raţiu became a member of the Cardinal József Mindszenty Foundation in 1977, and for 25 years served on the Board of Directors, participated in the foundation conferences in St. Louis, Kankakee and Chicago
and gave many talks. An abridged edition of his book Stolen Church was a Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation Christmas gift to members.
Ratiu was generous in his friendship and financial support for countless persons in Romania
seeking to immigrate to the United States
. He helped establish a Romanian Greek Catholic Mission of Saints Peter and Paul in Chicago
(December 1994), and his aptitudes for languages led him to learn Spanish to celebrate Mass for Mexican
migrant workers.
He spoke eight languages fluently.
In 1996, after Communism
was faltering in Romania
, Raţiu returned for a visit to witness the rebirth of Greek Catholic Church
. He preached to large crowds of the faithful as parishes reopened, and attended the consecration of several new bishops for the Byzantine Rite
.
, died Thursday, July 25, 2002 at his home. On his deathbed Raţiu said, "Spiritual freedom gives us courage, the courage to preach. So I preached freely and defended the faith when the persecution began, and I rejoiced when I was arrested."
His funeral took place at the Romanian Greek Catholic Church "Sf. Gheorghe", Aurora, Illinois
, on the morning of July 27, 2002. He was interred in Plainfield, Illinois
.
." For many who suffered imprisonment, it was the first time in their lives that they were forced to rely solely on prayer and God’s support:
After Ratiu's harrowing account of the tortures, deaths, and sadistic treatment all prisoners experienced, these are not words to be taken lightly. It was, of course, a terrible path to piety and virtue. His experiences will ultimately have some spiritually stimulating effect.
Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic
The Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic is an Eastern Catholic Church which is in full union with the Roman Catholic Church. It is ranked as a Major Archiepiscopal Church and uses the Byzantine liturgical rite in the Romanian language....
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
, and author.
He was a priest in Giurtelecu Şimleului, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County...
.
Education
His parents were Elisabeta (b. Chindriş) and Grigore Raţiu. Alexander Raţiu had three brothers: Grigore, Ioan and Emilian. In 1921, his family moved to RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
where he was raised in Moftinu Mic, Sălaj County
Salaj County
Sălaj is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Crișana and Transylvania, with the capital city at Zalău.-Geography:Sălaj county has a total area of ....
(now Satu Mare County
Satu Mare County
Satu Mare County is a county of Romania. The capital city is Satu Mare. Besides Romanians , Satu Mare features a significant ethnic minority of Hungarians .-Demographics:...
). In Carei, he attended "Vasile Lucaciu
Vasile Lucaciu
Vasile Lucaciu was a Romanian Greek-Catholic priest and an advocate of equal rights with the Hungarians in Transylvania....
" State High School. Then he studied philosophy at Oradea
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
, where he was a colleague with Coriolan Tămâian. Also, he attended theological university studies at Blaj
Blaj
Blaj is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania. It has a population of 20,758 inhabitants.The landmark of the city is the fact that it was the principal religious and cultural center of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church in Transylvania....
. Then, at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, he attended the Pio Romeno College and Propaganda Fide, where he completed work on a doctorate in theology. He was a classmate for seven years with Virgil Maxim (1923-1997).
Early Assignments
In RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, on July 20, 1941, he was ordained a priest of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite
Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic
The Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic is an Eastern Catholic Church which is in full union with the Roman Catholic Church. It is ranked as a Major Archiepiscopal Church and uses the Byzantine liturgical rite in the Romanian language....
, by bishop Alexander Evreinov
Alexander Evreinov
Alexander Evreinov was a Russian bishop converted to Catholicism from Russian Orthodoxy. Being a citizen with a noble origin in Saint Petersburg, Evreinov was a member of the Foreign Affairs of Russian nation before his conversion to Catholic faith and ordination to the priesthood...
, for the Greek Catholic Diocese of Oradea Mare
Greek Catholic Diocese of Oradea Mare
The Greek Catholic diocese of Oradea Mare is the Eparchy of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church for the area of Oradea.It was founded in 1777, followers of the Greek Rite having been up to that time under the jurisdiction of the Latin bishop...
in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
.
In the 1940s he was a priest in Giurtelecu Şimleului, until May 1947, when became a political detainee. In the 1948s, he opposed the Romanian Communist Party
Romanian Communist Party
The Romanian Communist Party was a communist political party in Romania. Successor to the Bolshevik wing of the Socialist Party of Romania, it gave ideological endorsement to communist revolution and the disestablishment of Greater Romania. The PCR was a minor and illegal grouping for much of the...
persecution of the Catholic Church, and he refused to renounce his faith.
Political prisoner
"In prison one either goes mad or becomes a saint." |
| Alexander Raţiu |
As a volunteer of the National Peasants' Party
National Peasants' Party
The National Peasants' Party was a Romanian political party, formed in 1926 through the fusion of the Romanian National Party from Transylvania and the Peasants' Party . It was in power between 1928 and 1933, with brief interruptions...
, he worked at an electoral section at the Romanian general election, 1946
Romanian general election, 1946
The Romanian general election of 1946 was a general election held on November 19, 1946, in Romania. Officially, it was carried with 79.86% of the vote by the Romanian Communist Party , its allies inside the Bloc of Democratic Parties , and its associates — the Hungarian People's Union , the...
. In May 1947, he was a priest in Giurtelecu Şimleului. Between May 1947 and July 1948 he was arrested for his political activity against the Romanian Communist Party
Romanian Communist Party
The Romanian Communist Party was a communist political party in Romania. Successor to the Bolshevik wing of the Socialist Party of Romania, it gave ideological endorsement to communist revolution and the disestablishment of Greater Romania. The PCR was a minor and illegal grouping for much of the...
.
In the Summer and the Autumn of 1948, he was for a few months a priest at Greek-Catholic Seminary in Oradea
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
.
He was arrested again on October 19, 1948 by the Communists and imprisoned for sixteen years, eighteen months in solitary confinement in the Sighet prison
Sighet prison
The Sighet prison, located in the town of Sighetu Marmaţiei, Maramureş county, Romania, was used by the communist regime to hold political prisoners...
. Between 1948-1964, Raţiu was imprisoned at Căldăruşani, Sighet prison
Sighet prison
The Sighet prison, located in the town of Sighetu Marmaţiei, Maramureş county, Romania, was used by the communist regime to hold political prisoners...
(May 24, 1950 - July 1955), Gherla
Gherla
Gherla is a city in Cluj County, Romania . It is located 45 km from Cluj-Napoca on the Someşul Mic River, and has a population of 24,083....
(1955-1959), Jilava
Jilava
Jilava is a commune in Ilfov county, Romania, near Bucharest. It is composed of a single village, Jilava.The name derives from a Romanian word of Slavic origin meaning "humid place". Jilava was the location of a fort built by King Carol I of Romania, as part of the capital's defense system...
, Băteşti
Batesti
Băteşti may refer to several villages in Romania:* Băteşti, a village in Brazi Commune, Prahova County* Băteşti, a village administered by Făget town, Timiş County...
, and penal colonies Strâmba and Stoieneşti from Great Brăila Island
Great Braila Island
The Great Brăila Island is an island on the Danube river in the Brăila County, Romania. It has on average 60 km length and 20 km width, with a total area of 710 km²...
. He was subsequently placed under obligatory domicile for another two years (1962-1964) - in which he was confined in Lăţeşti, Ialomiţa County
Ialomita County
Ialomița is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Slobozia.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 296,572 and the population density was 67/km²....
.
Latest Assignments
Eventually, after his release, the Communist authorities allowed him to leave RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in 1970. He returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1971 with his brother Grigore family. Raţiu met with Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and presented the situation of Greek Catholic Church in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. He served in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois from 1974 until retirement. Ratiu was a priest at St. Mary Immaculate Church, Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County...
(1975-1982).
Raţiu became a member of the Cardinal József Mindszenty Foundation in 1977, and for 25 years served on the Board of Directors, participated in the foundation conferences in St. Louis, Kankakee and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and gave many talks. An abridged edition of his book Stolen Church was a Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation Christmas gift to members.
Ratiu was generous in his friendship and financial support for countless persons in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
seeking to immigrate to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He helped establish a Romanian Greek Catholic Mission of Saints Peter and Paul in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
(December 1994), and his aptitudes for languages led him to learn Spanish to celebrate Mass for Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
migrant workers.
He spoke eight languages fluently.
In 1996, after Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
was faltering in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Raţiu returned for a visit to witness the rebirth of Greek Catholic Church
Greek Catholic Church
The Greek Catholic Church consists of the Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine liturgical tradition and are thus in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.-List of Greek Catholic Churches:...
. He preached to large crowds of the faithful as parishes reopened, and attended the consecration of several new bishops for the Byzantine Rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
.
Awards
In 1983 the Polish Freedom Fighters bestowed upon Alexander Ratiu the Solidarity Freedom Award.Death
Alexander Raţiu, 86, of Plainfield, IllinoisPlainfield, Illinois
Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County...
, died Thursday, July 25, 2002 at his home. On his deathbed Raţiu said, "Spiritual freedom gives us courage, the courage to preach. So I preached freely and defended the faith when the persecution began, and I rejoiced when I was arrested."
His funeral took place at the Romanian Greek Catholic Church "Sf. Gheorghe", Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
, on the morning of July 27, 2002. He was interred in Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County...
.
Legacy
Alexander Raţiu remarks that prison had an unexpected effect on priests and other believers, as well as former atheists: "In prison one either goes mad or becomes a saintSaint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
." For many who suffered imprisonment, it was the first time in their lives that they were forced to rely solely on prayer and God’s support:
After Ratiu's harrowing account of the tortures, deaths, and sadistic treatment all prisoners experienced, these are not words to be taken lightly. It was, of course, a terrible path to piety and virtue. His experiences will ultimately have some spiritually stimulating effect.
Works
- Alexander Ratiu and William Virtue, Stolen Church. Martyrdom in communist Romania (Huntingdon, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 1979).
- Alexandru Raţiu, Biserica Furată (Cluj-Napoca: Ed. Argus, 1990).
- Alexandru Raţiu, Persecuţia Bisericii Române Unite [The Persecution of the Romanian United Church] (Oradea: Imprimeria de Vest Publishing House, 1994).
- Alexandru Raţiu, Memoria inchisorii Sighet. Editor Romulus Rusan Buc., Ed.Fund.Acad.Civica, 1999. ISBN 978-973-98437-5-1.
See also
- Anti-communismAnti-communismAnti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
- Cold WarCold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
- Criticisms of communismCriticisms of communismCriticism of communism can be divided into two broad categories: those concerning themselves with the practical aspects of 20th century Communist states, and those concerning themselves with communist principles and theory....
- Criticisms of Communist party ruleCriticisms of Communist party ruleCriticisms of communist party rule have been known since the first days of the first communist government in Soviet Russia, established after the October Revolution of 1917.-Background:...
- History of communismHistory of communismThe history of the political ideology of communism hypothetically stretches all the way from the Palaeolithic up until the present day. However, most modern forms of communism are based upon Marxism, a variant of the ideology formed by the sociologist Karl Marx in the 1840s...
- Reeducation campReeducation campReeducation camp is the official title given to the prison camps operated by the government of Vietnam following the end of the Vietnam War. In such "reeducation camps", the government imprisoned several hundred thousand former military officers and government workers from the former regime of...
External links
- http://www.catholica.ro/stiri/show.asp?id=4032&lang=r
- http://www.procesulcomunismului.com/marturii/fonduri/ioanitoiu/dictionar_r/r/dictionarr_9.htm
- http://www.librarything.com/work/4070222
- http://www.smip.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130&Itemid=128