During the terrible Commune at Paris in the year 1871 a company of armed Communists entered a house of a community of religious Brothers at Picpus, near that city.
As soon as they entered the house the first person they met was Brother Stanislaus, who was only twenty-six years old, whom they at once seized and brought before their chief.
He began by asking the trembling Brother many questions; but one of the wicked men, thirsting for blood, suddenly put a loaded pistol to his breast, and cried out: “Swear that there is no God, other wise I will kill you.”
The terrible Commune at Paris in which the murderous Communists held power between March 18 thru May 28, 1871.
The Brother, raising his eyes to Heaven, calmly but firmly answered: I swear that I firmly believe that there is one God, and with my whole heart I love Him.”
This unexpected answer, so like that made by so many of the early martyrs of the Church, for a moment paralyzed the miscreant, who, instead of firing, turned round to his comrades, and in a tone of rage and anger cried out: “Shall I shoot him?”
“Yes, kill him,” they all exclaimed together “kill him!”
Photo of the execution of Archbishop Georges Darboy and five other hostages at La Roquette prison on May 24, 1871.
The man turned to execute their orders, when his eyes met those of his victim, who stood before him calm and heavenly serene in the presence of death. He could not fire; that gentle look disarmed him, and he lowered his pistol, saying in astonishment: “Look! he stands there so calmly to allow himself to be killed. What a madman!”
The Catechism in Examples Vol.3, Pg. 50 & 51 by Rev. D. Chisholm
Short Stories on Honor, Chivalry, and the World of Nobility—no. 457
