4/4/2024 Syria (Worldwide Christian Concern) — Father Frans van der Lugt, a Dutch Christian, embodied Christ’s commandment to “Love each other as I’ve beloved you.” He absolutely lived out this mandate, following Jesus’ instance on the Method of the Cross.
Settling within the Jesuit Monastery in Homs’ Bustan al-Diwan neighborhood in 1993, Father Frans devoted himself to his religion and group. Regardless of humble lodging — a mattress on the ground surrounded by numerous books — he made the monastery a spot the place many younger folks would go to listen to the phrase of God and learn to dwell it.
When armed teams entered the town of Homs in March of 2011, forcing the evacuation of the town’s Christians, Father Frans remained steadfast, refusing to desert the 66 Christians who couldn’t depart.
Enduring the horrors of siege — starvation, chilly, and sickness — he stood by his folks, rejecting the choice to return to the security of his homeland. He advised one of many younger males about his unwillingness to go away the realm, saying, “I’m the pinnacle of this monastery. How do I depart it? How do I depart Christians? That is inconceivable.” He additionally stated, “There’s additionally a cause that is essential to me. I really like the Syrian folks and (have) lived with them in probably the most lovely of instances, and if the Syrian persons are at the moment struggling, I want to share their ache and issues with them.”
His love for the Syrian folks knew no bounds. Father Frans selected solidarity over consolation, sharing within the struggling of his fellow Syrians. He witnessed their struggles firsthand, from the shortage of meals to the desperation of fogeys unable to feed their youngsters.
Father Frans’ unwavering dedication to his adopted house distinguished him as a real father determine, beloved by all. He was the one international Christian who most well-liked to stay in previous Homs with the besieged residents of the neighborhood, and he repeatedly refused to go away regardless of the evacuations carried out by the United Nations, which helped a whole lot depart the besieged areas of Homs.
Tragically, his selflessness value him his life. On April 7, 2014, armed teams got here to his home, took him out, and shot him twice within the head — a ultimate testomony to his devotion to his religion and the folks he served.
For greater than 35 years, Father Frans lived and died in Syria, abandoning a legacy of affection and sacrifice. His story is a poignant reminder of the profound affect one particular person can have when guided by unwavering compassion and dedication to others.
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