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Moments in
Time
The
champion of refugees
By GARY MACY
In a time when the world is facing a
flood of refugees that may well swell still further in response to the
continued conflicts in the Middle East, it would be wise to consider the
example of Bishop Deogratias of Carthage who ransomed and cared for the
refugees from the sack of Rome in the fifth century. The story is beautifully
told in the History of the Persecutions in the Province of Africa:
“When the multitude of captives reached the shores of Africa,
the Vandals and Moors divided up the vast crowds of people; and, as is the
custom with barbarians, separated husbands from wives and children from
parents. Immediately Deogratias, the Bishop of Carthage, so full of God and so
dear to Him, set about to sell all the gold and silver vessels of service, and
set [the people] free from enslavement to the barbarians, in order that
marriage might remain unbroken and children be restored to their parents. And
since there were no places big enough to accommodate so large a multitude, he
assigned two famous churches, the Basilica Fausti and the Basilica Novarum,
furnishing them with beds and bedding, and arranging day by day how much each
person should receive in proportion to her or his need.
“And since many were in distress owing to their inexperience
of a voyage by sea and to the cruelty of captivity, there was no small number
of sick people among them. Like a devoted nurse, that saintly bishop went the
round of them constantly with doctors and food, so that the condition of each
was looked into, and every person’s need supplied, in his presence. Not
even at night did he take a rest from this work of mercy; but he kept on going
from bed to bed in his anxiety to know how each was doing. In fact, he gave
himself up to the task so entirely as to spare neither his wearied limbs nor
the weakness of his old age.”
Little need be added to such a powerful example. Let us hope our
churches respond as generously as the church of Carthage whenever and wherever
the need arises.
Gary Macy is a theology professor at the University of San
Diego.
National Catholic Reporter, March 21,
2003
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