This Week In History: “On that day… a few lucky men saw what God had in mind when He created us in His image”

This week, a particularly magnificent event in the history of this nation went unnoticed. On February 3, 1943, the USS Dorchester was sunk in the north Atlantic.

One of the most extraordinary acts of heroism during World War II occurred in the icy waters off Greenland after a U.S. Army transport ship was hit by a German torpedo and began to sink rapidly. When it became apparent there were not enough life jackets, four U.S. Army chaplains removed theirs, handed them to frightened young soldiers, and chose to go down with ship…

…Amid the disorder, the four Army chaplains quietly spread out among the soldiers, preaching courage to the frightened, offering prayers to the wounded, and guiding the disoriented.

After most of the survivors had struggled up on deck, the four chaplains opened a storage locker and began handing out life jackets. Soon they ran out.

“Padre,” a young soldier hollered, “I’ve lost my life jacket and I can’t swim!”

One of the four chaplains, it is not known which, removed his and said, “Here, take mine. I won’t need it. I’m staying.” The other three followed his example.

“It was,” an eyewitness recalled, “the finest thing I have ever seen or hope to see this side of heaven.”

On that day, on that ship, a few lucky men saw what God had in mind when He created us in His image.

…the last thing seen of the ship by witnesses was the four chaplains, standing on deck with their arms linked, praying as the ship went down.

More on the four chaplains, here, here and here.

The Anchoress noted too, how real faith is expressed.

…bless those who are lonely with a sense of your nearness and consolation. Bless those who are afraid with the presence of your most excellent angels. Give them worthy chaplains, companionship, decent food, restful sleep, and most importantly a sense of satisfaction in duty and clear evidence of the differences they are making for the better, in the lives of those whom they currently train and protect

In the strange and surreal world we live in, radical Islamists are incensed enough to believe that death threats and of threats of violence and terror directed at Christians and Jews are acceptable forms of religious discourse.

Ever agendized, the media and the left have attached a kind of gravitas to this line of thought. As far as the MSM are concerned, the wild, frenzied and dysfunctional behavior are reasonable and rational expressions. The institutionalized hate racism and bigotry are ignored.

It is ironic that the vast majority of Muslims reject the violence out of hand, even as the left and the MSM want to attach credibility to that violence.

As the MSM and the Left engage in a deliberate attempt to redefine religious tolerance and understanding, it bears remembering what real religious tolerance, understanding and elevation looks like. Pope Benedict VI is smeared and maligned by the MSM media who deliberately misrepresent his words and behaviors-  and it is the same MSM that categorizes a vicious and vile bigot as a religious moderate.

The Left and the MSM have a lot to learn about recognizing what is real religious expression.

Real faith is not measured by the lives you take in God’s name. Real faith is in the lives you save in God’s name.