On December 28, 1970, late...
Illustration
On December 28, 1970, late in the evening, in the presence of one witness, Ludmila
Javorova, a woman, a Catholic, was secretly ordained by her bishop. The bishop needed
help ministering to the faithful who were suffering under the communist regime. Most of
his ordained clergy had been imprisoned, forced to join the military, or were in labor
camps. Following the rite of ordination, Ludmila celebrated her First Mass. Walking
home that evening she cried.
Her ordination was kept hidden from the communists and from the remnant Catholic church. Among the hidden church, the Koinotes, her ordination stirred controversy. Yet her bishop, Felix Maria Davidek, defended his actions.
Ludmila was the first. There haven't been any others (at least publicly) since. Will she be the first of many? Time will tell. Jesus rose from the dead. He was the first. There will be many others on the last day.
You can read Ludmila's story in Out of the Depths: The Story of Ludmila Javorova, Catholic Priest by Miriam Therese Winter.
Her ordination was kept hidden from the communists and from the remnant Catholic church. Among the hidden church, the Koinotes, her ordination stirred controversy. Yet her bishop, Felix Maria Davidek, defended his actions.
Ludmila was the first. There haven't been any others (at least publicly) since. Will she be the first of many? Time will tell. Jesus rose from the dead. He was the first. There will be many others on the last day.
You can read Ludmila's story in Out of the Depths: The Story of Ludmila Javorova, Catholic Priest by Miriam Therese Winter.
