SISTER MARGHERITA MARCHIONE, Ph.D.
In this time of historical revisionism, truth and accuracy fall victim to
hidden agendas and political correctness. Nowhere is this more evident than in
the many recent scurrilous attacks on Pope Pius XII. The time is long overdue
for setting the record straight, and Sister Margherita Marchione does just that
in her books.
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Author of over 150 articles
and 50 books.
Books include:
- Americans of
Italian Heritage
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Yours Is a Precious Witness:
Memoirs of Jews and Catholics in
Wartime Italy
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Twentieth Century Italian Poetry
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Philip Mazzei, World Citizen
- Consensus & Controversy
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Honors include:
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Fulbright Scholar
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Columbia University Garibaldi Scholar
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Star of Solidality of the Republic of Italy
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Induction into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame.
- Sister is a Professor Emerita at
Fairleigh Dickinson University.
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A Statement For These Times
The past experience of the consequences of terrorism in the USA, when hijacked
airliners crashed into the World Trade Center, has affected all Americans. It
was the worst day in the history of our Country. So many innocent people
perished - the result of such unfathomable wickedness - and for these victims
and their families all Americans continue to pray. We pray for protection of
our nation, for wisdom of our leaders, and for the suffering victims of
terrorism in our Country and throughout the world.
This photo of a child presenting an American Flag to Pope Pius XII after World
War II, is a reminder of past terrorism and a symbol of the present
demonstration of respect and love for the red, white, and blue by the American
people.
I am reminded of the year 1943, when millions of Jews and other Europeans
suffered the horrors of the Holocaust. The eternal city was bombed during a
two-hour attack. The Holy Father hurried from the Vatican to the streets of
Rome. He stood in the midst of the terrorized people as buildings collapsed
in piles of smoldering rubble and bombs exploded on all sides. The Romans ran
toward him for guidance and strength. With hands and cassock smeared with the
blood of the dead and the wounded, he blessed them. Then, Pope Pius XII
consoled his flock and took care of the immediate needs of the victims. He was
acclaimed "Defensor Civitatis."
Today, Americans look toward their leaders for inspiration as they help
sustain the victims of terrorism and continue to carry the American Flag with
love and pride in the USA.
A Recent Honor
From "Inside the Vatican" Magazine, January, 2003
The Ten Top People of 2002
There are many men and women of faith among us, many who are seeking to
follow Christ by serving the poor, the Gospel, and peace. Here are 10 such
people among a “cloud of witnesses.”
Selecting 10 people out of many billions for recognition as “People of the
year” is evidently a partial and imperfect endeavor. There are so many
people who have done so much during the year 2002 that choosing 10 from
among them inevitably overlooks dozens, hundreds, thousands, even millions
deserving of recognition, from children to old people, from mothers and
fathers of families to vowed men and women religious, from doctors and
nurses to poets and artists, why then, do we even attempt this “foolish”
task?
We do so because we think the wisdom outweighs the folly. And this is the
wisdom: in a world where the most popular journals recognize as “People of
the Year” rock stars and fashion models, billionaire business tycoons and
millionarie athletes, we think it is a special contribution we can make to
the “culture of life” to choose 10 people who, in one way or another, are
spending their lives on behalf of others: working with the poor, or for the
poor; protecting the unborn, or praying for them; helping to build a more
peaceful society in places where violent forces are threatening to bring
chaos and war; helping to build the kingdom of God through their work and
their prayer.
This year we chose 10 people, three women and seven men, three lay people
and seven in religious life, from Italy, England, Russia, the United States,
the Netherlands, Vietnam and Poland. We propose these 10 people as models of
the Christian culture Pope John Paul II sees as a sign of hope for our
world.
The Editor - Inside The Vatican
Another Honor
On October 15, 2003, Sister Margherita Marchione received the papal award,
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross for her work in promoting the truth about
Pope Pius XII. This Award from Pope John Paul II was presented at Villa
Walsh, by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Frank Rodimer, Bishop of
Paterson.
In her remarks, Sister Margherita stated:"I accept the Award in the name of
the Religious Teachers Filippini, as I repeat the words of Our Lady: ‘My
soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!’ (Magnificat anima mea Domine!).
These words inspire me today as they did on June 12, 1938, when I knelt
before this altar and dedicated my life to the Church and to the Pontiff.
I have never regretted my decision to serve God. I was 16 years old."
After thanking Bishop Frank Rodimer and the guests present, she addressed
the students of Villa Walsh Academy: "In 1924, a New Jersey State Charter to
establish a High School was granted to the Religious Teachers Filippini. It
is now known as Villa Walsh Academy! You may not be aware of this fact: I
belong to the Class of 1938. As I look at you, I think of the past sixty
years of teaching on all levels and of the thousands of students I remember
and love.
"For several years, I have defended Pope Pius XII against the calumnies and
misrepresentations about his so-called "silence" and "anti-Semitism" during
World War II. This is not true! Documents show that Pius XII was not
anti-Semitic. He was not silent. He chose to be prudent. Had he taken a more
public stand, he would have endangered the lives of thousands of Jews who,
at his direction, were hidden in 155 convents and monasteries in Rome alone.
The Religious Teachers Filippini saved 114 Jewish men, women and children in
three convents. In gratitude to our Sisters, the Jews presented a five-foot
statue of the Madonna which remains on the fourth floor of the convent where
60 Jews were hidden during the Nazi occupation of Rome.
"Pius XII was a saintly man, a man of peace and compassion. Allow me to tell
you a story. One day, Pius XII learned that a woman and her extremely
deformed son had arrived in Rome and had been refused an audience. He was
indignant, and immediately ordered his car to be sent to the mother and
child. When they arrived, he took the boy in his arms and asked the mother
what had been done for him. "I took him to Lourdes because doctors could do
nothing. There was no miracle, but my son wanted to see you. We want the
assurance that God is with us." The Pope warmly gave her that faith, as he
comforted them, blessing her and the young child he held in his arms.
"A friendly human being, Pius XII greeted everyone with a smile in his eyes
and spoke to each one as a friend. Always a gentleman, he tried to save
people from embarrassment. One American congressman asked him to bless a
package of medals. He accidentally pulled out of his pocket a pack of
cigarettes. The Pope blessed it. As the congressman put it back in his
pocket, he blushed with embarrassment, but the Pope laughed and then blessed
the medals.
"Pius XII strongly condemned the anti-Semitic persecutions, the oppression
of invaded lands and the inhuman conduct of the Nazis. He urged the
Christian resoration of family life and education, the reconstruction of
society, the equality of nations, the suppression of hate propaganda and the
formation of an international organization for disarmament and maintenance
of peace. He was a champion of peace, freedom, human dignity. He encouraged
Catholics to look on Christians and Jews as their brothers and sisters, all
children of a common Father. Pope John Paul II consistently praised Pius
XII. This generation should be talking about the debt of gratitude it owes
the saintly Pope Pius XII, not maligning him! I challenge you to help me
spread the truth and obtain justice."
Sister Margherita closed her acceptance of the Award from His Holiness, Pope
John Paul II with the prayer "that the Holy Spirit increase in each of us,
the wisdom to promote dialogue and to seek the ideal of one world" with love
for one another, with hope in the integrity of future generations, and with
faith in the Almighty Father of us all."
A leading scholar on the life of Pope Pius XII, this Italian-American nun
has led the fight to defend Pius against charges that he did little on
behalf of Jews during World War II.
Margherita Marchione, 81, a sister with the Religious Teachers Filippini,
breaks every mold her heritage, calling and age might suggest.
Her Italian parents, immigrants to America, were dismayed when their
cherished youngest daughter at age 13 announced she was leaving home for the
convent.
As a sister in a conservative order, she nevertheless attended the secular
Columbia University in New York City, earning a Ph.D.
Now, at age 81, she travels the world, promoting causes that have earned her
the name, the Fighting Nun.
In a habit she’s worn since 1938, only slightly modified, Sister Margherita
balances her devotion to God and her passion for scholarship. As a dedicated
member of her order, she still serves as the treasurer at the Villa Walsh
motherhouse in Morristown, New Jersey, where we visited her. But she also is
active in the secular world, serving on the New Jersey Historical
Commission.
This tiny nun, a little more than five feet tall, has been described as
charming, courageous and compassionate. The woman we met deserves the
epithet “feisty.” Indeed, her latest “mission,” as she describes it, tends
to incite feistiness. She is a passionate champion of the canonization of
Pope Pius XII.
But Pius, once internationally acclaimed as “saintly,” is now widely
vilified.
So, Sister Margherita has gone on the offensive. She has several titles in
print on the subject of Pope Pius, including a biography, Pope Pius XII:
Architect for Peace. Two books tackle head-on the history of the Holocaust
in Italy and the Pope’s role. Consensus and Controversy: Defending Pope Pius
XII, and Yours Is a Precious Witness: Memoirs of Jews and Catholics in
Wartime Italy make a strong case for the active role the Vatican and
Italians took to save many Jews. Her latest book is Shepherd of Souls: A
Pictorial Life of Pope Pius XII.
Even in her autobiography, The Fighting Nun: My Story, she devotes more than
two chapters to setting the record straight.
The British historian John Cornwell in his book, Hitler’s Pope: the Secret
History of Pius XII, claims the Pope’s silence during the Holocaust
condemned thousands of Jews to death by the Nazis. He further argues that
Pius cut deals with Hitler in order to save German Catholics from
persecution by the Nazis. Ultimately, Cornwell condemns Pope Pius as an
anti-Semite who was a willing agent to Hitler’s master plan.
“Absolutely untrue!” bellows the tiny nun. (She has argued with Cornwell on
several occasions on radio and television.) Was Pope Pius silent? No,
actually he spoke out officially on several occasions against Hitler and the
actions of Nazi Germany. Moreover, those official statements had violent
repercussions in Germany and Poland: in Dachau alone, 2,800 priests were
imprisoned. More than half died there.
What Pope Pius determined was that the Church, and Rome, could do more good
by acting quietly besides speaking officially against Hitler. To that end,
convents, monasteries, even the Vatican itself, on the Pope’s orders, were
opened as havens for Jews. One amazing photograph in Sister Margherita’s
collection shows a dozen young Jewish mothers holding their infants in what
is captioned “The Nursery.” The tapestry visible in the background has the
Pope’s coat-of-arms: the Pope gave up his private quarters to house these
women and their babies.
As a member of the Religious Teachers Filippini, Sister Margherita has
access to the sisters of her order in Italy who participated in the
sheltering of Jews. They share stories of setting up their cots throughout
the convents, including the basements, so Jewish families could have the
small bedrooms.
After the “fighting nun,” takes apart her opponent’s arguments, she asks the
compelling question, “Why?”
“Controversy sells, and they are making money,” Sister Margherita says of
Cornwell and others.
But why are Time magazine, the Washington Post and most especially, the New
York Times so eager to promote and praise what has been proven to be
inaccurate writing?
“By discrediting Pope Pius XII, the Church is discredited,” Sister
Margherita suggests. “He was widely admired and is now no longer widely
known. If his voice of moral authority, thus the Church’s moral presence,
can be taken out of the social ratio, the media’s voice is empowered.”
Fighting words from the fighting nun. She has a spirit and a voice that are
hard to ignore.
Click here for a listing of Sr. Marchione's books.
A recent article by Sr. Margherita
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