I looked up and I saw the altar scattered. I went straight to the altar. By the right side of the altar I saw the status of the Blessed Virgin Mary untouched and I remembered that that Monday was the memorial of Mary the Mother of the Church. And I told myself: “Of course! that Mary is the Mother of the Church means that she is the mother of the new people of God, not the mother of the physical edifice.” Then I looked up and I said in my mind, “So in your presence here your children were being slaughtered and you did nothing to protect them.” Not long this thought came to me: This is not strange to her; remember she was at the foot of the cross, looking at her only son dying.” Since thought would not stop coming, I had another one: “How the experience might have been for her, looking at her children being slaughtered. Perhaps, she was weeping, crying. Was she trying to help but could not, or what? It was this time the words of the stations of the cross came to me: “What pain would this have caused the Blessed Virgin! But she gave her only Son to God the Father, and she was ready to lose Him rather than impede the work of our redemption” (Fourth Station). I also remembered the words of prophet Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more” (31:15). “Oh! That must have been her experience” I soliloquised. I asked myself another question: “If you were one of the victims, what thoughts would have come to your mind? I could not answer the question, I only sighed. Though the question might have made sense but I soon realised that lying beneath the question was the thought that something should have been done to protect them.
The status of Divine Mercy was at the left side of the altar broken into unequal parties. When I realised that it was the status of Divine Mercy that was broken, what came to my mind was this: “This is a sign that the Mercy of God has been abused and bastardized.” I also looked up and I saw Jesus Christ hanging on a cross. Looking at Him, I said in my mind, “So this also happened in your presence.” Immediately I remembered that he was even hanging on the cross. Still talking to myself, I said, “Perhaps, because He is hanging on the Cross, He could not come down to help them. No, it could have not been so because He is God. Perhaps, He allowed them to partake of His passion that they might share in His glory.” Then I saw the beauty of their suffering, victimisation. Still the event made me sad. I went to the sacristy, I saw blood there. I came out of sacristy and walked round inside the Church painted with blood. Since an assault on the Church is an assault on Jesus Christ, I can say I saw a church bathed with the Blood of Jesus Christ. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, is bathed with the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Church in Ondo Diocese is bathed with the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Church in Nigeria is bathed with the Blood of Jesus Christ. The universal Church is bathed with the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Now that I have put this down I can have rest of mind. I put it down because the thought was disturbing me and I usually deal with disturbing thought by putting it down. I shared it in case you might find it useful. If you find it useful, give God all the glory. If it has been a waste of time, pardon me for wasting your time.
May the souls of all who died in the terrorist attack at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, and all the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. May those who are still in hospitals have quick recovery. May all the victims be consoled and ever strengthened in faith. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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