St Roque González and Companions

The light shineth in the darkness.
And the darkness may not overcome it.
The history of the Jesuit missions in Paraguay may be a vision of bleakness.
But a lamp though extinguished was lit .

I recall my visit there and the Guarani people.
And I recall the power of the film, The Mission.
All now is peaceful.
But in the eighteenth century the people were under slavery’s submission.

The Jesuits had a choice.
To sacrifice their order or the missions, myself or yourself.
St Roque did find his voice.
And sacrificed himself.

Do we compromise, we must work in the world, the world is thus.
Or do we recognise, no thus we have made the world, I have made it thus.