Our prayer in prison, flowed clear as spring water

Father Dimitrie Bejan speaking to a group of fathers:

Beloved Father Dumitru, in the name of Jesus Christ and for the glory of God, a group of fathers from the surrounding area asks that you give us some helpful words and spiritual guidance—may they serve as encouragement to all of us on the path of salvation.

– Tell us, what more have you learned in life from the great school of suffering that you experienced so long ago?

– The point is that when you are in suffering, you accept it as redemptive, as ordained by Christ. In this way, suffering becomes easier to embrace, even bringing a certain joy.

– What is the decisive role of prayer in life, and especially during suffering in prison?

– Prayer is our constant link with God. We move from the simple “Lord, help us” to the recitation of Psalm 50. In all our prayers, whether difficult or simple, our hearts must be completely absorbed in the grace God imparts.

– How did you pray during your twenty years in prison, if you are willing to share this great mystery of your soul?

– Our prayer in prison, as in later life, was as clear and refreshing as spring water, in which we could tell God directly everything that weighed on us. We always felt that God heard us and strengthened us to bear our burdens.

– Did you know people in prison who prayed intensely, with tears?

– Yes. Two farmers: Tudor Popescu from near Podu Iloaiei, Iași, and Ion Moldoveanul from near Cluj. Their faces shone as they prayed. Why? They surrendered themselves completely to prayer, and through it, to God.

(Fr. Dimitrie Bejan – The Joy of Suffering. Evocations from the Past, Vol. I, p. 6)