Evangelization: Like They Used to Do It

            And yet there, in the midst of what is called the Latin Quarter in what is probably the best preserved “Old Town” in all of Europe, there thrives a small enclave of Catholic traditionalists humbly, but boldly,  bent upon converting their country and the entirety of Europe back to the Kingship of Christ.

            I have come to the conclusion that the “spell” which this country and its Catholic folk cast over us is somehow due to a kind of intuitive perception that there is something in the place and its people that just might enable them to do just that. Despite the odds, they have held a week-long international Festival (Trialogos) every year for over 10 years, centered upon the discussion of philosophical theological, and artistic issues as a means of transforming their country into a Christian culture. And, again against all odds, they operate an 800 student Lyceum fully dedicated to teaching methodologies and content established upon Catholic principles. And even more astounding, both Festival and School receive State funding.

            It does not surprise one, therefore, to discover that there is always something supernatural  lurking around the proverbial Estonian corner. Estonia’s highest honorary award to a foreigner, for instance, is “The Cross of St. Mary’s Land” (Maarjamaa Rist). The title given to Estonia as “St. Mary’s Land (Maarjamaa), very popular in its literary and musical tradition, dates all the way back to the early Middle ages. In 1201 Bishop Albert of Bremen, on a mission to convert the pagan tribes of Livonia to Christianity dedicated all Livonia (including southern Estonia), to the Virgin Mary. Applying for confirmation of the dedication to the Pope, it was granted by the 4th Lateran Council of 1215 and officially proclaimed by Pope Innocent III. By that act, participation in a crusade or pilgrimage to Livonia was regarded as equal to a trip to the Holy Land.

            I think that what I sense about Estonia is that there is something marvelous just beneath the surface which is striving with all its might to be born. Somehow this thing is also very tied up with music and song. Possibly the most extraordinary documentary film I have ever seen is one titled The Singing Revolution, which documents the attainment of Estonia Independence from Soviet Rule, not through violent revolution, but quite literally through song. The Estonians are famous for their “Singing Festivals” which draw 25 – 30 thousand singers from throughout Estonia to the Tallinn “Singing Stadium”, with hundreds of thousands of spectators present. At the heart of the Singing Revolution and the Festivals is a song titled Ilus Maa, which contains the following lyrics performed to an absolutely powerfully militant cadence:

The Earth should be filled with songs and children.

And it should be fought against everything strange and hostile.

Hostile and deceitful and fought whenever possible.

Whenever possible and necessary as life is but temporal.

And the future, the land and the past will be left with our children.

The earth should be filled with children, and children’s grandchildren,

As the present needs being and the arrival of the future.

In this struggle for the Catholic future of Estonia and all of Europe, these Estonian Catholics (through their Institute for the Culture of Life, St. Michael’s Society) have now undertaken a plan to translate into Estonian, and publish, a series of two dozen encyclicals, etc dedicated to Catholic social transformation.  Any traditional Catholic will fondly recognize the titles: such things as Pope Pius IX’ Quanta Cura, and his Syllabus; seven of the great social encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII; Pope St. Pius X’s encyclical Pascendi, his letter on The Sillon and his Oath Against Modernism; seven encyclicals by Pope Pius XI, including Mortalium Animos and Quadragesimo Anno; and two by Pope Pius XII.

            It is difficult for us to understand what a significant influx of Catholic thinking into Estonian culture this project would represent. As Varro Vooglaid, from the Institute,

has written, “It feels as if, in a certain sense, we are savages, on a continent not yet discovered by the Christian civilization.” Imagine what it is like to have virtually no good Catholic books translated into your own language:  no Papal encyclicals at all except for 3 or 4 of the post-Vatican II variety, none of the writings of any of the Saints or doctors of the Church, and not even a Catholic version of the Bible, etc.

            It is my belief that something very important waits to be born in Estonia. If any of Christian Order’s readers would help out with this project, it would be greatly appreciated. With no episcopal backing whatsoever, they have managed to raise about 40% of the necessary funds, but are still in need of about 3200 euros (five thousand dollars). This is a chance for traditional Catholics to participate, in the most classical sense, in the evangelization of a land which already belongs to Mary – a country which in some mysterious fashion, despite all efforts to the contrary, still sees her face and celebrates her presence.

            The address for contributions is:

The Institute for the Culture of Life, St. Michael’s Society

Vene str 22

10123 Tallinn

Estonia