When communism threatened to come to power in Austria, Father Pavlicek sprang into action. With the Fatima message and the rosary, he chased away the Soviets.
“Do as I say, and there will be peace": how Father Pavlicek saved Austria from Communism
In the heart of 20th-century Austria, a remarkable story unfolded amid the turbulent winds of political turmoil. One man steadfastly resisted the encroaching wave of communism. His name was Father Pavlicek, and his weapon was only a string of beads and fervent prayers. The unexpected hero in this story of resistance was none other than Holy Rosary himself, who miraculously expelled communists from Austria in 1955.
Austria under the Threat of Communism
In post-war Europe, communism spread and divided the continent. Austria, at the heart of Europe, was under pressure as the Iron Curtain descended. The proud Austrian people, rooted in Catholicism, faced the atheist threat. Between them stood Father Petrus Pavlicek, whose life was inseparable from the fate of his homeland.
Father Peter's early Years
Born in the aftermath of World War I, Petrus Pavlicek lost his mother at an early age. Growing up in Vienna and Olomouc, his life was marked by conflict. As a boy, he felt called to a religious life, but later became indifferent. In 1935, during a serious illness, he underwent a conversion that reaffirmed his vocation. Inspired by St Francis of Assisi, he joined the Franciscans and was ordained a priest in 1941.
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Captured and freed
Father Peter was arrested by the Gestapo, accused of conscientious objection, but acquitted after a trial on 13 May 1942. He later marched to the western front lines as a sick nurse, where he was captured by US troops on 15 August 1944. At the POW camp in Cherbourg-Octeville, he served as a camp priest and offered comfort to fellow prisoners.
Meeting with Our Lady of Fatima
During his imprisonment, Fr Pavlicek first heard about Our Lady of Fatima through a simple leaflet, which caused a profound spiritual awakening. After his release on 16 July 1945, he began a new phase of servitude in Vienna.
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The Power of the Holy Rosary
On his return, Fr Pavlicek found Austria under Russian Communist rule. In February 1946, he undertook a pilgrimage to Mariazell, where he received an inner message from Our Lady: ‘Do as I say, and there will be peace.’ Determined, he founded the Crusade of Penance of the Holy Rosary for World Peace in February 1947.
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The Rise of the Crusade
In September 1948, Father Pavlicek introduced penitential devotions in a Capuchin church in Vienna. These included sermons, confessions, blessings and praying the rosary. He called these devotions ‘’prayer attacks’ because he believed that ’peace is a gift of God, not the work of politicians.’ Monthly processions with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima grew steadily, with an annual celebration on September 12.
Victory through Prayer
Despite opposition, especially from Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, Father Pavlicek persevered. By 1955, more than half a million Austrians had committed to daily prayers to Our Lady of Fatima. In March 1955, the Soviets unexpectedly invited Austria to a conference. Intensive prayers followed, and in April the Soviets withdrew. On 15 May 1955, the allies signed a treaty and on 26 October, the last Russian soldier left Austrian soil.
Gratitude and Inspiration
In Vienna, jubilant crowds marched with torches and rosaries, while Prime Minister Raab offered a prayer of thanks. This marked the culmination of years of prayer and sacrifice. Fr Pavlicek's story reminds us of Our Lady's call at Fatima to pray the rosary daily. Just as he drove communists out of Austria, the rosary remains a powerful tool for overcoming modern challenges.