“We knew very little about the organization that Fr. Lawrencewas running,” recalled Fr. Julius. “He did not want us to have toomuch information that could endanger the others.”All together, there were four cells of novices and brothers studyingfor the priesthood in 1956, adding up to between 15 and 18young men.While the young men may not have known each other, they allknew and loved Fr. Lawrence for hisspiritual guidance, his personal love forthem, and his belief in their futures.Life for this 47-year-old consistedof one cat-and-mouse game after anotherwith the persistent, if not totallycompetent, Soviet security forces. Hewent to extraordinary lengths to avoidhaving his secret work threaten any ofthose around him.“Fr. Lawrence,” said Fr. Roch recently,“risked his life daily on ourbehalf.”“We only risked a year or two injail,” he added.“When you are young,” insisted Fr. Roch, “you enjoy goingagainst the stated order of things. We enjoyed adventure, especiallyfor the sake of Christ.”AS FR. ANSELM CONCLUDED HIS PITCH to thebrothers at the General House in April 1957, he mayhave believed that their little talk had gone well. He hadcommunicated to the brothers that they were needed inDallas; they would have a home and a job. They would not haveto spend five or more frustrating years searching as Fr. Anselm, Fr.Louis, and other pioneers had.But with 20 years and lots of history separating them, the brothersviewed things differently.“We did not realize that Fr. Anselm was in a mode of trying topersuade people to join him,” Abbot Denis said recently in reflectingon the conversation in April 1957. “We did not leave Hungarybecause he had a problem.“He didn’t seem to care why we left Hungary,” he added.“It was just too soon for us to begin thinking of such a future,”Abbot Denis emphasized. “We were still grieving about the worldwe had left behind. We were still traumatized and we needed to behandled with kid gloves.”Fr. Anselm’s perceived message, “You must go to America, like itor not,” struck a sour note with the instructions delivered by Fr. Lawrence,“Stay in Europe so you might return to Hungary one day.”“We could not even locate Dallas on a globe in those days,” recalledAbbot Denis.Most of the brothers studying in Rome had not known each otherin Hungary, but their common experiences and new closeness led tofast friendships.They shared with each other their activities as undergroundseminarians and their unanimous affection for Fr. Lawrence (and hislieutenants) who represented the martyred Zirc so well.They knew each other’s sadness in parting from their families,friends, and homes.Over the next several years, they compiled their experiences“It was just too soon forus to begin thinking of[America]. We were stillgrieving about the worldwe had left behind.”from their four years in Rome into a diary. Capturing tales, photos,and cartoons of youthful exuberance, inside jokes, a summer inParis, trips to abbeys in the Alps, and a vacation to Venice, the threevolumes symbolize the bonds the brothers enjoyed.Their stance on going to America softened during this time.The young men had begun looking to the future, and during theearly sixties, the future appeared dismal in Hungary and in Europe.They hoped to preserve a chance toreturn to Hungary and to Europe; butfor now, they accepted America as theirnext destination. (Fr. Anselm’s storiesof the snakes, skunks, and scorpionsthat plagued the facility did, however,give them pause).In Dallas, a second wing had beenadded to the monastery, and a thirdwas contemplated. Fr. Anselm hopedthat soon the community might earnrecognition as an independent prioryor abbey.In pursuit of this goal, Fr. Anselmasked all <strong>Cistercian</strong>s outside Hungary in 1961 to profess a vow ofstability to Dallas (in place of their vow to Zirc). Most did so willingly,although some in Dallas and in Europe preferred to maintaintheir ties to Zirc.Towards the young men in Rome, however, Fr. Anselm felt differently.They represented the long-term future of the communityand he believed they should pledge their stability to Dallas.Of the three, Br. Denis most eagerly took exception to Fr. Anselm’sposition. The former law student believed stability to be a privatematter, one outside the authority of his new superior.Legalities aside, the issue kicked up a sea of emotions for Br.Denis and his two colleagues.The brothers were prepared to give themselves to Fr. Anselm andthe work in America (which they had never even visited); but, theirvery identities were tied up in the issue of stability.Their difficult lives as underground seminarians had been inspiredby an imprisoned abbot and nurtured by a vagabond novice master.They felt they owed their vocations to Abbot Wendelin, Fr.Lawrence, and others of the persecuted church in Hungary whorefused to buckle under Soviet oppression.The brothers wanted to honor these beacons of faith, duty, anddefiance that had shaped their values. So at their final vows, theypledged their stability to the Abbey of Zirc.— Abbot Denis Farkasfalvy,on the first meeting with Fr. Anselm in 1957THE REFUGEES OF 1956 MOVED to Our Lady of Dallasbetween 1960 and 1964. Many of the differences which first surfacedin the late fifties and early sixties would continue to play a role in thedevelopment of the abbey and its prep school for years to come.This gathering of beleaguered immigrants — each traumatizedby his own dark chapter of Hungarian history — could not be expectedto live without some difficulties.But differences failed to distract the <strong>Cistercian</strong>s from the goalsinspired by Zirc. In fact, this Hungarian blend of temperaments,talents, and generations would forge on the North Texas prairie apowerful and winning destiny all its own.One that would have made Abbot Wendelin and Fr. Lawrenceproud.david@stewartpublications.com14 The <strong>Continuum</strong>
StandingtogetherWhen challenges call,leaders in the Classof 20<strong>09</strong> respondStory by Tom PruitPhotography by Jim ReischSTUDY BUDDIESPresidential Scholarcandidate MichaelLawson ’<strong>09</strong> (center)reviews an assignmentwith (l-r) Austin Branch’<strong>09</strong>, and Will Garnett ’<strong>09</strong>.<strong>Winter</strong> 20<strong>09</strong>FALL, WHENthe first boy came into send his first onlineapplication,” “LASTremembered College CounselorJanet Bucher-Long, “eight otherscame with him.”“They cheered when he hit the‘payment’ button, and threw a partyaround him once he hit ‘submit,’”she laughed.“His application was the first forall of them — they threw themselvesinto his ‘moment’ as if itwere their own.”Such triumphant moments havebeen many for the Class of 20<strong>09</strong>.And in each, the student whoemerged to lead the way found hispeers at his back.“They are truly remarkable forthe genuine support they give oneanother,” said Bucher-Long.15
Change language