Fatima
Prime Minister assured Father Pavlicek,
those who had prayed so zealously for their
"Even ifjust the two of us be present, I will
country's freedom.
go. My country demands it!" Indeed, on
Their faith having been sufficiently
every solemn occasion, he was there — candle and rosary in hand — accompanied
tried, the grace was given. On March 24,
by the members of his cabinet. When
Austrians to a conference. Believing that
Julius Raab succeeded Leopold Figl as
his nation's fumre would be sealed in
1955, their Soviet governors invited the
Prime Minister in 1953, he also assumed
Moscow, Prime Minister Raab entreated
his place in the great processions.
Father Pavlicek before his departure,
The Crusade continued to expand,
spreading throughout Austria and over flowing into neighboring Germany and Switzerland. By 1955, more than a half
"Please pray, and ask your people to pray harder than ever."
To the world's surprise, the Soviets
million Austrians — about one in ten —
announced in April that they would with draw their troops from Austria in just
had pledged to pray daily to Our Lady of
three months. On May 15, the Allied
Fatima, begging her for the conversion of
powers that occupied Austria signed a
sinners, peace in the world, and freedom for Austria. An even greater number took
treaty guaranteeing her independence. Austria was free of occupation — Soviet occupation, in particular.
part in the Marian processions and in storming heaven with assaults of prayer. A test of faith
Throughout this time, peace confer
Russian soldier left Austrian soil, some thing that could only be said of Germany in
Fr. Petrus Pavlicek was bom in Innsbruck-Wllten, In the Austrian Tyrol, on January 6,1902. His parents, Augustln Pavlicek, an officer In the Imperial army,
1995.
end Gabriele Alscher Pavlicek, came from
On October 26, 1955, the last
Moravia. As a young boy, he felt called to
ences were being held in London between
In Vienna, the multitudes marched in
representatives of the victorious Allied
the religious life, but grew Indifferent In
nations and a delegation from Austria. In eight years, 260 meetings were held with
procession — torches and rosaries in hand — gratefully bearing Our Lady of Fatima, their deliverer from communist enslave
out reaching a concrete conclusion regard ing Austria's fate.
ment. Their overflowing hearts echoed the prayer of thanksgiving offered by their
ness, he received the grace of conver sion, resolving once again to embrace hia
The Cold War intensified, and com
Prime Minister:
munism refined its methods of religious persecution in the occupied countries. It
'Today, we, whose hearts are full of faith, cry out to Heaven in joyful prayer:
seemed that God wanted to test the faith of
We are free. O Mary, we thank Thee!" ■
later years. In 1935, during a grave Ill
vocation. On December 14,1941, he was
ordained a priest of the Capuchin Order. Serving In the health services of the
German army, he was captured by the Allies on August 15,1944. Released on
July 16,1945,the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, he returned to Austria.There
he founded the Crusade of Reparation of the Holy Rosary,to which he dedicated the remainder of his life. He died on
December 14,1982.
Praying at Mariazeli, Father Pavlicek heard Each September 12 thousands gather in Vienna to thank the Mother of God for the signal
grace granted Austria in 1955 through her Intercession.
an Interior voice say,"Do as I say and you will have peace." Photos in this article.'Expelled by the Roaary" Courtesy of Rosenkram-SQhnekreuzzug urn den Frteden der Welt, Austria JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1999
19