WORD OF THE WEEK
LAST year my wife and I went on holiday to Neustift in the Austrian Tyrol. We love to visit the mountains, especially if we can ride up them in a cable car without exerting much energy!
We were blessed with fine weather. There were many spring flowers, but still some snow on the peaks. We were even able to watch skiers on the higher slopes.
In the village of Neustift there is a fine parish church dedicated to St George, built between 1768 and 1780. This replaced an earlier church which became inadequate for the growing population.
The exterior of the church is simple and unadorned but, in stark contrast, the decoration of the interior is highly elaborate and ornate, with many beautiful frescoes.
Surrounding the church is an extensive cemetery.
There are many memorials in stone and marble, similar to what we find in our own graveyards, but in addition, a forest of ornate crosses constructed in wrought-iron.
The whole cemetery is immaculately kept, and decorated with many flowers.
In one corner, there is a war memorial, built in the 1960s. This takes the form of a shelter. There is a large cross in front of a circular opening, through which the light shines.
It bears the inscription, in German, ‘In memory of our fallen soldiers.’
Underneath are the details of the soldiers from the surrounding community who fell in the wars of 19141918 and 1939-1945.
This was a salutary reminder of the losses suffered on both sides of these conflicts. We shall shortly remember those of our own community and country who died.
Let us, at the same time, remember those of other countries who were caught up in these tragic events.
Today, we enjoy good and friendly relations with the people of Austria, Germany, and other countries who were party to these wars.
We should hope and pray that this may long continue.