Faith of our fathers

Henry and Ottilie's 50th wedding anniversary

It was never my intention to use this blog as a platform for sermons or any discussion of religious matters … however … when one considers the lives of Heinrich and Ottilie, some mention of their faith is warranted.

The story is told of a visit by the local clergyman to the home and family of great grandfather Michael. Michael was born into the Romanian Orthodox Church. His first wife and children were all baptized into the Roman Catholic Church. Michael’s second wife, Ludwika Brodt, our paternal great grandmother and the children born to her were baptized into the Lutheran Church. In that era, the Catholic Church held that the only place to read and learn from Holy writ was in Church, and then only at the hands of ordained Priests. They did not encourage parishioners to keep a copy of the Bible. Lutheran doctrine and policy, of course, challenged that idea. The clergyman, who we may safely assume was of the Roman Catholic Church, suggested to Michael that the Bible should be removed from the home. As patriarch of the home, Michael exercised his authority as the head of the household by advising the clergyman,  

“The Bible stays, But you can go.”

From this we may surmise that in the childhood home of Heinrich, the Bible was present, accessible, and valued.

I do not have any similar knowledge or stories of the observation of faith in the Wolf household. I can only judge by the faith, devotion and piety demonstrated by our grandmother Ottilie, that they were not passive in the matter of their religion. 

Grandma and Grandpa Ursaki were devote Lutherans and I would venture an opinion that in their era, the fellowship of those of like faith was more than a social convenience. It was in practical reality, essential to a family’s security and well being. I would further suggest that government social programs, while well intentioned, have not improved on what fellowship in the Church provided, this, more to the credit of the parishioners than the clergy.  

For me, the most enduring example of our grandparents' faith (and Christian ethos) is that they were accepting of all people regardless of which church they might attend. Grandpa and Grandma were Lutherans by birth but never opposed their son Frank’s association with the Catholic Church or Harold’s association with the Latter Day Saints (Mormons).

What was apparently important and central to them was faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind. If they were yet alive in our multi-cultural, multi-denominational world, I choose to believe that they would be tolerant of any person true to their faith, whatever that might be.

In that spirit, I offer you this Season's Greetings that has echoed down through more generations than we know, and God willing, will echo forward for countless generations through Heinrich and Ottilie:

Merry Christmas

&

God Bless Us, Everyone

                                                          Michael Ursaki

Hopefully, Mike won't mind if I (Sandra) add a little to this post.  

In 1989, I was able to go to Regina and spend a few days with Grandma Ursaki. It had been many years since I had been able to spend any time with Grandma and it was precious time for me.  I was there over a Sunday, and as you all know, Grandma attended her German Lutheran congregation very faithfully.  She, however, knew that I attended the Mormon church very faithfully and she offered to attend the local Mormon services with me.  I told her I would enjoy, very much, going to Lutheran services with her which we did.  On our way there she said "I don't think God really cares which church we attend . . . He just wants us to show up"!  

Grandma had many friends from different ethnic backgrounds and different religions.  The only things that I really remember her being intolerant of were unkindness (especially to children), injustice, meanness, etc.   She didn't just proclaim herself to be a Christian, rather she went about her life doing the things that Jesus said to do . . . feed the hungry, clothe the naked, lift up the hands that hang down, give the weary a place to rest . . . that was Grandma.  To her, Jesus wasn't just a remote, untouchable diety . . . He was her friend and advocate.  Most of us know that her favorite hymn in all the world was "How Great Thou Art".  In a recent exchange of emails that I had with Patty, we agreed that we couldn't hear that hymn without tearfully thinking of Grandma!  And my guess is that we're not the only Ursaki cousins who react to that hymn, in that way.