20th February

The warming blanket

"I was continously supervised for my religious activities which were considered as illegal and during several days I was obliged to hide myself in the mountains to escape the police. It was in winter. Sometimes I would see wolves but in fact I more feared men wo pursued me than these wolves. When they came near to me at night, I told them: "Now, at this late moment you come and visit me? I will go and sleep, good night, my friends!" And they left.

One night it was very cold. I was exhausted and I prayed: "Lord, send me a blanket or else I will freeze to death!" All the same I fell asleep and I was not cold. Do you want to know why? In the morning when it was still dark I woke up. I moved to stretch myself a little and what did I see? An animal which just got up. It disappeared among the firtrees. Was it a stray dog or a wolve? I don't know. However, this animal lay on me during the night. God is wonderful. He could not have sent me a warmer blanket!"