Maria was still at school when the war began .
Then headlong into a German army she ran .
Polish and pulled from her family in Warsaw .
Imprisoned, punished and controlled by Nazi law .
At a concentration camp she was send to and work .
The guard who watched over her treated her like dirt .
She cooked for him and then he made her beg for food .
He beat her into submission because he could .
At the end of a long day sleep was not allowed
He paraded around like a peacock , so proud .
He ran away the day the allies took control .
With the war over she was set free from the hole .
On an emigrants ship she sailed to a new life .
She met a man from Poland who made her his wife .
They had three kids before he wanted a divorce .
She said no because she was a Catholic of course .
He left her for his lover and she found Jesus .
I don’t know what it is but God sees it in us
She became an acolyte and was proud to boast .
That she could now administer the sacred host .
So there she stood holding a chalice on Sunday .
Handing out communion to those who came her way .
Then came the day a mans face in the queue she saw .
She took a deep breath but her breath couldn’t withdraw .
She froze with fear. She couldn’t believe he was there .
The Nazi guard came with his hands outstretched to her ,
She looked at him and then silently said a prayer .
She let it go to God in total surrender .
Then placed holy communion in his hand and said ,
I forgive you and she wept tears that felt like lead .
Maybe he needed to hear that before he died .
Maybe that’s the reason why he stood there and cried .
Maybe he never recognised her face at all .
Maybe it was the day when his life would be called .
She was free from her demons and hoped he was too .
The last thing she said to him was God be with you .
That’s the last she saw of him and now she’s at peace .
From her earthly ties Maria has been released .
Some souls are bound for heaven some are bound for hell .
Who are we to judge others ?
None of us can tell .

By Paul McCann