Book review.

From Lada Hornjatkevye re

In his review of John Sianchuk's book on Nicholas Charnetsky and Companions (Catholic Insight, February, 2006), Adam DeVille is correct in pointing out that there is no such thing as a Ukrainian rite, but I do not see why he should object to identifying Bishop Charnetsky and his companions as Ukrainian martyrs. Does not the Church also commonly refer to Canadian, North American, Korean, English, Vietnamese martyrs? Without in any way diminishing the importance of their witness for the universal Church, the example of such martyrs has a particular resonance for their compatriots. If this were not the case, why would Canada include Isaac Jogues among its patron saints? (Indeed, by limiting the public veneration of Blesseds in geographical scope, the Church seems to encourage this sort of national identification.)

I have no doubt that Bishop Charnetsky and his companions died for the faith and their loyalty to the Holy See, as Mr. DeVille states. But is it so unreasonable to believe that they would also have seen their deaths as a particular sacrifice for their homeland? Edith Stein, for example, offered up her impending martyrdom for Germany and the Jewish people.

Given that Mr. DeVille seems so concerned with terminological accuracy, it is odd that he should describe the NKVD as the Ukrainian secret police. Since a Ukrainian state did not exist at the time, it could hardly have had a secret service. The NKVD, like the Cheka before it and the KGB after it, operated throughout the USSR and surely should be identified as the Soviet secret police. Its acronym attests to this. "Narodnyi Kommisariat Vnutrennikh Del" is not a Ukrainian title.

Edmonton, AB