Faith in Action

When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because— I was hungry and you gave me no mal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’ 44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’ 45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’ Matthew

£2 Coin

Edith Cavell was born on 4 December 1865, in the village of Swardeston in Norfolk, England. Her family Her father, Fredrick, was a vicar. Edith was the eldest child. She had a brother, John, and two sisters, Lillian and Florence. Religious belief As a vicar, Edith's father did not earn a lot of money but he gave as much as he could to the poor. Edith helped him to raise money for a Sunday school. As a Christian, Edith learnt from both the Bible and her father's teaching that it was important to help people. This was one of the things that inspired her to become a nurse. Some day, somehow, I am going to do something useful. I don't know what it will be. I only know that it will be something for people. They are, most of them, so helpless, so hurt and so unhappy.” Edith writing to her cousin as a young woman

Drawing by Edith. With thanks to the Cavell Memorabilia of St Mary's church, Swardeston Travel abroad In 1890, Edith moved to Belgium to become a governess (home teacher) for a French family. She also travelled to Austria where she learned about a free hospital that helped the sick without asking for money. She was very impressed by this – 1914 She was a nurse, she received medals for her work. First she worked in Private Nursing for those who could pay but she went on to work for poor people. She even nursed in Belgium. Outbreak of war Edith was visiting her mother back in England when war broke out in She decided to give up her holiday and go back to Belgium to help injured soldiers, saying "At a time like this, I am needed more than ever". She also said that nurses should take care of patients no matter which side they were fighting on. Care for all soldiers Edith and her hospital helped thousands of wounded soldiers receive proper, modern medical care. The Berkendael Medical Institute in Belgium became a Red Cross hospital for soldiers from all countries. Edith did not mind whether a soldier was British, French or German and she treated the injured, regardless of what nationality they were. She also hid around 200 British, Belgian and French soldiers from the Germans by keeping them safe at the nursing school and clinic where she lived.

Edith worked with an 'underground' group who were helping Allied soldiers escape from the Germans by guiding them to neutral Holland. She hid soldiers in the basement of her training school to avoid the German soldiers who were looking to capture and imprison them. She kept this a secret from the other nurses as she did not want anyone else getting in trouble with the Germans. Edith hid her private diary by sewing it into a cushion to prevent the secret of the hidden soldiers from getting out. Edith helped many soldiers escape. However, in the summer of 1915, she had a feeling that the Germans had found out about this secret. Punishment Edith was arrested in July. When she was questioned she did not lie and admitted helping soldiers escape. Not only that, she also admitted to helping the soldiers return to fight against Germany. The Germans ordered for Edith to be shot as punishment. Edith was kept in solitary confinement (a prison where she was completely alone) for ten weeks. Edith wrote a letter to her fellow nurses before her execution. She encouraged them to do their duty well and with a good heart. An English Chaplain visited Edith in her cell before her execution. She said to him "Standing as I do in view of God and eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.” (this is on the £2 coin) Edith forgave the people who were punishing her. She showed bravery in the face of death because she had seen so many die before her. She accepted her punishment. At on 12 October 1915, Edith was shot dead by a German firing squad.

Edith believed that German and Austrian soldiers were just human beings, fighting for their country in the same way British and French soldiers were fighting for theirs. She believed soldiers from both sides deserved help. “I have tended the hurt and hidden the hunted, have done as a sister does to a brother” What do you think? Should she have helped all the soldiers? Should she have disobeyed the rules of the Red Cross by helping the Allied Soldiers? Do you believe she is a hero? What role did her Christian faith play?