They Are No Cattle, Are They?

In September 1950 Anežka Křivánková and other sisters from the Congregation of Mercy Sisters of Holy Cross in Kroměříž were taken to the monastery in Bohosoudov. It was a result of the decision of the communist regime to suppress the influence of the Church and to destroy the monasteries. The total number of 266 sisters of Holy Cross was taken to the centralization camp in Bohosoudov. Anežka Křivánková was at that time in probation period and was preparing herself for the nun promise that she was sworn in on March 11, 1951, much earlier than she expected. The sisters were about to be transferred to work in factories and hospitals. “They heard that the State Department wants to separate us from that big community.” None of the sisters left the order thus they were under a big pressure. The next day, the young sisters were separated and were sent to the civil jobs. “We became hospital attendants in different hospitals because they wanted to show us everyday life. That night we were packing ourselves and were ready for the transportation. In the morning we were standing in front of the monastery and there were several men. One of them was, I think, the regional civil secretary, calling: ‛Liberec – ten heads, Rakovník – five heads, Kladno – five heads, Ústí nad Lavem – four heads.’ The Sister Superior told to him: ‛They are no cattle, are they?’”