Many know the story of the Holocaust and the horrific things that happened during WWII. What most people don’t know about is the defiance in Rome against the Nazi’s.
In Rome, there are places known as the Houses of Life. These were houses, churches, monastery’s, seminary’s and hospital’s where Jews were hidden from the Nazi’s.
In the Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Dr. Giovanni Borromeo and his coworkers made up a disease called the “K Syndrome” which they said killed many of the Jews. In reality they kept the Jews hidden in the hospital. The Nazi’s believed the story of the “K syndrome” and it kept them from searching the hospital for the Jews.
Two convents also hid many Jews. One was the Convent of Santa Brigida. In this convent the nuns kept safe a family of 13 and allowed them to practice their faith until the liberation of Rome by the Allies. The other convent was the Convent of Our Lady Sion where the Nuns hid 200 people from the Nazi’s.
These sites are another place to visit these year during the Jubilee. They hold a lot of history of both the Jews and the Christians that sheltered them and kept them safe during one of histories darkest times. There are so many personal stories of valiant people that risked their lives to save others that has never been told. These houses of life are an example of what has been uncovered after all this time and there are still many more stories about heroic acts during the Holocaust that we might never get to know.
These brave stories are also an inspiration for all of us who live our faith but are not willing to get out of our comfort and sacrifice little things for the good of the other. Take advantage of going to visit these places if you go to Rome.
