Day 13 – Marcel, Making the Invisible Visible
In 1944 when Marcel Mangel’s father was taken by the Nazis to Auschwitz, where he was killed, he changed his name to Marceau and joined the French Resistance. It was his 21st year. His was an unlikely mission. Orphaned Jewish children were in great danger, being next on the list of the Nazis, and scattered across France in orphanages.
The Nazis had already killed or deported their parents, so Marcel agreed to lead them across dangerous territory to neutral Switzerland, where they might have a chance to survive. Using mime and silence he kept them calm and and unnoticed during dangerous crossings.
Some 70 or more children owed their lives to his great courage and kindness. The 2020 film Resistance is a biographical film directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz that tells this story. His wartime experience deeply shaped his later career, especially his belief that silence could protect life as well as express humanity.
Marcel.
Terrified children threatened by the enemies of
human kind, stop crying as silently he performs.
There is so much love and kindness in his sad eyes,
yet he makes them laugh and forget the imminent danger –
the hatred of a world that condemns their innocence.
Marcel.
Made me people laugh and cry with the beauty of his talents
and his generosity as he poured out his soul for the crowd.
Not famous, when he led the children like a Pied Piper to safety,
to them, he was saviour, father, mother, brother, friend,
The complete all that gives life to the power of love.
Marcel.
There are others like him of all nationalities and other wars.
Silently making the invisible visible today.
Incarnating hope and faith you cannot see
into a living reality we children never forget.
Heroes of courage and kindness when the world forgets its heart..
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