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She
was a young maid-servant; she was killed in the 16th century for
this reason: she confessed she was reading the Bible |
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‘I
found one!’ The Inquisitor held up the forbidden book as he called to his
assistant. ‘Bring in the mayor and his family. Someone is studying the Bible
in this house!’ |
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In
the 16th century, Philip II sent the Duke of Alba to |
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The
Inquisitors had found the Bible while inspecting the house of the Mayor of
Brugge. One by one, family members were questioned, but everyone claimed they
knew nothing about how the Bible got to their house. |
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Finally
the officials asked the young maid-servant, Wrunken, who boldly declared: ‘I
am reading it!’ |
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The
mayor, knowing the penalty for studying the Bible, tried to defend her,
saying: ‘Oh, no, she only owns it. She doesn’t ever read from it’. |
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But
Wrunken chose not to be defended by a lie. ‘This book is mine. I am reading
from it, and it is more precious to me than anything!’ |
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She
was sentenced to die by suffocation. A place would be hollowed in the city
wall, she would be tied in it, and the opening would be bricked over. |
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On
the day of her execution, as she stood by the wall, an official tried to get her
to change her mind, saying: ‘So young and beautiful – and yet to die’. |
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Wrunken
replied: ‘My Saviour died for me. I will also die for Him’. |
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As
the bricks were laid higher and higher, she was warned again: ‘You will
suffocate and die in here!’ |
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‘I
will be with Jesus!’, she answered. |
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Finally,
the wall was finished, except for the one brick that would cover her face.
For the last time, the official tried to persuade her: ‘Repent – just say the
word and you will go free”. |
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But
Wrunken refused, saying instead: ‘O Lord, forgive my murderers’. |
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The
brick was put in place. Many years later, her bones were removed from the
wall and buried in the |
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From:
Jesus Freaks, Eagle Publishing, Printed
in United Kingdom 2000, pages 41-42 |