Cuban Dissident Who Wrote Poems in His Own Blood

Last updated on: November 19, 2015 at 8:40 pm by Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

Cuban Dissident Who Wrote Poems in His Own Blood 2015-11-19T20:40:10-04:00 Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This short two-minute video about the Cuban dissident Armando Valladares, which includes Elie Wiesel, is inspiring:

An article in The Hill tells us more about his life:

Valladares was arrested at 22 years old for refusing to say, “I am with Fidel.”

During his imprisonment, Valladares wrote letters and poetry, which his wife smuggled and had published, to critical acclaim. Since he had nothing to write on or with, he used anything he could find. Sometimes it was a carefully preserved bit of cigarette paper. Sometimes it was a scrap of torn envelope, or a discarded medicine bottle label. At times he used a pencil or, if he was lucky, he found ingredients to make invisible ink to write secret messages to his beloved wife.

Once, when he was in a punishment cell, he wrote a poem on a scrap of paper using his own blood as ink.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is honoring Armando Valladares this year at their Canterbury Medal Dinner in May 2016. Learn more about this event here at www.becketfund.org/canterbury2016.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty

Previous Post

November 18, 2015

Going to #NCYC2015? The #MediaNuns Will Be There!

Next Post

November 20, 2015 10 Quotes: What Does Our Faith Say About the #SyriaRefugee Crisis?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Art Atheism Book Reviews Christmas Church Issues Discernment Easter Ecumenism Entertainment Environment Eucharist Evangelization Family Freebies Guest Post Holy Spirit Inspire Me Interreligious Dialogue Jesus Lectio Divina Lent Life Issues Liturgical Season Mary Media MISC Movie Reviews Pauline Pope Francis Prayer Prayer Intention Religious Life Saints Sanctity Scripture Social Justice Social Teaching St. Paul Theology of the Body Uncategorized US News Vocations World News Writing Year of Mercy

Select a Month September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who does Paul describe as his true son in the faith?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Titus Philemon Timothy Onesimus