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20 Best K Words Speech Therapy Printables and Games

Looking for a fun way to engage kids in speech therapy using games? This FREE K Words Speech Therapy for initial sounds printable game with dot markers is perfect! 

Looking for a great way to practice target words in k initial position sounds?

Find a word list of k words below too.

Activities for correct speech sounds

Speech-language pathologists are always on the lookout for new and fun ways to help practice speech therapy in a fun way!

This printable game targets the k sound initials and encourages children to produce correct production of sounds.

See fun game ideas and printables for the full list of K Words Speech Therapy below too!

The k sound is made using the back of the mouth and in the soft palate. This is why sometimes children struggle to make this sound.

Pick up this FREE printable set for working on initial K words at the bottom of this post!

The final position in k sounds is also tricky, that’s why I included a list of games below you could use to target these sounds.

A child’s speech only develops at certain years of age. As children begin to understand how to make sounds using the back of the mouth, they then begin to produce correct specific sounds.

Don’t forget to get these free printable fox themed games for ‘s’ sounds in all positions!

Kids will find super fun favorite board games below to target these sounds, if your set of primary or elementary students are also struggling with it!

Sound disorders and sound errors

It’s important to note that there are specific differences in these two when it comes to a speech therapist working with young children. Speech students often think of these are linked, but really sometimes, it’s a slow progress in getting the phonological process working correctly.

Variety of home practice sheets for k sounds:

See a list of printables you can use for at home practice below.

FREE: Busy Homework for Speech Therapy for K and G Sounds: This freebie has been created to support SLPs needing to provide homework and speech practice to families who are out of school due to the current situation happening our country.

K and G Speech Sound Articulation Homework : Practice K and G sounds in the initial, medial, and final position of words with this NO PREP speech sound articulation homework packet.

Free Feed the Shark Medial K Sound Articulation Boom Cards | Speech Therapy: Feed the Shark Articulation is a no print, no prep interactive game where you feed the shark speech sound pictures as you practice your speech.

Articulation / Speech Sound Picture Search (K Initial) Freebie ! This product is a picture search for the /k/ initial sound. Use it in your speech sessions to keep students engaged or send it home for homework!

it’s important to note that giving out appropriate homework to practice speech and correct sound articulation is important. With soem guidance and practice, kids can begin to form the correct sound.

It’s not a once off practice. That’s why having a speech pathologist outline whether it’s a sound development delay or an articulation disorder is important.

Snowman themed s sound speech therapy snowman game.

A child’s tongue develops across many years, especially in the early years.

Final k words printables and games

Speech Therapy: Final /k/ and /g/ words go fish homework. These homework sheets are for articulation practice for final /k/ and final /g/ words. There are twelve words per page and two pages for each sound. 

Word Final /K/ Truck Activity: Students practice saying the /k/ sound in the final position of single-syllable words by cutting out target words and gluing them on to a truck.

CVC final k words clothes pin activity. This activity targets a variety of language skills including CVC word production, velar sounds in the final position of words, promoting letter learning, etc. 

K Words Speech Therapy PDF Game

Download your FREE set below. Please note however that:

• This is for  personal  and  personal classroom  use  (to share this resource, please direct others to this post to grab their own free copy)
• This may NOT be sold, hosted, reproduced, or stored on any other site (including blog, Facebook, Dropbox, etc.)
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• Graphics Purchased and used with permission

K Words Speech Therapy Shark Game

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Initial K Sound Words for Speech Therapy

Free initial k sound words for speech therapy printable flashcards featuring words with the "k" sound can be a useful tool for improving pronunciation and vocabulary. some of the flashcards included in this worksheets are:- car, cup, key, cake, cat, kangaroo, kite, king, kitchen, cactus, camera, cookie, castle and coat..

Download Printable Free Initial K Sound Words Articulation Flashcards

85+ Free Medial K Words Speech Therapy (Articulation Lists)

Are you a speech therapist or parent looking for medial k words to practice with your child or student? This blog is just what you need when working on the pronunciation and articulation of medial K words! Medial K words are those that have the K sound in the middle, such as “making” or “jacket.” This post has over 85 medial k words for speech therapy that will help strengthen your child or student’s /k/ sound, which can impact their overall communication skills. 

We as speech therapists possess the necessary expertise to assess, diagnose, and treat articulation difficulties related to medial K words. 

If you are a parent it is important to seek out professional support from a speech-language pathologist who knows various techniques and strategies to help individuals improve their pronunciation of these words and, ultimately, their overall speech and language abilities. 

Later on in this article we will be providing additional resources available to support individuals and their caregivers in the process of mastering the correct articulation of medial K words.

Medial K Words Speech Therapy

When I was as a speech-language pathologist in the schools, I was always on the lookout for speech therapy articulation lists.

Key Takeaways

• Medial K words are crucial for clear and effective communication.
• Speech therapists use a variety of techniques to help individuals articulate medial K words accurately.
• There are additional resources listed in this post that can be used as helpful resources when working on the medial K sound in speech therapy.

Understanding Medial K Words

In speech therapy, we often work with clients who struggle to produce certain speech sounds in different positions within words. One common challenge is the production of the medial K sound, that is, when the K sound appears in the middle of a word. Medial K words include examples such as “baker”, “basketball”, and “socket”.

Word Positions: Medial K Words Speech Therapy 

Initial position of words.

The initial position of the k sound is at the beginning of a word. For example, initial sounds such as “kite” or “cat”.

Medial Position of Words

Some words have the k sound in the medial position of a word, such as “bacon”, “rocket”, and “taco”.

Final Positions of Words

The final positions of words are when the target sound is at the end of a word. For example, “bake” or “took”.

Evaluating and Creating Articulation Goals

When working with a client in speech therapy, it’s essential first to identify and evaluate the speech sound disorders they are experiencing, and then develop an appropriate therapy plan to address the specific issues. Articulation disorders are characterized by difficulty producing speech sounds in words, phrases, or sentences.

Tongue Position

To target the medial K sound in therapy, we start by building the client’s awareness of how the sound is produced. The medial k sound is one of many back of the mouth sounds. This involves understanding the proper tongue placement and airflow needed to produce the K sound. 

• When working on the medial k sound, a velar consonant, the first thing you want to do is pull your tongue to the back of the mouth and place it against the soft palate (the top of your mouth).
• Once your tongue is in position then push air through your mouth while lowering the tongue towards the front of the mouth. 

TIP: If your child or student is struggling to place their tongue in the correct position you can use a tongue depressor to provide your child’s tongue with a tactile cue.

Once the client has a general understanding of the medial K sound, we can begin incorporating these words into various therapy activities to encourage correct pronunciation.

It’s important to remember that progress can be gradual and varies from one client to another. Consistent practice and exposure to activities addressing medial K words will ultimately help clients improve their articulation and enhance their overall communication skills.

Age Mastered

By 2 years of age children will begin making the k sound and by the age of 3 years old the child will have mastered the sound according to the GFTA-2 Standardized sample.

If your child is struggling or making slow progress to produce the k sound, the first thing you’ll want to do is get testing done by a speech therapist.

Phonological Process

A phonological disorder is when a child’s speech makes multiple similar sound errors, such as velar fronting of the T sound for the K sound.

Velar Fronting T for K

When your child or student substitutes the k sound for the t sound this is called velar fronting and they are taking back sounds for the same sound that is made in the front of the mouth. 

An example of this would be saying the word “tight” instead of the word “kite”. 

A great way to work on velar fronting of the k sound would be to work on minimal pair words. You could do this by having your child or student have the words “tight” and “kite” side by side with a picture and then having your student practice saying each word and listening for the slight difference. 

Be sure to consult with a certified Speech Pathologist if your child is experiencing a phonological speech disorder.

Target Words

I’ve provided a full list of words below that are suitable for 1st grade and above and that include the medial K sound in various positions within the word. During articulation practice, we pay special attention to the placement of the tongue at the back of the mouth, ensuring that the sound is produced correctly.

Here’s a list of medial k articulation words for you to use in therapy or at home practice to work on your student or child’s new skill.

• For Example: backpack, pickle, jacket, raincoat, pumpkin, helicopter

See full list of words, phrases, and sentences below.

Be sure to grab my one page free resource for medial k sounds below. Simply scroll to the bottom of this post from Speech Therapy Store and grab your free copy!

Medial Words at Word Level

Some ways to practice include having your child or student say each medial /k/ word one by one as they go through a list. 

Using a dot marker can also be a fun way to practice having your child put a dot under each medial k sound. 

In addition, I’ve compiled an easy-to-download one page overview of medial k sounds below. Simply scroll down to the bottom of this post and download your free copy.

• 1 Syllable:  sky, ski, baked, jokes
• 2 Syllable:  Jackson, milking, working, cooking, walking, breakfast, weekend, baker, workout, workers, maker, smoking, barking, ankle, looking, booking, token, joker, trickster, poker, cookout, checklist, banking, talking, taken, ticking, seeking, package, sparkling, choking, soaking, blackmail, weekday, sulking, bleakness, crackling, peckish, checkmate, Tokyo, duckling, braking, quicksand, picking, masking, cheekbone, cakey, lurking, workday, rocking, thickness, parking, blackbird, bucket, biking, bacon, chicken, soccer, sucker, donkey, uncle, napkin, jacket, pocket, pumpkin, vacuum, taco, raincoat, bobcat, bookmark, cracker, cookie
• 3 Syllable:  hickory, vacation, apricot, Africa, awaken, broccoli, chocolate, coconut, pelican, cucumber

Practice in Flash Card Mode Right Here from Your Computer!

SEE ALSO: 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy

Short Sentences or Phrases

When working on medial k sound production, it’s important to work on short phrases once your child or student has mastered the sound at the word level at or near 80% or higher accuracy.

Here is a list of medial k word phrases to try:

Medial K Words Speech Therapy in Phrases

Sentence Level: Medial K Words Speech Therapy

The next step after working at the word and phrase levels is to work on the medial k sound at the sentence level.

There are different ways to practice at the sentence level. For example, you could give your child or student a list of sentences to read aloud while they work on their medial k sound. 

Another idea would be to give your child or student pictures with their medial k sound in them and then have them create a sentence about those pictures.

Below is a list of sentences to use with your child or students.

Medial K Words Speech Therapy in Sentences

Need Other Sounds?

Here are a few word lists for a specific articulation disorder or simply check out my complete list of articulation words to help get you started!

• Initial k words speech therapy & final k sound
• G Sounds : initial g, medial g, final words g sound

Medial K Words Speech Therapy Ideas

Young children.

As speech therapists, we recognize the importance of working on the medial K sound with young children. 

Early intervention is crucial for children’s speech development, and medial K can often present challenges for them. 

We can provide a variety of home practice sheets, articulation worksheets, and fun activities that make working on the K sound enjoyable.

• Speech therapy medial /k/ word and phrase level practice sheet by Erin Brown is a simple, print and go activity for younger students. This simple activity prompts students to circle the picture with the target sounds.
• I SPY SPEECH SOUNDS – NO PREP ARTICULATION WORKSHEETS – FREE SAMPLE by Keeping Speech Simple is a highly rated print and go I Spy Activity for younger students!
• K Articulation Cookie Game for Speech Therapy by Speechy Musings is an engaging activity to practice Medial K articulation with young students. Students pick cookies, say the target sound/word and then put it into a cookie jar.

Minimal Pairs

In our speech therapy sessions, we focus on teaching children the correct position and technique to produce the medial K sound. 

We utilize target words and minimal pairs during student practice to help differentiate between the similar k sound and t sound. 

These techniques assist in the proper formation of medial K sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of a word.

• Articulation Activity Go Fish | T and K Minimal Pairs | Speech Therapy by Speechies and Cream is a set of colorful and engaging cards that target K articulation with minimal pairs! 
• /k/ and /t/ minimal pairs in CVC words by Lauren Vasquez is a great printable to target practice K articulation minimal pairs.
• Articulation: Minimal Pairs K and G, T and D, CH and SH by Ms. Gardenia’s Speech Room is a fun and engaging game that targets minimal pairs with multiple sounds including the /k/ sounds. This has a butterfly theme and is highly rated!

To further facilitate learning, we can utilize interactive resources to engage children in speech therapy sessions. One of our favorite tools is the use of Boom Cards . 

These pre-made digital activities provide a fun and engaging way for children to practice their medial K sounds and some even provide real-time student data.

Here are a few favorite boom cards to work on the medial k sounds: 

• Free Feed the Shark Medial K Sound Articulation Boom Cards | Speech Therapy by GoldieTalks Speech is a highly rated and engaging game that prompts students to feed the sharks the medial k target words.
• FREE Back to School K Articulation Memory Game Boom Cards™ Speech Therapy by Pinwheel Speech Resources is a fun and engaging interactive memory game with K articulation words in all positions!

Here are two more for initial K :

• Free Feed The Penguin K Sound Boom Cards | Articulation | Speech Therapy by GoldieTalks Speech is a fun game that has students take care of penguins using target k articulation words. 
• FREE Carnival K Articulation Boom Card Games for Speech Therapy by Fun in Speech is an engaging game that prompts students to pop balloons at a carnival as they practice medial k articulation.

Another favorite resource is games . Here are some resources that we can incorporate our favorite target words and minimal pairs to provide variety and maintain interest.

• FREE NO PREP: Articulation Video Game Coloring Sheets for Speech Therapy by Speech by Madison is a fun and engaging coloring game that targets Medial K articulation sounds.
• FREE! Early Speech Sounds – Speech Bubble Mats [H, T, D, W, P, B, M, N, G, K] by SpeakEazySLP is an easy to print and go, engaging bubble mat game that students love to play as the practice their K articulation.

Silly Sentences

Using silly sentences for articulation therapy can be a super fun activity. 

Here are a few resources you could use or simply come up with your own creative ways to practice your student’s articulation words in silly sentences.

Speech Therapy Worksheets and Materials

In our quest to support speech students with medial K speech therapy, we have discovered various resources that can help streamline the process. 

Worksheets and materials play a vital role in providing structured exercises for practicing medial K articulation. 

• Camping Speech Therapy Seeking Activities B P K G and more by Speech Dreams is a great activity to print and go that helps your students practice Medial K articulation during independent work.
• Artic Webs: /k/ sample FREEBIE for Speech Therapy by Panda Speech is a highly rated activity with a fall theme that helps students practice K articulation.
• K Medial Sound by Speech SF is an easy to print material with engaging pictures for students practicing medial k articulation.

As experienced speech therapists, we also encourage the incorporation of interactive whiteboards and lesson plans to engage students further. 

This provides them with a more visual and hands-on learning experience in mastering the medial K sound. 

Multisyllabic Words

If you’re looking for multisyllabic words to practice with your child or student while they work on their medial K sound then be sure to check out my multisyllabic word lists . 

SEE ALSO: Free Articulation Games for Speech Therapy

Tips for Parents and Caregivers

As speech therapists, we understand that supporting your child’s speech development at home is essential. In this section, we will provide some useful tips specifically for helping your child with medial K words speech therapy.

Home Practice Tips

To help your child excel in their speech therapy for medial K words, we recommend the following activities and techniques:

• Model the correct position : Demonstrate how to make the K sound by placing the back of your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Encourage your child to imitate you and give them constructive feedback as they practice.
• Sound pictures : Create artwork together that features words containing medial K sounds. This visual representation will help your child associate the sound with its position in words.
• Fun activities : Engage your child in activities that involve medial K words, such as singing songs, reciting nursery rhymes, or storytelling. Reinforce the target sound by emphasizing it during these activities.
• Play games : Introduce a fun game that incorporates medial K words, including board games and online interactive games. Games can make the learning process more entertaining and enjoyable for your child.

Incorporating these home practice tips into your child’s daily routine will help them become more comfortable and accurate with medial K words. 

Remember, consistency and patience are key in supporting your child’s speech and language development. 

By providing a positive and engaging environment, you can make a significant impact on your child’s progress in speech therapy.

SEE ALSO: 279+ Free Speech Therapy Digital Materials

Conclusion – medial k words speech therapy.

In our journey through medial K words speech therapy, we have explored various techniques and resources that can assist both therapists and individuals in improving the pronunciation of this particular sound. 

The wide range of medial K words and therapy activities shared are excellent starting points for building targeted, engaging speech therapy sessions.

Remember that success in speech therapy requires practice, patience, and persistence. 

We hope you have found this article helpful for working on your child or student’s medial k sound. 

Be sure to grab your freebie of 20 words to start practicing 5 minutes a day!

Grab Your Free Medial K Word List with Pictures Here!

Simply enter your name and email to have this free Medial K Words list with picture cards emailed directly to your inbox! 

Grab our Medial K Words List!

Frequently asked questions, how can i practice medial k words in speech therapy.

To practice medial K words in speech therapy, we suggest creating a list of target words that contain the K sound in the middle position. These words can be used in various activities and exercises, such as repetition drills, reading aloud, and storytelling. Additionally, using medial K word worksheets can be beneficial in targeting specific words and practicing them in a structured manner.

Which activities help improve medial K sounds?

Activities that can help improve medial K sounds include playing games with K words, reading books with a focus on medial K sounds, and incorporating K sound words into daily conversations. K word lists and speech therapy activities are available online, providing ideas and resources to implement in your practice. Remember to keep the activities engaging and fun to keep the child motivated.

What are some examples of medial K word sentences?

Creating sentences with medial K words can significantly improve articulation and understanding of the sound. Examples of medial K word sentences are:

• The donkey carried a heavy sack.
• She accidentally cracked the window.
• The monkey was swinging from branch to branch.

Encourage the use of medial K words in various sentence structures to enhance language proficiency and articulation skills.

How do medial K words differ from initial and final K words?

Medial K words have the K sound in the middle position within the word, such as “locker” or “baking.” Initial K words, on the other hand, have the K sound at the beginning of the word, like “kite” or “car.” Conversely, final K words feature the K sound at the end, such as “book” or “duck.” It’s essential to differentiate between these positions to ensure targeted practice and successful speech therapy outcomes.

What strategies can be used to teach medial K words?

When teaching medial K words, it’s crucial to use a variety of strategies to engage the child and make the learning process enjoyable. These strategies can include:

• Visual aids and cue cards to illustrate proper mouth placement for the K sound.
• Using a mirror to allow the child to see the correct tongue placement.
• Incorporating multisensory approaches, such as tactile and auditory feedback.
• Providing positive reinforcement and encouragement.

Remember that each child is unique, so tailoring strategies to meet their individual needs is vital.

How can I improve articulation of medial K sounds?

Improving articulation of medial K sounds can be achieved through consistent practice and focused exercises. Start by isolating the K sound, practicing it in different word positions, and gradually progressing towards more complex words and sentences. Ensure a strong focus on the medial position and use targeted activities that require the child to articulate medial K sounds correctly. Regular feedback and reinforcement will also contribute to successful articulation improvement.

Want Even More Medial K Words Speech Therapy?

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Home speech home’s speech therapy word lists for speech therapy practice home-speech-home.com.

Home Speech Home offers an original database of word lists for each phoneme in all positions of words (initial, medial and final) and at multiple levels of practice (single word, phrase, sentence and reading paragraphs).

For  more speech therapy articulation resources , check out the “ Articulation” section of Speech Therapist Tools .

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1100+ S Words, Phrases, Sentences, and Reading Passages Grouped by Place, Syllable, & Blend

As promised here are the words for your unlimited use .

If you know others who can use our lists ...

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**NEW** Click on words for picture, audio, & extra practice content!

grasshopper

SC/SK - Blends

Sl - blends, sm - blends, sn - blends, sp - blends, st - blends, sw - blends, see also:   the best free app for speech therapy.

Initial S by Syllables

Central Park

self-control

soccer ball

celebration

certified mail

safety glasses

satellite dish

seeing-eye dog

sewing machine

subdivision

superficial

supermarket

supervision

symmetrical

sympathetic

civilization

psychological

self-analysis

superintendent

supervisory

systematically

Medial S by Syllables

tennis shoes

disadvantage

participate

policewoman

vice-president

association

classification

disobedient

electricity

necessarily

potato salad

precipitation

unnecessary

vice presidency

water moccasin

Final S by Syllables

White House

apple juice

lemon juice

adventurous

camera case

nevertheless

opera house

praying mantis

table tennis

tomato juice

appendicitis

hippopotamus

magnifying glass

metamorphosis

simultaneous

tuberculosis

Initial S Phrases and Sentences

circle of hands

fast sailboat

healthy salad

tasty sandwich

sharp scissors

playful seal

gray seatbelt

number seven

street sign

bathroom sink

garden sunflower

They made a circle with their hands.

She is so sad she is crying.

They are taking the sailboat on the water.

We ordered a salad for lunch.

The salt was dumped out on the table.

The desert had endless hills of sand.

You made a tall sandwich.

Don't run with scissors.

The seal rolled over on his back.

Put on your seat belt before leaving.

The seed will grow into a tree.

They made a seven out of stars.

She can sew the hole closed.

She is too sick to go to work.

The sign said 106 more miles.

She was not nervous to sing.

Get some water from the sink.

She would sit and wait everyday for the bus.

Wash your hands with soap.

They always want to play soccer.

The sock is hanging on the fence.

She told her dad sorry for not listening.

I ate chicken noodle soup when I was sick.

She found out that lemons are sour.

The sun was starting to set.

A sunflower grew in the garden.

Medial S Phrases and Sentences

blue bicycle

metal bracelet

ballet dancer

December holiday

scary dinosaur

wood dresser

pencil eraser

water faucet

wear glasses

tiny grasshopper

flying insect

kissing her

listen carefully

medicine bottle

secret message

small motorcycle

short pencil

nice policeman

bright popsicle

horse racing

credit card receipt

recycle bin

His bicycle is the blue one.

Her grandmother gave her the bracelet.

She was a ballet dancer.

Christmas is a holiday in December.

There was a dinosaur in the park.

The dresser is made of wood.

He used an eraser on his paper.

The faucet started to drip.

His glasses helped him see.

The grasshopper has big legs.

The insect has orange wings.

She is kissing the horse

Listen with the headphones.

He is holding the medicine bottle.

There was a message in the bottle.

He needed to clean his messy room.

We ride the motorcycle in the field.

His muscle is so big.

It is a beautiful day outside.

He needs to sharpen his pencil.

He has been a policeman for 10 years.

The popsicle is cold.

They are racing on the horse track.

The waiter gave him his receipt.

This is the best cookie recipe.

She is showing people how to recycle.

Final S Phrases and Sentences

green cactus

night class

wooden doghouse

yellow dress

erase a mistake

beautiful face

white fence

water glass

two story house

orange juice

green lettuce

little mouse

silver necklace

empty office

police officer

tied shoelace

tennis ball

I ran to catch the bus.

Cactus grow in funny shapes.

He took a night class.

The pug likes his doghouse.

She is wearing her yellow dress.

If you make a mistake, erase it.

She has a beautiful face.

The fence went around the land.

Pour me a glass of water, please.

I need to cut the grass.

The horse is running fast.

They moved into their new house.

The ice is melting quickly.

I want juice for breakfast.

The farmer grows lettuce.

She has pink lips.

The mouse wanted some cheese.

She is holding her necklace.

The office workers were all gone.

The police showed up at the crime scene.

She takes her purse everywhere.

They all wanted to race together.

Tie your shoelace before jogging.

Tennis is her favorite sport.

The walrus has huge tusks.

He said "Yes!" after being chosen for the job.

S Reading Paragraphs

Last December I was sad because my favorite baseball team lost in a tournament. You should have seen my face, it looked like someone erased my smile.

To cheer me up my dad took me out on our sailboat. It was a little messy so we took some soap and cleaned it up first. We took some sandwiches, soup, and juice and left the house early on Saturday morning.

We spent a few hours sailing around the lake. It was relaxing to just sit and listen to the water against the boat and soak up some sun. Dad told me he was sorry about the baseball team losing.

"They will have more chances to win in the future," he said. I told him I wasn't too sad anymore. "I just really wanted them to win," I said. Dad suggested that we sing the team song. He thought that would help us get excited for next years tournament.

"Next year we will sit outside on the grass behind the fence to watch the game," dad said. "We can take some salad, popsicles, and your toy dinosaurs. It will be the most fun we've ever had at a baseball game." I love my dad. He is so good at helping me be happy. 

No-Kissing Club

Kissing is gross. It makes me sick. On Valentine's Day my dad gave my mom some sunflowers in a glass vase. But that wasn't all. He also bought her a new purse, a bracelet, and a red dress. Mom was so surprised! She was so excited about all of her gifts that she threw her arms around dad and gave him a big kiss.

Yuck! It's one thing for them to say that they love each other all the time, but the kissing is too much for me. I have decided to start a club called "Anything But Lips" for people like me who don't like kissing.

I posted a sign outside and told all of my friends to come. We are going to meet in my dad's office once a week at six o'clock. We will talk about anything that is not related to kissing.

I have put a list of different topics together that we will discuss which includes: grasshoppers, motorcycle's, seat belts, soccer, tennis, soup, car racing, and insects, to name a few. Before I will let them come in the office, everyone will have to sign a contract saying they won't talk about kissing.

We have our first meeting tomorrow. I hope some people come. 

The Ice Hotel

My family and I want to see the ice house. It is really called "IceHotel", but I call it the ice house. It is located in a small town in Sweden called "Jukkasjarvi", I don't know how to say it but that's o.k. Everything inside of it is made of ice. Really!

There are ice sculptures, ice beds, ice walls, an ice roof, ice chairs, ice couches, and even an ice restaurant. People get married there, see the Northern Lights, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, and learn how to ice sculpt. It looks like so much fun, if you don't mind the cold.

Some of my friends have wondered how someone would sleep on a bed of ice. I told them you sleep on a bed of ice the same way you sleep on your bed at home...with blankets! I have wondered if the hotel has ice showers with ice soap but my mom told me it would be too cold for people to do that. I did read that they have a sauna in one of the deluxe rooms though.

Our family is going to save our money this year so we can go to Sweden in December and experience everything the ice hotel has to offer. We are so excited that we have already started packing! 

Return to Top of S Words Page

SEE ALSO:   The Best Books for Speech Therapy Practice

Initial SC/SK Blends by Syllable

schoolhouse

scholarship

scorekeeper

scoutmaster

Medial SC/SK Blends by Syllable

grade school

grass skirt

high school

butterscotch

fire escape

ice skating

public school

roller skates

stethoscope

discontented

discontinue

Easter basket

figure skater

kaleidoscope

microscopic

picnic basket

private schooling

roller skating

San Francisco

Final SC/SK Blends by Syllable

school desk

mammoth tusk

office desk

reading desk

Initial SC/SK Phrases and Sentences

really scared

school room

white skirt

furry skunk

skydive jump

She is scared to get a shot.

The scarf keeps her warm.

The school built three new rooms.

She wanted to skate on her own.

She is learning how to ski.

She is wearing her favorite skirt.

The skunk was walking in the dirt.

The sky was blue and bright.

To celebrate they want to skydive.

Medial SC/SK Phrases and Sentences

warm buscuit

secret escape 

high school club

learn to ice skate

go to preschool

rescue swimmer

long whiskers

Their lunch was in the basket.

The butter melted on the warm buscuit.

The mouse made his escape.

They are all in high school.

The husky is playing in the snow.

She knows how to ice skate well.

My son goes to preschool.

They were able to rescue the swimmer.

The cat has long whiskers.

Final SC/SK Phrases and Sentences

ask questions

ripe corn husk

classroom desk

wear gas mask

wood school desk

blue swim mask

clean whisk

You learn more if you ask questions.

The corn husk was ready to be picked.

I will sit in my favorite desk.

The gas mask kept him safe.

Wear a mask to the party.

She kept books in her school desk.

He left his swim mask by the ocean.

The elephant has a long tusk.

Use the whisk to mix the eggs.

SC/SK Reading Paragraphs

Scared to ski.

Scarlet had been scared to ski since high school. It had been 3 years since her skiing accident. She twisted her knee while skiing down a steep hill. She still didn't remember what had gone wrong.

All she remembered was that she was wearing her red scarf, black ski mask, and sky blue snow coat. She had brought a basket with some home made biscuits for her and her friend Skip to eat at lunch.

As she skiied down the hill she remembered one ski caught an edge in the snow and the next thing she knew her knee was in a lot of pain and she was being rescued by the ski patrol.

While she was in the hospital, the doctor asked her a few questions about how she was skiing on the hill. She remembered he had a deep husky voice. He told her that skiing accidents happen all the time and sometimes for no reason.

As she sat at her work desk she rubbed her knee just thinking about how bad it had hurt. She wanted to ski again, but she couldn't escape the fear of hurting her knee again. She didn't like feeling scared to ski. She had skiied for almost 10 years and didn't want to give it up.

She decided she would go skiing the coming weekend. "If I take it easy and go with a friend, maybe I can get past being scared," she thought.

Adventurous Skunk

Skylar is the most unique skunk you will ever meet. She wears pink skirts and likes to sky dive. Her favorite color is pink. If you ask her why she likes to sky dive she will simply say "I like the wind in my face." Skylar likes the wind in her face so much that she also ice skates, water skis, and scuba dives. She isn't scared of anything.

I asked Skylar why she scuba dives because you can't feel the wind in your face under water. She just smiled and simply said "I like the water in my face, as long as I have my mask on, it feels good on my whiskers."

I asked Skylar how she learned to do these types of sports. She told me she has been interested in ice skating since she was in preschool. As she got older she began to water ski and scuba dive. "I only started sky diving last year after I finished high school," she said.

I asked her where she gets the money to pay for these sports. She told me she works two jobs. She sells biscuits and other breads at the bakery during the day. At night she makes computer desks and sells them to furniture stores.

Skylar works hard and she plays hard too. I told her to have fun and be careful.

Initial SL Blends by Syllable

sleigh bells

slalom course

sledgehammer

sleeping bag

sleepwalking

slide trombone

slow motion

slow moving

sluggishness

Medial SL Blends by Syllable

cross legged

purposeless

super slide

translation

wrestling camp

wrestling coach

wrestling match

wrestling team

dislocation

legislation

legislative

Final SL Blends by Syllable

blood vessel

Initial SL Phrases and Sentences

light sleep

shirt sleeve

playground slide

toy slingshot

fuzzy slippers

dog slobber

He went fast downhill on his sled.

Sleep on the couch for a nap.

He fixed the sleeve under his coat.

He went fast down the slide.

His mom let him play with a slingshot.

She left her fuzzy slippers on the couch

I hope the dog doesn't slobber on me.

Sloths hang upside down in trees.

Drive slow, children are playing.

Medial SL Phrases and Sentences

fast asleep

race bobsled

dogsled race

big mudslide

quiet ski slope

English translator

loud whistling

They fell asleep on the couch.

Bobsled is a sporting event.

The dogsled team was out in front.

Stay far away from the mudslide.

He was excited to get on the ski slope.

Our translator speaks 4 languages.

He is whistling at the car.

The boys are in the championship wrestling match.

Final SL Phrases and Sentences

tiny blood vessel

vitamin capsule

kings castle

ancient fossil

big missile

You can see the blood vessel on her eyelid.

She prefers to take a vitamin capsule.

The castle is on top of a cliff.

The fossil is of a fish.

He will get tackled if he doesn't hustle.

The truck has a missile on the back.

The sumo's are starting to wrestle.

SL Reading Paragraphs

Dogsled racing.

I have a dog named Sylvester but we call him Sly for short. When we wrestle he likes to lick and slobber on me. We compete in dogsled races.

Dogsled races are hard work and we don't sleep much when we train for them. We don't go slow, we hustle...for many days. Some days it is hard not to fall asleep on the trail.

I talk to Sly through words and whistling. Dogsled races can be dangerous. One time we almost got caught in a mudslide and another time I pulled a muscle and needed help from another dogsled team. 

Sly and I help each other though. He is my best friend.

A Spy in Pajamas

My friend Sloan sleeps a lot. He told me about a crazy dream he had yesterday. In the dream he was a spy. He was being chased by bad guys on sleds down a ski slope. He had taken an expensive bracelet and destroyed the bad guys' castle. The bad guys were launching missiles at him and trying to slow him down.

When Sloan reached for something to defend himself, all he could find was a slingshot. He fired rocks from the slingshot as fast as he could. The bad guys began to laugh at him. Not because of the slingshot, but because Sloan was doing all of this wearing pajamas and pink bunny slippers.

Sloan didn't care though.

He remembered he had a special capsule that could help him. He reached up his sleeve, grabbed the capsule and ate it.

A few seconds after he ate the capsule, Sloan was invisible. The bad guys couldn't see him. Just as he was about to escape, he woke up. It was a funny dream. 

Initial SM Blends by Syllable

smoke screen

smart aleck

smelling salts

smoke chase

smoke jumper

smorgasbord

Medial SM Blends by Syllable

businessman

Christmas card

Christmas Eve

Christmas tree

first baseman

locksmith shop

second baseman

silversmith

third baseman

embarrassment

junior classman

lower classman

senior classman

upper classman

Initial SM Phrases and Sentences

smash glass

happy smile

black smoke

smooth rocks

fruit smoothie

He feels small next to him.

She is a very smart girl.

He didn't mean to smash the window.

He stopped to smell the flower.

She has a beautiful smile.

Many large cities have smog.

The smoke was high in the sky.

The black rocks are smooth.

Would you like a drink of my smoothie?

Medial SM Phrases and Sentences

empty basement

tool making blacksmith

important businessman

favorite classmate

skilled first baseman

nice locksmith

square placemat

He does laundry in his basement.

The blacksmith makes old-fashioned swords.

The businessman had many important meetings.

She sells Christmas trees.

Sue was her favorite classmate.

The first baseman caught the fly ball.

The locksmith is fixing it.

I will put my food on the placemat.

SM Reading Paragraphs

Smart locksmith.

Smitty is a clever businessman. He is smart, a smooth dealmaker, and always smells like pizza. Some people might not like that but since I love pizza, it's o.k. with me.

I am a locksmith and Smitty is the person I order parts from. When people break, smash, or ruin their door handles or locks, they call me. There are thousands of different types of locks and handles, but Smitty knows all of them. That's why I think he is so clever.

He and I were classmates at Smith High School and have worked together for 10 years now. He always answers my questions and has just the right locksmith tools and products I need to help my customers. I have wondered if he has a secret locksmith lab in his basement. That way he can be around locksmith parts and tools all the time.

When I asked him how he knew so much he smiled and said he was given a book at Christmas 10 years ago. The title of the book was "Everything You Need to Know About Locksmithing". "It isn't a small book," he said. He has learned everything he knows from that book.

Of course, he still has to be smart and remember the information in it, and being a smooth salesman helps too. There is a lot to be learned from reading. I should start reading some of the books I have in my basement.

Dumb Robber

As the policeman looked at the crime seen he saw some clues. The robber who had broken into the house was not that smart. He had smashed the window to unlock the door. But the door wasn't locked. The handle had just been replaced by the locksmith and didn't have a lock on it.

Then the robber had made himself a smoothie and left fingerprints all over the blender, the glass he drank the smoothie out of, and the placemat he had put the smoothie on. The robber even spilled some of the smoothie on the ground, stepped in it, and left footprints in the kitchen. Now the policeman had fingerprints and a shoe size.

The policeman followed the footprints past the Christmas tree. The robber had knocked some of the ornaments off so the policeman could tell that he went down the stairs to the basement. The home owner was a businessman who worked out of his basement office.

When he reached the basement, the policeman could smell some of the smoothie so he knew the robber had been there. The policeman looked around the basement. There were pictures of the home owner playing baseball. Judging by the pictures the policeman thought that the home owner was a first baseman.

The policeman saw a small ashtray on the home owner's desk. It looked like the robber had smoked while he was in the basement which would give the policeman more evidence to catch him. "This will be an easy case to solve," he thought, as he walked back upstairs. 

Initial SN Blends by Syllable

snake charmer

snowball fight

snow blower

snapping beetle

snapping turtle

Initial SN Phrases and Sentences

healthy snack

green snake

snap in half

going to sneeze

use snorkel

cold snowman

She is eating a midnight snack.

The snail has a hard shell.

The snake in the grass made me jump.

He showed us how to snap the pencil.

Allergies made him sneeze a lot.

He would snore loudly during his nap.

He uses the snorkel to breath under water.

The pig put his snout through the fence.

We will make a snowman this winter.

SN Reading Paragraphs

Sneezing and snacking.

Sometimes I snore at night. I sneeze a lot too. I can't help it. My wife told me to go see a doctor, but I haven't yet and I'll tell you why. I love midnight snacks too much.

Before my snoring and sneezing problem I would have to sneak out of bed at night to go to the kitchen. My wife is a light sleeper and I woke her up a lot. When she did she would get a little snippy with me, so I had to be more careful.

There was one night that my daughter caught me eating my snack in the kitchen. I asked her to go back to bed. The next day she snitched on me and my wife said eating midnight snacks can be unhealthy if you eat bad food. I told her I eat healthy food and she said it was o.k. then.

Don't get me wrong, I love my wife, and I love to sleep, but I get to see a lot of cool things at midnight too. Since eating snacks at midnight I have seen a snake in our yard, snow storms, and one night I watched a snowplow run into a snowman in my neighbor's yard. I was surprised that I didn't wake everyone up because I was laughing so hard. My neighbor is kind of a snob, so I thought it was funny it happened to him.

I will go see the doctor about my snoring and sneezing some day. There are too many fun things about having a midnight snack that I don't want to give up. I just hope my wife doesn't get sneaky and make a doctor's appointment for me.

My friend Terri plays the snare drum in her band. The band's name is "Snakebite". Terri told me that the band's guitar player was bit by a snake when he was a teenager and wanted to name a band after it.

When I went to listen to them play I started to snooze. They were good, but I didn't like their style of music. When Terri asked me how I liked their sound, I told her she played the snare drum well. She knew I was being sneaky and asked what I really thought.

I told her that I had fallen asleep during their song. "I thought I heard someone snoring during the song," she said. "You all play really well, it just isn't my type of music," I said. "Next time I listen I will have to bring some snacks to help me stay awake."

The guitar player heard me talking to Terri and snickered "You wouldn't know good music if it sneezed on you."

"I think you sound great," I told him. "I just don't like the type of music you play. I think Snakebite is going to be very successful." He apologized and told me that I was a nice guy and that he liked my sneakers. Then he gave me a firm hand shake and snapped his fingers. "We'll remember you when we're famous," he said. 

Initial SP Blends by Syllable

space heater

space station

Spanish rice

speed limit

spelling bee

spinal cord

sponsorship

sporting goods

sportsmanship

sportswriter

spectacular

speech therapist

speech therapy

speedometer

spider monkey

spinal column

spiral notebook

spontaneous

Special Olympics

specialization

specifically

specification

Medial SP Blends by Syllable

Shakespeare

loudspeaker

mispronounce

outer space

transparent

correspondence

desperation

disposition

inspiration

perspiration

respectable

respiration

responsible

tablespoonful

unspeakable

hospitality

indisputable

irresponsibly

respiratory

inspirationally

respectability

responsibility

Initial SP Phrases and Sentences

speeding car

spill juice

green spinach

spooky night

silver spoon

play sports

It would be amazing to go into space.

The police chased the speeding car.

The spider waited for flies in the web.

Don't spill on the carpet.

Spinach is very healthy for you.

She squeezed the water out of the sponge.

The graveyard was spooky at night.

I eat cereal with a spoon.

You can choose to play many sports.

Medial SP Phrases and Sentences

asparagus stalk

crispy chicken

disposable dishes

high-speed train

big hospital

blue passport

brown suspenders

one tablespoon

whisper softly

I eat my asparagus steamed.

They made crispy chicken.

It's easier to clean with disposable dishes.

She was riding on a high-speed train.

We are going to the hospital tonight.

You must have your passport to enter.

He wears suspenders instead of a belt.

The recipe says to use one tablespoon.

She whispered into the girl's ear.

SP Reading Paragraphs

My friend spring.

Her parents named her Spring because she is happy despite what is going on in her life. Spring loves to eat asparagus and go to the spa. She spends most of her time studying space because she wants to be an astronaut. Either that or she wants to be in the hospitality business.

I have known her for one year, but Spring and I have only been on one date. We have spent a lot of time together during the last year. She speaks softly but is confident. She is an amazing cook and loves to eat spicy food. She uses spices I have never even heard of. She chews spearmint gum and likes spooky things, especially at Halloween.

She and I met in a speech therapy class in college. We have had many of the same classes and spent time doing homework, studying for tests, and working on class projects together. She is amazing at spelling. In addition to taking college classes, Spring volunteers for Special Olympics. She is inspiring to watch. As a coach, she sparks happiness in people even when they are really sad.

Spring also likes to speed when she drives. Don't tell her I told you though. I told her she is special to me and that I don't want her to get hurt. I think she respects my opinion. I told her I would spy on her to make sure she slows down. She just laughed and said she will try and be better.

Sports Crazy

Spike is a sports nut. Some people might say he is a sports lunatic. He knows specific statistics about almost every baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, tennis, rugby, and cricket game that has been played in the last 6 years. The first basketball game he watched sparked his interest. From that time on, he has almost become a specialist in most sports and their players.

I think he should be a sports writer. If he had it his way, he would eat spoonfuls of sports for breakfast. When I told him that he responded by saying "They might be a little crispy!"

Recently, he has become more interested in motor sports like car, motorcycle, and speedboat racing. A few months ago he was changing spark plugs in his car. He realized there were sports that use machines and he didn't know anything about them. Since then he has spent every day watching and researching motor sports.

He spends a lot of time and money learning about sports. That way he can speak to others about them and answer questions they might have. Some people have asked him to speculate about what teams or drivers will win so they can bet on them. Spike won't do that though. He says he has too much respect for sports to "sell them out". 

Initial ST Blends by Syllable

stateswoman

stepbrother

stepping stone

stomach ache

storm cellar

storm warning

storm window

study group

station master

station wagon

Medial ST Blends by Syllable

bus station

distinguish

gas station

outstanding

post office

question mark

consistency

constitution

establishment

grocery store

interesting

investigate

misunderstand

pessimistic

questionable

solar system

superstition

T.V. station

understanding

United States

constituency

investigative

unquestionable

Final ST Blends by Syllable

hornet's nest

pathologist

psychologist

ventriloquist

audiologist

cardiologist

ophthalmologist

Initial ST Phrases and Sentences

bright star

juicy steak

stir around

sore stomach

clothing store

I see more than one star.

The steak is on the grill.

The gum on my shoe is too sticky.

I need to stir to soup.

His stomach was sore from the pain.

Always stop when you see the sign.

It was their favorite store to shop at.

It was a big lightning storm.

Mom read a story to her son.

Medial ST Phrases and Sentences

at the bus stop

busted criminal

bamboo chopsticks

Halloween costume

red lipstick

old postcard

ask a question

rusty metal

long yardstick

The man waited at the bus stop.

The man was busted for theft.

His chopsticks were made from bamboo.

He wore a costume to the party.

She is putting on red lipstick.

Send us a postcard when you get there.

She raised her hand to ask a question.

The rusty containers were in the field.

A yardstick is 3 feet long.

Final ST Phrases and Sentences

eat breakfast

dentist visit

dressed man

thick forest

green toothpaste

I love bacon, eggs, and orange juice for breakfast.

His chest is muscular.

I went to the dentist for a check-up.

He was dressed for work.

You can tell that the horse is fast.

Many trees are in the forest.

There are eggs in the nest.

Toothpaste will help keep your teeth clean.

He is holding his wrist.

ST Reading Paragraphs

Spicy chinese.

Stan's stomach began to ache from eating spicy Chinese food. It started about 2 hours after he finished lunch. He used chopsticks so he wouldn't eat too fast but the food was catching up to him.

He stopped at the store on the way home from work because his chest was burning. He hoped that he could find something to help stop the burning.The antacid pills he bought didn't cost too much, especially if they would help.

It was starting to storm outside and Stan thought it would be a good night to stay in and relax on the couch with his favorite book "Stewart Little". He had plans to make steak for dinner, but he chose something lighter since his stomach was bothering him. When he got home he walked up the stairs to his bedroom and dressed in his most comfortable lounge clothes.

After changing and eating a light dinner Stan tuned his stereo to some classical music, sat down, and started to read his book. He read for about an hour and decided to stop and go to bed. He had thought about eating his leftover Chinese food for breakfast in the morning but he quickly changed his mind. The storm had passed and everything outside was still. Stan drifted off to sleep.

Running Stars

Steve and Dusty were the fastest runners on the high school track team. No one messed with them. Last August the both ran the longest races and finished in first and second place.

One time, someone asked them the question "How did you become such good runners?" Both of them had different statements. Steve said "I follow a constant and consistent training program and meal plan. I use a stopwatch to time my speed every race and I try to beat that speed everytime."

Dusty said "I run stairs everyday in the football stadium for thirty minutes without stopping. I can run long distances because I have established endurance in my lungs and muscles."

A woman came from the TV station wanted to ask them more questions like when they started running and how they became interested in it. Steve said "My grandpa told me stories about himself when he was a runner and that is what interested me in it." Dusty said "When I was a middle school student, I was always restless at night. I started falling asleep during the day. Running helped me stay calm, stop being anxious, and go to sleep. If I felt restless, I would go on a short run, and afterward, I would go right to sleep at night."

The woman from the TV station told them they were fantastic runners and wished them good luck on their next race. Steve and Dusty thanked the woman and headed to the shoe store to buy some new running shoes. 

Initial SW Blends by Syllable

sweat gland

sweat pants

sweat shirt

sweet tooth

Swiss cheese

swimming hole

swimming pool

swinging bridge

swinging door

Switzerland

sweet and sour

Initial SW Phrases and Sentences

dripping sweat

red sweater

The swan is a beautiful bird.

His shirt is covered in sweat.

She will buy the red sweater.

Their mom asked them to sweep up the leaves.

The dessert tasted very sweet.

He likes to swim in the lake.

She likes to swing at the playground.

Swipe your card to pay for it.

She will switch the light off.

SW Reading Paragraphs

Swap meet switch.

The swap meet was every Saturday at 10 a.m. Sweeney looked forward to the swap meet, there were so many fun and new things to see there.

Last week he had seen a swan with 4 ducklings and the week before that he saw a swarm of bees which was a little scary.

In the past, he had eaten sweet and sour chicken with Swiss cheese, bought a new swimming suit, and found the perfect broom for sweeping his floor at home.

During breakfast Sweeney was reading the newspaper and saw a new swap meet that was in town. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Two swap meets?" he thought. He wondered if he should switch which swap meet he went to.

He nervously searched the advertisement to see what time the second swap meet happened. His hands began to sweat. The newspaper said the second swap meet was on Saturdays at 2 p.m.

"Sweet!" said Sweeney. He knew exactly what to do. He would simply go to both swap meets! For a moment, Sweeney had thought he might have to switch which swap meet he would go too. He was so happy that he could go to both of them.

To celebrate he went into his room and put on his swap meet sweater and danced to his favorite Swedish music, both of which he had bought at a swap meet.

Sweet Birds

Have you ever met a swan or a swallow that loves sweets? There is a lake by our house that we go swimming in all the time.

Last week we were getting ready to eat lunch. We had brought ham sandwiches with Swiss cheese that were made from sweetbread and some sweets, chocolate cake and licorice. We began eating.

Just then a big white swan flew over by us. Then a tiny swallow flew down and landed on the ground by the blanket we were eating on. Both of them walked right up to the cake and stuck their beaks in it.

I swiped the cake away from them but they only switched their position to the other side of the blanket where I had put the cake.

I swatted at the swan. It didn't bother him and he just kept eating. I swatted at the swallow. He flew away from me but quickly came back to eating the cake.

I was working so hard to get the swan and the swallow away from our sweets that I began to sweat. I had never seen a swan or swallow with such a strong sweet tooth.

I worried that my wrists would be swollen from swatting at the birds so much. Luckily they weren't. Next time we go swimming at the lake I think I'll leave our sweets at home.

This list of functional words was professionally selected to be the most useful for a child or adult who has difficulty with producing the "S" sound.

We encourage you to use this list when practicing at home.

Home practice will make progress toward meeting individual language goals much faster.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are only able to see students/clients 30-60 mins (or less) per week.

This is not enough time  for your child to overcome an articulation disorder with the "S" sound. But with high caseloads...

...it's all SLPs can do.

There's  only so much time  in the day.

Every day that your child goes without practice  it becomes more and more difficult  to correct an "S" error because he/she continues to say it incorrectly. 

We know life is busy , but if you're reading this you're probably someone who cares about helping their loved one as much as you can.

Practice 5-10 minutes whenever you can, but try to do it on a consistent basis (daily).

Please, please, please use this list to practice.

It will be a great benefit to you and your loved one's progress.

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The Crackdown on Student Protesters

Columbia university is at the center of a growing showdown over the war in gaza and the limits of free speech..

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Columbia University has become the epicenter of a growing showdown between student protesters, college administrators and Congress over the war in Gaza and the limits of free speech.

Nicholas Fandos, who covers New York politics and government for The Times, walks us through the intense week at the university. And Isabella Ramírez, the editor in chief of Columbia’s undergraduate newspaper, explains what it has all looked like to a student on campus.

On today’s episode

Nicholas Fandos , who covers New York politics and government for The New York Times

Isabella Ramírez , editor in chief of The Columbia Daily Spectator

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Inside the week that shook Columbia University .

The protests at the university continued after more than 100 arrests.

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VLADIMIR SOLOVIEV prophet of Russia’s conversion

T HE conversion of Russia will not be the work of man, no matter how gifted he may be, but that of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, the Mediatrix of all graces, because this is God’s wish, which he revealed to the world in 1917. The life and works of Vladimir Soloviev are a perfect illustration of this truth of Fatima. He whom our Father regards as « the greatest Russian genius of the 19th century », was in his own way a prophet of the “ conversion ” of his beloved Country, announcing the necessity of her returning to the bosom of the Roman Church. «  Rome or chaos  », such was his catchphrase, Rome whose anagram is not a matter of chance, but a providential sign, a definition: ROMA , AMOR . Led by this incomparable guide, we would like « to anticipate in our thoughts, our hearts and our prayers this consecration, this long-awaited conversion, which must mark the beginning of a time of sacred peace throughout the world, the beginning of the universal reign of the Most Blessed and Immaculate Heart of Mary, and through Her, of God’s Kingdom » (English CRC, December 1982, p. 23).

A PERSONAL CONVERSION

Through the example of his life, Soloviev recalls the indispensable means of this immense work: self-renunciation, personal and collective sacrifice, in Russian the podwig , the only way in which the Church, nations, saints and heroes can become the instruments of God’s designs. If he managed to surpass his master Dostoyevsky by his « truly universal Catholicism and far superior mystical vision », this was not without without a conversion of mind and heart on his part.

Our Father summarises the principal stages of his life as follows: « Born of an honourable Muscovite family, of part Kievian ancestry, Vladimir Soloviev began, in a world where only Germany counted, by being a victim of all the poisons of the West. He himself relates how he was a zealous materialist at the age of thirteen, had read Renan’s Life of Jesus at fifteen, and had become an evolutionist and therefore (!) an atheist and a nihilist at eighteen, in « It was Spinoza and then Schopenhauer who pulled him out of this bottomless void. Whereupon in 1872 a mysterious encounter with “  Wisdom  ” suddenly shook him out of the scientific naturalism in which he had been vegetating and made him aware, as he says, of invisible Beauty, the “  Sophia tou théou  ”, the daughter of God. He thus became the fervent witness of Wisdom’s indwelling in the world and of Her desire for total incarnation and universal queenship. His quest for wisdom, scientific, aesthetic and mystical, had commenced. He was nineteen years old. The quest would never end for this new style Russian pilgrim ; it would be of an unparalleled fruitfulness despite its touching brevity. He died of exhaustion in 1900, at the age ! » (English CRC, December 1982, p. 35)

We will limit ourselves in this article to his prophetic insights on the Union of the Churches. In his Lessons on Theandry (1878) – he was then twenty-five ! – our philosopher applies himself to contemplating the Wisdom of God at work in history, perfectly incarnated in Jesus and His virginal Mother, as well as in the Church as she awaits her eschatological transfiguration. The most serious sin, throughout this history, has been that of schism. Who is responsible for this vast Vladimir Soloviev began by throwing all responsibility for it on the Catholic Church, so much so that he provided the inspiration for Dostoyevsky’s famous “ myth of the Grand Inquisitor ” in The Brothers Karamazov . But, at the beginning of the 1880’s, through studying the question more closely, he understood that the sin of schism was in fact that of the East. This was a stroke of genius on his part for which our Father commends him greatly:

« I must beg pardon of my master Msgr. Jean Rupp, of Solzhenitsyn, Volkoff and so many others, but it seems obvious to to me, as it did to Soloviev in the end, that the schism of Moscow in setting itself up as the third Rome was the beginning of all the ills suffered by these admirable Christian peoples of European Russia . And I must say so because this rupture still weighs heavily on the world of today and because it is precisely of this rupture that Our Lady of Fatima speaks when She foretells “  the conversion of Russia  ”. (English CRC, December 1982, p. 24)

Let us follow Soloviev in his commendable mystical conversion which has opened up a path of light for his people, allowing a spring of grace and mercy to gush forth.

AN EVANGELICAL DISCOURSE

In 1881, Soloviev published a long article, still very antipapist, entitled Spiritual power in Russia . There the pope was presented as Antichrist institutionalised ! Our theorist placed all his hope in the regenerative mission of Holy Russia and in the Tsar who was to be her « divine figure, religious guide and animating wisdom ». But were the Russian people still capable of accomplishing such One particular event was to shake Soloviev’s patriotic faith. On March 1, 1881, Alexander II was assassinated by revolutionaries. A few days later, Soloviev gave a Discourse in which he recommended that his successor, Alexander III, show mercy to the regicides. Certainly not as a matter of weakness or abdication before the Revolution, even less out of the spirit of non-violence that a certain Tolstoy was already preaching, but « as an example of Russian piety », that famous podwig « which lies at the heart of the Russian people’s evangelical soul, of which the tsar is the living icon ». Alas, Soloviev was not understood... This was a painful stage in his life, the first step he had taken beyond his master Dostoyevsky.

The following year, he published another article entitled “  Schism in the Russian people and society  ”. Delving deep into the past, he accused Metropolitan Nikon of having broken, at the time of Peter the Great, the communion, the Sobornost , so beloved of the Russian people, by excommunicating Raskol, the fierce guardian of traditional popular religion... Ever since then, the Orthodox hierarchy, enslaved to the imperial power, had proved powerless to govern and sanctify Orthodoxy. It was nothing now but a shrunken, secularized “ local Church ” which, if it were to be restored and revived, would need to open itself up to “ the universal Church ”.

In the spring of 1882, Soloviev was powerfully affected by an unusual dream. In his dream he met a high-ranking Catholic ecclesiastic and entreated him to give him his blessing. The priest refused, so Soloviev insisted, declaring, « The separation of the Churches is the most disastrous thing possible. » Finally, the ecclesiastic agreed to give him his blessing.

This premonitory dream was to awaken in Vladimir Soloviev a burning desire for reconciliation with Catholicism, and to stimulate him to write a series of articles to be published every month in his friend Aksakov’s slavophile newspaper Rouss and then to be collected together in a work with the resonant title: The Great Controversy and Christian Politics . One particular maxim constantly reappeared under the Russian writer’s pen:

«  FIRST AND FOREMOST WE MUST WORK TO RESTORE THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH, AND TO MAKE THE FIRE OF LOVE BURN IN THE HEART OF CHRIST’S SPOUSE . »

By an irony of fate, the term “ Controversy ”, which for Soloviev referred to the conflict between Rome and the East, was going to give place to a bitter controversy between himself and his Orthodox and slavophile friends.

A MARVELLOUS AND ADORABLE WISDOM

T HE world’s beauty appeared to Soloviev as a living figure, a real existence, changing and yet immortal. He saw her and held her as the queen of his spiritual universe under her venerable name of Sancta Sophia . At the end of his life, in 1898, he celebrated the Three Encounters he had had with this Beauty which for him was Wisdom.

“ Three times in his life he had been overwhelmed by the radiant visit of Wisdom who appeared to him in the form of an absolutely heavenly female being, dazzling him and enlightening him profoundly. Not without reason certain authors think that all his religious and even philosophical works derive from this illumination. ”

And let us immediately point out, in order to acclimatize the Western reader who is highly likely to be disconcerted by these accounts, that trustworthy interpreters of Soloviev have attributed a marian character to these visions. For them, the whole of the Philosopher’s work derives from the AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA . “ It is a marvellous perspective ”, adds Msgr. Rupp. “ Wisdom is closely allied to the Immaculate who is its seat. ” ( Le message ecclésial de Soloviev , p. 340)...

What I am going to say next will perhaps surprise my reader. Nothing is more biblical than this vision, and I am astonished at the astonishment of theologians and their impatient criticisms. This Sophia was already well known, hymned and even boldly adored by the scribes of the Old Testament under this very name of Wisdom. Far from being “ pantheist ”, this idea, this vision touches the essence of created beings, and is clearly poles apart from the Platonic idea and far more profound than Aristotle’s substance; it lies at the very heart of being, there where nothing exists except relationship to God, the term of a will and a wisdom that are infinite, there where exists a pure reflection, a fragment of the image of God’s beauty.

George de Nantes , A mysticism for our time , French CRC no. 133, p. 7.

THE GREAT CONTROVERSY

In January 1883, he fired the opening shots with an open letter to Aksakov: « As I reflected on the means of curing this interior disease (of Christianity), I became convinced that the origin of all these evils lies in the general weakening of the earthly organisation of the visible Church, following her division into two disunited parts. » He demonstrated that, in order to establish herself on earth and to endure throughout history, the Christian religion had need of a higher authority, and he explained that it was therefore essential to restore « the union of all Christian and ecclesiastical forces under the standard and under the power of one central ecclesiastical authority ».

On February 19, Soloviev gave a talk in homage to his master Dostoyevsky. It was almost a panegyric of the Roman Church ! He declared his ardent hope for the reconciliation of the two Churches, for the two parts of the universal Church which should never have been separated and whose centre lay in... Rome . As a result of this speech, he saw himself banned from speaking in public. The newspapers made no mention of his speech. For the first time, and it would not be the last, Soloviev was the victim of the censure of Constantin Petrowitch Pobiedonostev, Russia’s Grand Inquisitor and the Tsar’s adviser on religious matters. Pobiedonostev championed a sacral conception of political power, akin to that of the French legitimists of the time, but he was fiercely Orthodox, and any opening towards the Catholic religion was pitilessly censured.

Soloviev responded to this censure with a smile. So his speech had been described as « infantile chattering » ? « If we are not converted », he said to his friends, « and become like little children again, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. » He went on: « When I was a pretentious little boy [teaching German philosophy: Kant, Hegel, Fichte, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche], people listened with great respect to my “ truly infantile ” prattling. And now it is fitting that the only way I can attain the perfection of humility is by everyone ! »

At the same time, he wrote to Aksakov: « It is necessary to defend Catholicism against the false accusations being brought against it... Consequently, in advocating a reconciliation with Catholicism, I assume that Catholicism is not in principle erroneous, for one cannot be reconciled with error . » Now there we have a true ecumenism ! The life of Soloviev, writes our Father, « was ».

To the charge of “ papism ” levelled against him, Soloviev responded in March 1883 with an admirable profession of faith, already Catholic:

« It seems to to me that you concentrate only on “ papism ” whereas I focus first and foremost on the great, holy and eternal Rome, a fundamental and integral part of the universal Church. I believe in this Rome, I bow before it, I love it with all my heart, and with all the strength of my soul I desire its rehabilitation for the unity and integrality of the universal Church. And may I be accursed as a parricide should I ever utter one word of condemnation against the Holy Church of Rome . »

THE REALISATION OF THE DREAM

In May 1883, on the occasion of the coronation of the Emperor Alexander III, the Moscow press complained that too many concessions were being made to restore diplomatic relations with the Vatican broken in 1866, but Soloviev protested: such an agreement was necessary, were it only to improve relations with the Catholics of Poland. The Pope was represented at the ceremony by his special envoy Msgr. Vincenzo Vanutelli. Had not Alexander III written to Leo XIII shortly beforehand: « Never has unity between all Churches and all States been so necessary, in order to realise the wish expressed by Your Holiness of seeing the peoples abandoning the disastrous errors responsible for the social malaise and returning to the holy laws of the Gospel... »

A few days after the ceremony, Soloviev was crossing Moscow in a hired car. Suddenly, he recognized the route he had followed in his dream the previous year. Soon he came to a stop in front of a house from which a Catholic prelate was just leaving: it was Msgr. Vanutelli in person... There was the same hesitation of this latter to give his blessing to a schismatic, and the same entreaties of Soloviev, who finally !

In the summer of 1883, our author wrote two articles on The Catholic Question . According to Soloviev, it was for Russia to take the first step towards the Catholic Church. Imagine !

His articles were not of the sort to leave his readers indifferent. On the Orthodox side, there was an increasing irritation, while on the Catholic side, surprise soon gave way to enthusiasm. The news crossed the borders, spreading to Poland and even to Croatia, where Msgr. Strossmayer was finally seeing his desires realised. The jurisdiction of his diocese of Djakovo extended into Bosnia and Serbia, that is into Orthodox territory. Endowed with a superior intelligence and animated by great apostolic zeal, this Croatian bishop keenly felt the need for a true, intelligent and benevolent ecumenism. He wrote in 1883 to one of his friends, Father Martynov:

« In my opinion, the principal task of the Catholic Church and of the Holy See this century is to draw as closely as possible to the Slav nation, principally the Russian nation . By winning it over to the divine unity of the Catholic Church, we would at the same time win over everyone in the world who still possess a positive faith. »

IN THE RADIANCE OF THE IMMACULATE

In the summer of 1883, Soloviev wrote five long letters to a Russian Uniate priest on the subject of The Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary . At the same time he translated Petrarch’s “ Praise and prayer to the Most Blessed Virgin ”, wherein he contemplated Her “ clothed in the Sun, crowned with stars... Her glance radiating infinity ! ” It is highly significant that Soloviev was simultaneously attracted by the mystery of the Catholic Church and the mystery of the Immaculate Virgin. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception was the first Catholic dogma which he embraced, and his favourite painting was the Immaculate Conception by Murillo.

In The Foundations of the Spiritual Life (1884), he exalted the « All Holy and Immaculate » Virgin Mary. In Russia and the Church Universal (1889), he would praise Pope Pius IX for having quoted, in support of his dogmatic definition, the Old Testament texts referring to Wisdom, the “  Sophia  ” of his personal intuitions:

« If, by the substantial Wisdom of God, we were exclusively meant to understand the Person of Jesus Christ, how could we apply to the Blessed Virgin all those texts in the Wisdom books which speak of this Wisdom ? However, this application, which has existed from the very earliest times in the offices of both the Latin and Greek Churches, has today received doctrinal confirmation in the bull of Pius IX on the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin. » (quoted by Msgr. Rupp, Le message ecclésial de Soloviev, p. 338)

In September 1883, when the sixth chapter of The Great Controversy was published, a rumour spread through Moscow that Soloviev had “ passed over ” to Catholicism, but there was no truth in it. Moreover, curious though this may seem to us, he was not looking “ to pass over to Catholicism ”, but only to open Orthodoxy up to the universality of the Roman Church.

His seventh and final chapter aroused a lively debate, one that is ever topical. The question turned on the attitude of the Byzantine Greeks in conflict with the Crusaders of the West. Soloviev wrote: « On the day that Constantinople fell, seeing the Turkish armies poised to attack, the final spontaneously expressed cry of the Greeks was, “ Better Islamic slavery than any agreement with the Latins. ” I do not mention this as a reproach to the unfortunate Greeks. If, in this cry of implacable hatred, there was nothing Christian, then neither has there been anything especially Christian in all the formal and artificial attempts to reunite the Churches… »

Aksakov, his Orthodox pride deeply irritated by this remark, retorted: « What does he mean, nothing Christian ? May the Greeks be blessed a hundred times over for having preferred a foreign yoke and bodily torture to the abandonment of the purity of their faith in Christ and for having thus preserved us from the distortions of papism at the precise moment [ the beginning of the 13th century ! ] when it had reached the height of its deformity. May they win eternal glory for this ! »

Nonetheless, Soloviev continued his search for truth, surmounting every obstacle. His article “  Nine Questions to Father Ivantsov-Platonov  ” published in December 1883, created a deep stir even in the West. Here he put nine questions to his former master in Orthodoxy on those points of controversy which set the Church of the East against the Church of Rome. Here is the setting:

« How is it that the countries of the East are separated from the Roman Church ? Did the latter proclaim an heretical proposition ? One would be hard pushed to maintain this, for the addition of the Filioque to the Creed, which is put forward to justify the separation, does not have the character of a heresy. Furthermore, it is absurd to say that the Roman Church is in a state of schism with regard to the Eastern Churches. Thus, the latter’s separation from the former has no basis. Let us acknowledge this and, putting aside all human viewpoints, let us work towards Unity or rather let us work so that Unity, which already has a virtual existence, may become a reality. »

THE THREAD OF AN ANCIENT TRADITION

During 1884, the Russian philosopher studied Catholic dogmatics. He read the works of Perrone, the theologian of Gregory XVI and Pius IX, as well as the texts of the Councils. He was particularly interested in Popes Gregory VII and Innocent III, whom he read in the original text.

At the same time he had a great enthusiasm for the Croatian priest George Krijanich who « had come from Zagreb to Moscow in the 17th century to spread the ideal of the Holy Kingdom of God, Roman Catholic and panslavic, gathering together under the sceptre of the tsars and the crook of the Pope all the Slav peoples who would thereby be freed and protected from the twofold burden pressing them on both sides like a vice, the Germanic powers and the Turks. Thus the Croats would work to free themselves from Austrian control and at the same time they would assist the Serbs, their Orthodox brothers, to shake off Moslem domination.

« To realise this grand design, capable at one blow of powerfully advancing the Kingdom of God on earth, Krijanich came to Moscow and preached on the subject of Russia’s reconciliation with Rome . This should not be difficult, he said, because the Russians had only fallen into schism through ignorance and not through heresy or malice. He himself was already preaching that everyone should recognise their own individual faults, be they unconscious or involuntary, and the need for expiation. God’s blessings would follow as a result, immense and eternal blessings. Sergius Mikhailovich Soloviev, our great man’s father, a historian and the author of a monumental history of Russia, admired Krijanich as “ the first of the Slavophiles ” and also, in his eyes, “ the most paradoxical ”, so alien did Catholicism then appear to the Russian consciousness. » (English CRC, December 1982, p. 32)

Soloviev intended to prove the contrary. And it was just at this time that he entered into friendly relations with the Croatian Bishop Strossmayer, thereby resuming the thread of an ancient tradition, one which was apparently marginal but which in reality was pregnant with a splendid future. Early in December 1885, Soloviev for the first time received a letter from the Croatian bishop. He replied to him on December 8, “  the blessed Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin  ”:

« On the reunion of the Churches », he wrote, « depends the fate of Russia, the Slavs and the whole world. We Russian Orthodox, and indeed the whole of the East, are incapable of achieving anything before we have expiated the ecclesiastical sin of schism and rendered papal authority its due . » And he ended with these words: « My heart burns with joy at the thought that I have a guide like you. May God long preserve your precious leadership for the good of the Church and the Slav people. » In his pastoral letter of January 1886, the bishop of Djakovo quoted large extracts from this letter.

Encouraged by such support, in 1886 Soloviev undertook a study on Dogmatic development and the question of the reunion of the Churches , which provoked the fury of Orthodoxy. However, at a conference given at the ecclesiastical Academy of Saint Petersburg, Soloviev attempted to justify himself: « I can assure you that I will never pass over to Latinism. » He thereby sought to register his attachment to the Eastern rite. No question for him of adopting the Latin rite ! After that, he set out on a journey to Europe.

FIRST STAY IN ZAGREB (1886)

At the beginning of July, he was the guest of the honourable Canon Racki, President of the Yugoslav Academy of Zagreb, founded by Msgr. Strossmayer, and a personal friend of the latter. Every morning the Orthodox Soloviev assisted at the Catholic Mass with great enthusiasm. He made the sign of the cross in the Catholic manner, but prayed in the Greek manner, crossing his arms on his chest. He willingly admitted to his host – and this was not due to any desire to please on his part – that Croatian Catholics, like the Ukrainians, were more religious than his Orthodox compatriots !

Following an article published in the Croatian journal Katolicki List , Soloviev for the first time encountered opposition from a Catholic priest.

During his stay in Zagreb, he also published a letter in the Russian newspaper Novoie Vremia , wherein he refuted the widespread opinion in Russia that the Croats were the instruments of the Austro-Hungarian government’s attempt to Latinize the Eastern Slavs.

In August, he joined Msgr. Strossmayer in the Styrian Alps, and spent ten marvellous days with him. These two minds were truly made to get along. The mutual admiration they felt for one another reinforced their spiritual friendship. But Soloviev continued to receive Holy Communion at the hands of the Orthodox priest of the Serb parish of Zagreb... Rising above the inevitable criticisms, he then wrote a letter to Msgr. Strossmayer, summarising their initial conversations:

«  The reunion of the Churches would be advantageous to both sides . Rome would gain a devout people enthusiastic for the religious idea, she would gain a faithful and powerful defender. Russia for her part, she who through the will of God holds in her hands the destinies of the East, would not only rid herself of the involuntary sin of schism but, what is more, she would thereby become free to fulfil her great universal mission of uniting around herself all the Slav nations and of founding a new and truly Christian civilisation, a civilisation uniting the characteristics of the one truth and of religious liberty in the supreme principle of charity, encompassing everything in its unity and distributing to everyone the plenitude of the one unique good. »

Such was his transcription of the well known Catholic principle: «  In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas : unity in essentials, liberty in matters of doubt, and in all things charity . Such must be the Charter of Catholic ecumenism under the crook of the one Shepherd. From the start of this crisis, such has been the invitation we have made to our bishops and to our brothers. Today, it is also the will of the Holy Father », wrote our Father in his editorial for September 1978, dedicated to John Paul I, another Saint Pius X without knowing it (English CRC no. 102, p. 6).

When he informed his friends of Soloviev’s letter, Msgr. Strossmayer presented its author as « a candid and truly holy soul ».

Msgr. Strossmayer and Soloviev had agreed to meet again in Rome for the jubilee pilgrimage of 1888. The Croatian bishop decided to pave the way in Rome by writing to Leo XIII’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Rampolla. He presented his Russian friend as «  toto corde et animo catholicus  ». The Pope at first took a personal interest in the affair: « Here is a sheep », he said, « who will soon be clearing the gate of the sheepfold. » But curiously, there was to be no follow-up. It seems that Leo XIII failed to appreciate Soloviev’s genius... However, things were different in France, where an unassuming and ardent rural parish priest latched on to everything that his apostolic zeal could extract from the lightning advances made by the Russian thinker ( see inset , p. 19).

Soloviev returned to Russia at the beginning of October 1886, rather discouraged by the criticisms directed against him on all sides: there were the Orthodox, some of whom had accused him of bringing Orthodoxy into disrepute abroad... and certain Catholics, like Fr. Guettée in France, a modernist priest with little to commend him, whom he had met in Paris in 1876 and who had recently published an article of rare violence against him !

THE “ RETURN OF THE DISSIDENTS ”

June 18, 1887: a young Capuchin, Leopold Mandic, from Herzeg Novi in Bosnia, under the jurisdiction of Msgr. Strossmayer, and studying at the friary in Padua, heard the voice of God inviting him to pray for and promote the return of the Orthodox to the bosom of the one Church of Christ. «  The goal of my life , he would later say, must be the return of the Eastern dissidents to Catholic unity; I must therefore employ all my energies, as far as my littleness allows, to co-operate in such a task through the sacrifice of my life . » Fifty years later, he would still remember this grace: «  June 18, for the record: 1887-1937. Today, I offered the Holy Sacrifice for the Eastern dissidents, for their return to Catholic unity . » Thus the Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate united, in this one same “ ecumenical ” work, the ardent heart of a young Capuchin destined for the altars, the apostolic wisdom of a bishop and the brilliant intuitions of a great thinker.

In January 1887, from the Monastery of Saint Sergius where he had celebrated Christmas, Soloviev wrote an article in which he provided philosophic justification for the three Catholic dogmas which the Orthodox reject, namely the Filioque, the Immaculate Conception and papal infallibility . Here is a « basis for working towards the reunion of the Churches », he explained. A few months later, he published in Zagreb (on account of the censure directed against him in Russia) his book The History and Future of Theocracy .

There he retraced the vast movement of history towards the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Universal Theocracy, the successor of Jewish Theocracy, cannot be conceived, he explained, without an integrally Christian politics, and he concluded with a splendid anthem to Christ Pantocrator receiving from His Father all power on earth and in Heaven and acting through His emissaries, the Apostles and their successors. Soloviev always believed in the privileged vocation of Russia within the Catholic community of Christian nations, even if he stigmatized what he called “ the sin of Russia ”, which was to oppress and hate all those it dominated, in particular Polish Catholics, Greek Uniates, Ruthenians and Jews !

Like a true prophet, he was vigorous in preaching repentance to his people . In order that they might be faithful to their vocation within the great Slav family, Soloviev asked them to give up their inordinate ambitions, to return to a truer and more Christian conception of their destiny, and to accomplish this within the only international organization which could direct its course, Catholicism, that is to say Roman universalism.

«  One of my theses is that the cause of the Reunion of the Churches in Russia demands a podwig (sacrifice) even heavier to bear than that which, already demanding great self-denial, was needed to ensure Russia’s receptivity to Western culture, an event truly disagreeable to the national sentiment of our ancestors .

«  Well ! this sacrifice consists in drawing closer to Rome and it must be attained at all costs. In this lies the remedy for the Russian sin . »

It goes without saying that Soloviev earned himself new enemies with his book. It cost him great personal suffering, but he could not fail the Truth, which he contemplated with ever greater clarity... What greatness of soul this universal genius possessed !

SAINT VLADIMIR AND THE CHRISTIAN STATE

1888 marked the ninth centenary of the baptism of Saint Vladimir, the first prince of Kiev, whose kingdom after his conversion became « the model of Christian States, with evangelical morals », writes our Father (English CRC, December 1982, p. 23). Soloviev used the occasion to give a conference in Moscow, where he reaffirmed that Russia’s destiny was to turn towards Rome, as King Vladimir had ! However, having hardened itself in its schism, the Muscovite hierarchy was no longer animated by the spirit of St. Vladimir. Hence the fury of the Orthodox hierarchs !

At the same time, Msgr. Strossmayer had gone to Rome for the Jubilee. In vain did he wait for Soloviev there. The latter, fearing perhaps that he had made a definitive break with the Orthodox world which he dreamed on the contrary of winning for the Union, had given up the idea of making this journey. It must also be said that Vatican diplomacy hardly inspired more confidence in him. Leo XIII was revealing himself less and less slavophile, reserving his favours for the Germany of old Bismarck and the young William II ! Msgr. Strossmayer lamented this in a letter to Fr. Martynov: «  The Pope is acting against the Slavs. The Roman prelates are like people insane and think only of temporal power !  »

What a difference between Leo XIII and his successor, St. Pius X, who was, in the words of Msgr. Rupp and our Father, the greatest slavophile pope of our times !

Early in May 1888, Soloviev was on a visit to Paris. To explain his thinking to the French public, he gave a conference on the Russian Idea , « the true national idea eternally fixed in the design of God », who longs to spread His light over the whole world. However, Soloviev remained lucid about his own Church: « If the unity of the universal Church founded by Christ only exists among us in a latent state, it is because the official institution represented by our ecclesiastical government and our theological school is not a living part of the universal Church. »

In passing, he described the destruction of the Greek-Uniate Church by the Orthodox as a «  veritable national sin weighing on Russia and paralysing her moral strength  ». That is still the case today...

In July, Kiev celebrated the feast of the baptism of St. Vladimir. From Zagreb Msgr. Strossmayer sent a telegram in which he exalted Russia’s future role in the manner of his friend Soloviev. Scandal ! His remarks were universally reported by the press. Cardinal Rampolla informed the Croatian bishop that Leo XIII was seriously displeased ! The bishop of Djakovo also earned himself the bitter reproaches of Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, which is more understandable given the rivalry existing between the two Empires.

In the summer of 1887, Soloviev published in the Universe , the newspaper of Louis Veuillot, three articles on St. Vladimir and the Christian State which caused a great stir. Then he journeyed to Croatia where he remained for one whole month with Msgr. Strossmayer. This meeting was rather sad, for the two friends were increasingly aware that their attempt to reunite the Churches would not succeed, at least in their lifetime.

It was in Djakovo that Soloviev finished the immense prologue to his magisterial book, Russia and the Church Universal , in which one can already glimpse signs of the discouragement that would overwhelm the thinker in the latter part of his life. We know from Fatima that the work of the conversion of Russia, something humanly impossible, has been entrusted to the Immaculate Heart of Mary who has a particular love for this Nation such as to inspire jealousy in others. But this only makes it all the more extraordinary that our prophet should have traced out the course of this conversion, like a true Precursor !

« RUSSIA AND THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL »

Soloviev does not hesitate to delve deep, extremely deep, into the past. To realise its designs in the world, divine Wisdom wished to become incarnate, and the Verb to take flesh like our own. As that was not enough, He also wished to unite to Himself a social and historical body, one that could reach the universality of mankind and communicate to all men His own divine Life. In this magnificent perspective, Soloviev compares the formation of that Body through which God wishes to be united with humanity to that effected in the womb of the Virgin Mary at the time of the Incarnation, and to that which operates every day in the Eucharistic mystery... What was needed for this work was a solid foundation, a Rock:

« This bedrock has been found », he writes, « it is Rome. It is only on the Rock [of Peter and his successors] that the Church is founded. This is not an opinion, it is an imposing historical reality . »

It is also an evangelical truth: «  You are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my Church . » Here Soloviev addresses the Protestants who seek to outbid each other in their attacks against the Primacy of Peter by quoting Jesus’ own words to His Apostle when he was obstructing the Master’s path: «  Get behind me, Satan !  » Soloviev’s response once again shows the clarity of his intelligence and his perfect knowledge of Catholic dogma:

«  There is only one way of harmonising these texts which the inspired Evangelist did not juxtapose without reason. Simon Peter, as supreme pastor and doctor of the universal Church , assisted by God and speaking for all, is, in this capacity, the unshakeable foundation of the House of God and the holder of the keys of the heavenly Kingdom. The same Simon Peter, as a private person, speaking and acting through his own natural forces and an understanding that is purely human , can say and do things that are unworthy, scandalous and even satanic. But personal defects and sins are passing, whereas the social function of the ecclesiastical monarch is permanent. “ Satan ” and the scandal have disappeared, but Peter has remained.  »

Soloviev’s doctrine agrees with that of Vatican Council I and with that of our Father who, at the same time as he makes us venerate Peter’s magisterium, magnificently illustrated by Blessed Pius IX, St. Pius X and John Paul I, accuses John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II of being instruments of “ Satan ” for the ruin of the Church.

However, Christ wished that it should be around Peter that the unity of faith and charity should be formed: «  Since the unity of the faith does not presently exist in the totality of believers, seeing that not all of them are unanimous in matters of religion, it must lie in the legal authority of a single head, an authority assured by divine assistance and the trust of all the faithful . This is the ROCK on which Christ founded His Church and against which the gates of hell will never prevail.  »

Why did this ROCK settle in Rome, and not in Jerusalem, Constantinople or Moscow ? Here we have a further brilliant response from Soloviev: historically Rome represented the order, civilization and terrestrial Empire that would best allow the Church to become the universal spiritual Empire desired by Christ. In a mystical view of the history of Salvation – we would say divine “ orthodromy ” – Soloviev shows how God, wishing to extend salvation to the whole world,  decided one day that His Kingdom should leave Israel for Rome, so that the capital of the pagan Empire should become “ the conjoint instrument ” of His designs:

« The universal monarchy was to stay put; the centre of unity was not to move. But central power itself, its character, its source and its sanction were to be renewed... Instead of an Empire of Might, there was to be a Church of Love. » One thinks of Constantine’s conversion and his imposition throughout the Roman Empire of laws favouring Christianity, and of Theodosius declaring the Christian religion the religion of State. What decisive support for the Gospel ! The remarkable Roman civilization, already the heir of Greece, was put at the service of the Cross of Christ !

Soloviev had some wonderful expressions to describe this, as for example the following: «  Jesus unthroned Caesar... By unthroning the false and impious absolutism of the pagan Caesars, Jesus confirmed and immortalised the universal monarchy of Rome and gave it its true theocratic foundation . »

« Let us not think », comments our Father, « that our theosophist loses his way in a contemplation of evangelical love and freedom. Fully aware of the frailty and shortcomings of humanity, he declares that it is essential, for its effective salvation, that supreme divine power be joined to the firmest social structure, to the virile principle , and not as formerly to the female principle of a virginal flesh for the Incarnation. This firm principle is the imperial monarchical institution which is Rome and Caesar. Converted, elevated and unabolished, the Power of Rome continues in the Pope for the service of the universal community.

« It is only this divino-human pontifical paternity that is capable of forming the basis of the universal fraternity of the peoples, not only through its spiritual influence but also through its authority and its supranational organization. In this monarchy, sacred but popular, the Pope, the Universal Emperor, clearly remains the servant of the servants of God and is, for that very reason, the sovereign Head of the Nations. Opposed to any kind of papolatry, antagonistic to all the encroachments of papism, and quite capable of denouncing such a Pope as Satan, Soloviev raised an imperishable monument to the glory of Rome and pointed out – him, a member of the Orthodox Church – the path of the world’s salvation, which lay in one place only, in the universal Christian order of a restored Roman Catholic Church ... » (French CRC no. 131, July 1978, p. 6)

In his lifetime, Soloviev ran up against a wall of hostility and incomprehension: « I am not so naive », he said, « to seek to convince minds whose private interests are greater than their desire for religious truth. In presenting the general evidence for the permanent primacy of Peter as the basis of the universal Church, I have simply wanted to assist those who are opposed to this truth, not because of their interests and passions, but merely because of their unwitting errors and hereditary prejudices. »

The final period of his life might seem to some like a decline and a renunciation of his prophetic insights, but our Father writes: « Soloviev was too great a mind to be discouraged or to modify his ideas in accordance with the fluctuations of his worldly success. What is certainly true is that his bitter experiences gave him a better knowledge of the Evil that was at work in the world, throwing up formidable obstacles to God’s designs and going so far as to erect a kind of caricature of them. This he denounced as the power of the Antichrist, the Prince of this world, announced in the Scriptures. » (French CRC no. 132, August 1978, p. 12)

At the beginning of the 1890’s, relations between Soloviev and the Orthodox Church deteriorated. «  Given the papaphobia reigning among us , he wrote to a friend, sometimes revealing its underhand character and at other times its stupidity, and always in any event unchristian, I considered and I continue to consider that it is necessary to draw people’s attention to the Rock of the Church laid by Christ Himself and to its positive significance . »

As he persisted in his criticisms, even going so far as to compare the Greco-Russian Church with « the Synagogue », the Orthodox hierarchy, in the person of Pobiedonostev, the Holy Synod’s prosecutor, employed the ultimate weapon at its disposal: it deprived him of the sacraments. One day in 1894, being seriously ill, Soloviev asked to receive the sacraments. His Orthodox confessor refused to give him absolution unless he renounced his Catholic views. Soloviev refused to yield, preferring to forego confession and Holy Communion.

AN AUTHENTIC CONVERSION

The moment had come. On February 18, 1896, he went to see Fr. Nicholas Alexeyevich Tolstoy, a Catholic priest of the Eastern rite exercising his ministry in Moscow. This priest, a former officer, owed him his vocation, his formation (Soloviev having been his teacher) and his conversion to Catholicism. That February 18 was the feast day of Pope St. Leo so dear to Soloviev. Before Mass, he read on his knees the Tridentine symbol of the faith containing the Filioque and a formula declaring that the Church of Rome must be regarded as the head of all the particular Churches. Then he received the Body of Christ at the hands of the Catholic priest.

On the following day, Fr. Tolstoy was denounced and arrested. He managed to escape and to reach Rome first, then France. It was only in 1910 that he would give an account in the Universe of the authentic conversion of Soloviev, and in 1917 that the two witnesses present at the scene would confirm the celebrated Russian’s profession of the Catholic faith. Nevertheless, this conversion was disputed not only by the Orthodox but also by Catholics imbued with a false ecumenism like Msgr. d’Herbigny of sinister memory. But in this matter the facts are indubitable. His entry into the Catholic Church did not, however, in Soloviev’s mind, exclude him from what he called « the true and authentic Eastern or Greco-Russian Church ». Never did he embrace the Latin rite. After the exile of Fr. Tolstoy, as there were no longer any Catholic priests in Moscow apart from those belonging to the Latin rite, Soloviev decided to refrain from receiving the sacraments...

In 1897, a census of the whole of Russia was carried out in which a question was asked about religion. «  I am both Catholic and Orthodox; let the police work that out !  » Soloviev answered.

« Self-important people from Rome and Moscow declared themselves scandalized », writes our Father. « The hour had not yet come for the podwig , for self-renunciation and reconciliation in truth and justice ( pravda ), and for the restoration of the wholly divine unity of communion in love ( sobornost ). Msgr. Rupp thinks that we achieved it with Vatican II. Alas, no ! I hope for and expect it to come with Vatican III... but only after the trial, after conversion and expiation... and after Our Lady’s humble requests have been met. » (English CRC, December 1982, p. 36)

UNDER THE SIGN OF MARY

«  This glow from Heaven emanates from Mary, And vain remains the attraction of the serpent’s venom.  »

On July 17, 1900, sensing death approaching, Soloviev sent for a priest. He was most insistent about this: « Will it be morning soon ? When will the priest come ? » The next day, he made his confession and received Holy Communion at the hands of an Orthodox priest. He died peacefully a few days later, on July 31, «  in the communion of Russian Orthodoxy to which he had ever been faithful, without however disowning the Catholicism of his heart, assured by the example of the Fathers of Russian Christianity, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Saint Vladimir, and so many strastoterptsi , innocents who had suffered the passion , and startsi , slavophiles and romanophiles at the same time, without schism or constraint, in the love of Holy Church and Holy Russia, the Kingdom of God to come !  »

But all this is too beautiful for us not to revisit it, so our Father has decided that we will study in more depth the work of this great Russian thinker, in three parts to appear in subsequent editions of Resurrection , Deo volente:

The vocation of Russia in the designs of God and the concert of the Christian nations: up to and including Putin ?

The Immaculate Virgin Mary , throne of Wisdom, essential beauty of the created world, our ultimate recourse !

The Antichrist unmasked by Soloviev . This was the last service the “ inspired prophet ” rendered to his beloved Russia: that of putting her on her guard against the seductions of the Antichrist. In Rome, at the same time, St. Pius X was also announcing his advent in his encyclical E supremi Apostolatus of October 4, 1903: « The Antichrist is present among us. The Evil shaking the world should not affright us, it will only last a short while. What must fall will fall, and the Church will be reborn from the trial, assisted by her Saviour and ready for extraordinary developments. »

Brother Thomas of Our Lady of Perpetual Help He is risen ! n° 8, August 2001, pp. 13-22

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Some results uranium dioxide powder structure investigation

• Processes of Obtaining and Properties of Powders
• Published: 28 June 2009
• Volume 50 , pages 281–285, ( 2009 )

Cite this article

• E. I. Andreev 1 ,
• K. V. Glavin 2 ,
• A. V. Ivanov 3 ,
• V. V. Malovik 3 ,
• V. V. Martynov 3 &
• V. S. Panov 2  

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Features of the macrostructure and microstructure of uranium dioxide powders are considered. Assumptions are made on the mechanisms of the behavior of powders of various natures during pelletizing. Experimental data that reflect the effect of these powders on the quality of fuel pellets, which is evaluated by modern procedures, are presented. To investigate the structure of the powders, modern methods of electron microscopy, helium pycnometry, etc., are used. The presented results indicate the disadvantages of wet methods for obtaining the starting UO 2 powders by the ammonium diuranate (ADU) flow sheet because strong agglomerates and conglomerates, which complicate the process of pelletizing, are formed. The main directions of investigation that can lead to understanding the regularities of formation of the structure of starting UO 2 powders, which will allow one to control the process of their fabrication and stabilize the properties of powders and pellets, are emphasized.

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Investigation of the Properties of Uranium-Molybdenum Pellet Fuel for VVER

Investigation of the Influence of the Energy of Thermal Plasma on the Morphology and Phase Composition of Aluminosilicate Microspheres

Evaluation of the possibility of fabricating uranium-molybdenum fuel for vver by powder metallurgy methods.

Patlazhan, S.A., Poristost’ i mikrostruktura sluchainykh upakovok tverdykh sharov raznykh razmerov (Porosity and Microstructure of Chaotic Packings of Solid Spheres of Different Sizes), Chernogolovka: IKhF RAN, 1993.

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Andreev, E.I., Bocharov, A.S., Ivanov, A.V., et al., Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved., Tsvetn. Metall. , 2003, no. 1, p. 48.

Assmann, H., Dörr, W., and Peehs, M., “Control of HO 2 Microstructure by Oxidative Sintering,” J. Nucl. Mater. , 1986, vol. 140,issue 1, pp. 1–6.

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Elektrostal’ Polytechnical Institute (Branch), Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, ul. Pervomaiskaya 7, Elektrostal’, Moscow oblast, 144000, Russia

E. I. Andreev

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Original Russian Text © E.I. Andreev, K.V. Glavin, A.V. Ivanov, V.V. Malovik, V.V. Martynov, V.S. Panov, 2009, published in Izvestiya VUZ. Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya i Funktsional’nye Pokrytiya, 2008, No. 4, pp. 19–24.

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Andreev, E.I., Glavin, K.V., Ivanov, A.V. et al. Some results uranium dioxide powder structure investigation. Russ. J. Non-ferrous Metals 50 , 281–285 (2009). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1067821209030183

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Felix Dzerzhinsky

Communist Morality

Source : “Communist Morality,” published by Progress, Moscow, c. 1963; Transcribed : by Rasmus M.

From a Prison Diary

April 30, 1908.

... Where lies the way out of the hell of present-day life, in which the wolfish law of exploitation, oppression and violence holds sway? The way out lies in the idea of a life which is based on harmony, a full life enjoyed by the whole of society, by all mankind; the way out is in the idea of socialism, the idea of solidarity of the working people. This idea is already approaching realisation, the people are ready to receive it with open arms. The time for it has already arrived. The ranks of the advocates of this idea must be united and the banner carried aloft so that the people see it and follow it. And today this is the most urgent of the tasks of Social-Democracy, of the tasks of the small handful that survives.

Socialism should cease to be only the scientific prevision of the future. It should become the torch that kindles indomitable faith and energy in the hearts of people....

May 10, 1908

... It would not be worthwhile living if the star of socialism, the star of the future were not shining down on mankind. For the “ego” cannot live if in itself it does not contain the rest of the world and the people. Such is the nature of this “ego.”...

May 21, 1908

... It is necessary to instil in the masses our own confidence in the inevitable bankruptcy of evil, so that they will be left with no doubt, so that they will come through this moment in serried ranks, prepared for battle. This is the task of the theoreticians. But the tasks of the others are to lay bare and show up this evil, to lay bare the sufferings and torments of the masses and of the individual fighters torn from their midst by the enemy, to give them the meaning they actually have and which gives them the strength to bear everything courageously, without wavering. Only in this way is it possible to instil in the masses courage and understanding of the need for struggle. Those who influence the mind and those who put confidence in victory into the heart and mind are both needed. Scientists and poets, teachers and propagandists are needed. I recall the booklet “From the Battlefield” published by the “Proletariat" [1] Party, which described the sufferings of the people, the steadfastness and courage they displayed in the struggle, and the tremendous influence it had. How I would wish such a booklet to appear now! But now it is more difficult to collect and compare facts, because they cover so much ground and there are so many of them. But, on the other hand, there are greater opportunities and possibilities now. If someone would undertake this work, or at least only the guidance of this work, then in a year or two such book could appear. It would reflect not only our sufferings and our doctrine, but also that longing for a full and real life for the sake of which man would readily endure suffering and sacrifice....

December 31, 1908

... I have matured in prison in torments of solitude, in torments of longing for the world and for life. And, in spite of this, doubt in the justness of our cause has never risen in my heart. And now, when perhaps for many years all hope is buried in torrents of blood, when they have been crucified on the gallows, when many thousands of fighters for freedom are languishing in dungeons or thrown out into snowbound Siberia – I feel proud. Already I see tremendous masses set in motion shattering the old system, masses among whom new forces are being trained for fresh struggles. I feel proud that I am with them, that 1 see, feel and understand them, and that I, too, have suffered much together with them. It is sometimes hard, at times even terrible, here in prison.... Yet, if I had to begin life all over again, I would begin it in the same way. And not out of a sense of duty, not because I had to. For me, it is an organic necessity.

...I curse neither my fate nor the many years in prison, for I know that all this is necessary in order to destroy the other vast prison which lies outside the walls of this horrible “pavilion.” This is not idle philosophising, not cold calculation, but the result of an indomitable desire for freedom, for a full life. Out there, comrades and | friends are drinking our health, and I, alone in my cell, am thinking of them: may they live on, may they forge the weapons and be worthy of the cause for which the struggle is being waged....

June 3, 1909

... To live – does it not mean to have indomitable faith in victory?

August 8, 1909

... In this connection [2] I am filled with apprehension. I shall go away, but this terrible life here will continue as before. This is strange and incomprehensible. It is not the horrors of this gloomy place that draw one to it, but the feeling for all the comrades, friends and unknown neighbours – strangers, yet at the same time near ones. Here we came to feel and realise how necessary is man to man, what man means to man. Here we learned to feel love not for women alone, we learned to be unashamed of our feelings and of our desire to give people happiness.

...And if here we long for flowers, we have also here learned to love people as we love flowers; and precisely here, where there is no desperate struggle for a crust of bread, and where there floats to the surface that which out there was of necessity concealed in the depths of the human heart. And for this reason we love this place of our execution, for here we made clear to ourselves that the struggle which brought us here is also the struggle for our personal happiness, for emancipation from the violence imposed on us, from the chains that drag us down.

From Letters to Relatives [3]

To a. e. bulhak [4], january 25 (13), 1898.

... How is your little Rudolph? He must have grown a lot – does he walk or talk? See that you bring him up so that he values honesty above all else; such a person feels happy in all circumstances of life!

September 19 (7), 1898

... And we, in exile, must now gain in strength, physically, mentally and morally, in order to be prepared when the time comes. True, there are few who envy us our lot, but we who see the bright future of our cause, who see and realise its might, realise that life has chosen us to be the fighters, we who are fighting for that better future would never, never exchange our position for philistine vegetating. We are least of all made despondent by unpleasant side of life, since our life consists in work for the cause which is above everyday trifles. Our cause was born not so long ago, but it will develop beyond bounds, it is immortal.

November 17 (5), 1898

... You say that our feelings seem to relate in greater measure to mankind as a whole than to individuals. Never believe that this is possible. People who say so are hypocrites: they are simply deceiving themselves and others. It is not possible only to feel for people in general, people in general is an abstraction, for what is concrete is the sum-total of individuals. In actual fact, feelings can only be aroused in relation to the concrete phenomenon and never in relation to an abstraction. A man can feel sympathy towards social misfortune only if he feels sympathy towards the misfortune of every individual....

October 21 (8), 1901

... I do not know how to hate by halves or to love by halves. I do not know how to give only half of my heart. I can give all my heart or I give nothing. I have drunk from the cup of life not only all the bitterness, but all the sweetness as well, and if anyone says to me: take a look at the wrinkles on your brow, at your emaciated body, at the life you now lead, take a look and recognise that life has broken you, then I would reply: life has not broken me but I have broken life, it has not taken everything from me, but I have taken everything from it with my whole being and spirit! Yes, indeed!

...I came to loathe wealth because I learned to love people, because with all the fibres of my being I see and feel that today ... people worship the golden calf which has turned human souls into the souls of beasts and driven love out of people’s hearts. Remember that there is a sacred spark in the soul of people like me ... a spark which gives a glow of happiness even at the stake.

...I love children passionately....When I think that terrible want, on the one hand, and excessive wealth, on the other, lead to the degeneration of these little ones ... I am glad for your children, that you are neither rich nor poor, that from childhood they will realise the need to work in order to live and this means that they will grow up into real people. For the children are the future! They must be strong in spirit and know from childhood how to face up to life....

But I have spirit enough for another thousand years or more.... Even here in prison I see how the undying flame burns: the flame is my heart and the hearts of my comrades suffering torments here

To A. E. and G. A. Bulhak [5]

Beginning of november 1901.

...No!! I am the same as I was before; what embittered me before, embitters me now; what I loved before, I love now; what gladdened me before, gladdens me now; as I acted before, so I act now; as I thought before, so I think now; as misfortunes and trials have not passed me by, so in the future they will not pass me by; my path remains the same; as I loathed evil before, so I loathe it now; as before, I am striving heart and soul so that there will be no injustice, crime, drunkenness, depravity, excessive | luxury, brothels where people sell body or soul or both together; so that there will be no oppression, fratricidal wars, national strife.... I would like my love to envelop all mankind, to warm it and cleanse it of the dirt of modern life....

... A tremendous task faces you: to’ educate and shape the minds of your children. Be vigilant! For parents are to a large extent morally responsible for whether their children are good or bad. I would like to write a great deal more about children, but I do not know how you will accept my advice, whether you might not regard this interference in your affairs as out of place. In any case, rest assured that I am guided here only by my love for your children. Kiss them heartily for me.... May they grow up healthy and cheerful, full of love for their parents and other people; may they grow up courageous and strong in spirit and body; may they never barter their conscience; may they be happier than we are and live to see the triumph of freedom, brotherhood and love....

To A. E. Bulhak

October 6 (september 23), 1902.

...I do not know why I love children more than anything else. When I meet them my ill humour immediately vanishes. I could never love a woman as I love them and I think I could never love my own children more than those that were not my own.... In particularly hard moments I dream that I have taken some child, a foundling, and am caring for it and we are both happy. I live for it, feel it near me, it loves me with the childish love in which there is nothing false; I feel the warmth of this love and I terribly want it near me. But these are only dreams. I cannot allow myself this, I have to be moving about all the time, and with a child I could not. Often, very often, it seems to me that even a mother does not love children as ardently as I do....

October 22 (9), 1905

...I should like so much to perceive the beauty in nature, in people, in what they create, to delight in them, to perfect myself, because beauty and goodness are like two sisters. The asceticism that has fallen to my lot is so alien to me. I would like to be a father and put into the soul of a young creature everything good that is on the earth, to see how the rays of my love for it would produce a luxuriant blossom of the human soul....

June 16 (3), 1913

. .. Like a flower, the human soul unconsciously imbibes the rays of the sun and longs eternally for it, for its light; it fades and shrivels when evil shades off the light Our vigour and faith in a better future for mankind is built on this striving of every human soul towards the sunlight, and so there should never be hopelessness.... The evil genius of mankind today is hypocrisy: love in words, but in practice – a merciless struggle to exist, to achieve so-called “happiness,” to make a career.... To be a ray of light for others, to irradiate light, is the greatest happiness a man can achieve. Then a man does not fear suffering or death, misfortune or need. Then a man ceases to fear death, although only then he does really learn to love life. Only then will he walk on the earth with his eyes open, seeing, hearing and understanding everything, only then will he emerge from his narrow shell into the light and feel the joys and sufferings of all mankind; only then will he be a real man.

To S. S. Dzerzhinskaya [6]

December 15 (2), 1913.

... Love for a child, like all great love, becomes creative and can give the child true and lasting happiness when it broadens the scope of life of the one who loves, makes him a more valuable person, and when it does not transform the person loved into an idol. Love which is showered on only one person and which derives from him alone all joy in life, making everything else a burden and torture, such love carries with it hell for both persons....

In order to save and enrich his soul, he must be taught to see and hear all he is already capable of seeing and hearing, so that his love for you becomes deep friendship and infinite trust....

January 19 (6), 1914

...Where there is love there should be trust...

...The man who believes in an idea and is alive cannot be useless if he does not himself renounce his idea. Only death, when it comes, will have its word to say about uselessness. But as long as there is a glimmer of life and the idea itself is alive, I shall dig the earth, do the roughest work, give everything I can. And the thought is soothing, makes it possible to endure the torment. A man must do his duty, follow his path to the end. And even when the eyes no longer see and are blind to the beauty of the world, the soul knows of this beauty and remains its servant. The torment of blindness remains, but there is something above this torment – there is faith in life, in people, there is freedom and the realisation of one’s constant duty....

March 16 (3), 1914

...When I think of all the misfortunes in life that lie in wait for a man, of the fact that a man is so often deprived of all he is most attached to, my thoughts again tell me that in life one has to love with all one’s heart and soul that which is not transitory, that which cannot be taken away from a man and thanks to which his attachment to individuals and things becomes possible....

Love for suffering, oppressed mankind, the eternal longing in the heart of everyone for beauty and happiness, strength and harmony, urges us to seek a way out and to find salvation here, in life itself, and shows us the way out. It opens a man’s heart not only to his near ones, it opens his eyes and ears and gives him gigantic strength and confidence in victory. Then misfortune becomes a source of happiness and strength, for then comes clear thought throwing light on a hitherto gloomy life. From that time onwards, each new misfortune is no longer a reason for withdrawal from life, a source of apathy and despondency, but again and again inspires a man to go on living, to struggle and to love. And when the time comes and a man’s own life comes to an end, he can go calmly, without despair, and not be afraid of death....

To S. S. Dzerzhinskaya

June 24 (11), 1914.

... I want to be worthy of the ideas you and I share. And it seems to me that every sign of weakness on my part, of longing for the end and peace, every hint of “I can’t go on” would be a betrayal and the renunciation of my feelings towards you and of that song of life that has always been and is still in me....

Yan [7] must not be a hot-house flower. He should have the whole dialectics of feelings, so as to be capable in life to fight for the truth and ideas. In his heart he should have something sacred that is broader and stronger than the sacred feeling for his mother or other people near and dear to him. He should know how to love the idea, that which links him with the masses, which will be a shining light in his life. He should understand that you and all who surround him, to whom he is attached, whom he loves, have something more sacred than the love for a child, the love for him, something sacred from which he and the love and affection for him derive. This sacred feeling is stronger than all other feelings, stronger because of its moral injunction: “This is how you should live, this is what you should be.” Awareness of this duty, as of every other connected with feelings, cannot be instilled by influencing the reason alone....

... To renounce the good things of life in order to fight for them together with those who are deprived of them, and to instil now a kind of asceticism in oneself. But my thoughts never leave me and I am sharing them with you. I am not an ascetic. It is just the dialectics of feelings, which springs from life itself and, it seems to me, from the life of the proletariat. And the point is that this dialectics should complete its cycle, so that it should contain the synthesis – the solution of contradictions. And so that this synthesis, being proletarian, should at the same time be “my” truth, the truth of “my” soul. One has to have the inner consciousness of the need to go to one’s death for the sake of life, to go to prison for the sake of freedom and to have the strength to go through all the hell of life with open eyes, feeling in one’s heart the great and exalted, paean of beauty, truth and happiness derived from that life....

February 17 (4), 1916

I love life as it really is, in its eternal movement, in its harmony, and in its terrible contradictions. And my eyes still see, my ears hear, my soul is receptive and my heart has not yet hardened. And the song of life sings in my heart.... And it seems to me that whoever hears this song in his heart will never curse his life, no matter what torments he has endured, will never exchange it for the other, peaceful, normal life. For this song is everything, this song of the love of life alone remains. Both here in prison, and out there in liberty, where there are now so many horrors, it lives and is eternal as the stars: the stars and all the beauty of nature give birth to it and carry it to human hearts, and these hearts sing out and strive eternally for resurrection....

To V. E. Dzerzhinsky [8]

September 11 (august 29), 1916.

... But in social life? I am entirely at one not only with my thoughts but with the masses, and together with them I must experience the struggle, the torment and the hopes. I have never lived with closed eyes, turned in on my own thoughts alone. I was never an idealist. I learned to know human hearts and it seemed to me that I felt every beat of those hearts.... I have lived in order to fulfil my mission and to be myself....

I must endure to the end all that I am destined to endure. It cannot be otherwise. And I am at peace. And although I do not know what awaits me ... my mind continues to draw pictures of the future which crown it all. I am, besides all else, an optimist

May 21, 1918

I am in the very thick of the struggle. The life of a soldier who knows no rest, for it is necessary to save our home. There is no time to think of my own people and myself. The work and the struggle are hellish. But in this struggle my heart remains alive, the same as before. All my time is one continual round of activity....

My thoughts force me to be merciless, and I have the firm win to follow my thoughts to the end...

The ring of enemies presses harder and harder round us, approaching the heart.... Each day forces us to resort to increasingly resolute measures. Now our greatest enemy faces us – stark famine. In order to get bread, it must be taken from those who have it and given to those who have none. The civil war must flare up on an unprecedented scale. I have been moved up to a position in the front line of fire and my will is to fight and to look with open eyes on all the danger of the grave situation and to be merciless myself....

August 29, 1918

...We are soldiers on active service. And I live by what stands ahead of me, for this demands the greatest attention and vigilance in order to win victory. My will is to win through and, although a smile is very rarely seen on my face, I am confident in the victory of the idea and the movement in which I live and work....

Here we have a dance of life and death – a moment of truly sanguinary struggle, titanic effort....

To A. E. Bulihak

April 15, 1919.

Today as before, love is everything for me. I hear and feel its song in my heart. This song calls to the struggle unbending will, to tireless work. And today my actions are determined only by the idea – the striving for justice. I am finding it difficult to write.... As a perpetual wanderer, I am always in motion, in the thick of the changes and of the creation of a new life.... I see the future, and I want and must take part in its creation – to be in the movement, like a stone hurled from a sling, until I reach the end – eternal rest. Have you ever thought what war in actual pictures is like? You have pushed aside pictures of human bodies torn by shells, of the wounded lying on the battlefield and the crows pecking out the eyes of men still living. You have pushed aside these terrible pictures which daily meet the eyes. You cannot understand A soldier of the revolution fighting so that there will be no more injustice on the earth, so that this war will not put millions upon millions of people at the mercy of the conquering rich. War is a horrible thing. The whole world of the rich has moved against us. The most unhappy, most ignorant people are the first to have risen up in defence of their rights – and they are repulsing the entire world....

From the Article ’Citizens! Railwaymen!’

December 6 1921.

. ..Wherever the scoundrel plants himself – in an office behind a green-baize desk or in a watchman’s hut – he will be discovered and brought before the court of the R[evolution] Tribunal, whose punitive hammer will fall with all the devastating might and anger of which it is capable, for there is no mercy for the deadly enemies of our revival. No circumstances will be taken into account when sentence is passed on people who take bribes. The sternest punishment awaits them.

At the same time, the Soviet Government calls on all honest citizens, in whom painful consciousness of the indelible shame and corrupting influence of bribes is alive, to give their in the seeking out and discovering bribe-taking scoundrels.

Be keen-eyed and vigilant! Proletarian hands should not and cannot be sullied by bribes!

From the Article "Waifs and the Vecheka" [9]

July 22, 1926.

I want to throw part of my own efforts and primarily the forces of the Vecheka to combat the problem of homeless children... Two considerations have prompted me to this conclusion. Firstly, this is a terrible calamity! For when you look at the children, you cannot fail to think – everything is for them! The fruits of the revolution are not for us, but for them. And yet, how many of them are crippled by the struggle and by want! It is necessary to rush at once to their rescue, as we would if we saw children drowning. The People’s Commissariat for Education cannot cope with the situation alone. Extensive assistance from the Soviet public is needed. A large committee must be set up under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, with the immediate participation of the People’s Commissariat for Education, and including representatives from all departments and all organisations that can be useful in this work. I have already spoken to a few people. I would like to head the commission myself; I want the apparatus of the Vecheka to be actually included in the work. Here I am prompted by the second consideration: I think our apparatus is one of those that work most efficiently; it has branches everywhere. People reckon with it. They are rather afraid of it. And yet, even in such a thing as the salvation and provisioning of children, one meets with negligence and even pilfering! We are steadily going over to peace-time construction, and so the thought has struck me, why not use our militant apparatus to combat such a calamity as homelessness among children?...

From a Circular Letter to the Managements of Syndicates and Trusts and to Red Directors

June 19, 1924.

... One must not fear criticism, or gloss over shortcomings; on the contrary, it is necessary to help to make them known and to see nothing discreditable in doing so. Only he can be discredited who conceals his shortcomings, who is unwilling to fight against evils, that is, precisely the man who ought to be discredited. It is necessary to be able to see the truth and to imbibe it from the masses and from all who are taking part in production. There is nothing worse than self-praise and self-satisfaction. It is possible to go forward only when, step by step, evils are sought out and overcome. At the same time, an end must be put to our established practice of humouring the masses – the workers. It should be remembered that in our country the workers, like ourselves, are not yet cultured, that often their group interests outweigh the interests of the working class as a whole; often they do not sufficiently realise that only their own useful labour, the productivity of their labour, can create the communist state, maintain their Soviet power. Every economic manager should wage a struggle to win prestige, to win the confidence of the working masses, but the struggle for this confidence should on no account employ the instrument of demagogy, of humouring the masses, satisfying them to the detriment and at the expense of the state, of the interests of the alliance with the peasants, of parochial requirements. The path of demagogy is perhaps the most harmful path, lulling the masses, deflecting them from the main tasks of the working class in production, diminishing the sacrifices the working class has made and, in the final analysis, one which is harmful for our industry....

1. “Proletariat” – the first revolutionary workers’ party in Poland formed in the eighties of last century.

2. The reference here is to the thoughts aroused in F. E. Dzerzhinsky by the confirmation of the sentence to exile him, which meant that he had to leave the prison.

3. Letters written between 1898 and 1916 in prison and exile, except for the letter dated October 6 (September 23), 1902.

4. Edmundovna Bulhak – F. E. Dzerzhinsky’s sister.

5. G. A. Bulhak – A. E. Bulhak’s husband.

6. Sofia Sigizmundovna Dzerzhinskaya – F. E. Dzerzhinsky’s wife.

7. F. E. Dzerzhinsky’s son.

8. Vladislav Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky – F. E. Dzerzhinsky’s brother.

9. The Vecheka (Cheka) – the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission to combat counter-revolution and sabotage. It was set up on the initiative of V.I. Lenin in December 1917, as an organ of the workers’ and peasants power, to defend the state security of the Soviet Republic.

Felix Dzerzhinsky Archive