N. Steinhardt - Words of faith under the sign of courage
N. Steinhardt was a constant supporter of courage as an
essential character trait and in many of his works –
journalism, literary criticism, memoirs, interviews and
religious sermons – he demonstrated a clear propensity for this
human quality. Courage was a leitmotif of Steinhardt’s
creations, an aspect that becomes evident through his works in
which he advocated for the courage to act, to express one’s
opinion, to take a stand against injustice, to persevere, to be
loyal and not to betray, to pave new paths. However, the
essence of this preoccupation culminates with the detailed
analysis of courage from a religious perspective in the sermons
given by N. Steinhardt during his monastic life at the “St.
Ana” Monastery in Rohia. In the book “ Dăruind vei dobândi.
Cuvinte de credinţă,” the theme of courage is extracted with
surgical precision from various pericopes or biblical
fragments, an aspect that sheds light on N. Steinhardt’s
hermeneutic qualities. The fact that he “practiced” courage,
not just verbalized it, is revealed by the years spent in
prison in the name of friendship and devotion to C. Noica and
the other members of the Noica-Pillat group, by his subversive
writings during the communist years, and by the testimonies of
his friends and those who knew him.The work “ Dăruind vei
dobândi “ is one of the few theological works that gives
special attention to this Christian virtue – courage – and
represents an existential guidebook based on Christian precepts
and models. The call to courage is outlined both scripturally
and theoretically, through all selected verses and examples
from the Gospels, as well as practically, by assuming, during
the sermons given at the Rohia Monastery, the courage of
expressing his opinion, urging vigilance, critical thinking and
resistance against all types of abuse. He always emphasized the
idea of freedom, dignity, and the common good, despite the fact
that assuming these values was a real rebellious attitude
during the communist years.
MONICA PRECUPANU
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