Learning the Word by heart, in prison

In prison, the Catholic prisoners divided the New Testament, which they had hidden and taken with them, into little sheets; they distributed them and learned them by heart. Since the ground was earth or sand, when the guards’ steps were heard, the Word of God was hidden under earth. In the afternoon, at sundown, each one took turns reciting the part he knew; it was impressive and moving to hear the Word of God in the silence and darkness, the presence of Jesus, the ‘living Gospel,’ recited with all the soul’s strength, the priestly prayer, the Passion of Christ….I wonder…how would it be possible to have a change of mentality, a constant re-evangelization of life, to effect a real conversion? - Archbishop Nguyên Van Thuân. Because of his Catholic faith, he was held for 13 years in Vietnamese prisons. He spent 9 of these in solitary confinement.