Blessed Titus Brandsma, O.Carm.

Bl Titus Bradsma - friar & martyr

Born at Bolsward (The Netherlands) in 1861, Blessed Titus Brandsma joined the Carmelite Order as a young man. Ordained priest in 1905, he obtained a doctorate in philosophy in Rome. He then taught in various schools in Holland and was named professor of philosophy and of the history of mysticism in the Catholic University of Nijmegen where he also served as Rector Magnificus. He was noted for his constant availability to everyone. He was a professional journalist, and in 1935 he was appointed ecclesiastical advisor to Catholic journalists. Both before and during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands he fought, faithful to the Gospel, against the spread of the Nazi ideology and for the freedom of Catholic education and the Catholic press. For this he was arrested and sent to a succession of prisons and concentration camps where he brought comfort and peace to hsi fellow prisoners and did good even to his tormentors. In 1942, after much suffereing and humiliations he was killed at Dachau. He was beatified by John Paul II on November 3rd 1985.

Let us pray.

God our Father,
source of life and freedom,
through your Holy Spirit you gave the Carmelite Titus Brandsma
the courage to affirm human dignity even in the midst of suffering and degrading persecution.
Grant us that same Spirit,
so that, refusing all compromise with error,
we may always and everywhere give coherant witness
to your abiding presence among us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Icon of Blessed Titus Brandsma and St Edith Stein
at the Carmelite Friary, Faversham, Kent.