That Dangerous Little Friar!

For the past three years, I have received the name of my patron saint for the year from Angela at Where Angels Blog.

As a convert, I did not know much about the Saints, and I enjoy learning about them. After receiving the names of my patron saints for the past two years, I have been astonished to discover many reasons why they were perfect for me. I'm sure this year will be no different, and I look forward to getting to know my new Patron Saint who was known by his enemies as "that dangerous little friar."

My Patron Saint for 2010 is Blessed Titus Brandsma. He has not yet been canonized, but was venerated November 9, 1984 by Pope John Paul II, and was beatified the following year, November 3, 1985 by Pope John Paul II.


If you have any information relevant to his canonization, please contact:
Nederlandse Provincie Karmelieten
Damast 7-11
7603 TJ Almelo, NETHERLANDS
or
Titus Brandsma Memorial
Stijn Buysstraat 11
6512 CJ Nijmegen, NETHERLANDS

Born February 23,1881 at Oegeklooster, Friesland, Netherlands as Anno Sjoera Brandsma, Titus' nickname was "Shorty."

He died on 26 July 1942, martyred by lethal injection in the concentration camp at Dachau, Bavaria, Germany. His body was cremated, and no relics remain.

Titus had four sisters, three of whom were nuns. His brother was a Franciscan priest. Titus attended a minor Franciscan seminary from age 11 to 17, but health problems prevented him from becoming a Franciscan. He joined the Carmelites, taking the name Titus and making his first vows in 1899.

Titus was a good student, fluent in many languages. In 1901 his translation of the works of St. Teresa of Avila from Spanish to Dutch was published. At age 24 he was ordained, he received his Doctorate in Philosophy at age 28, and taught at the Carmelite seminary at Oss, Netherlands. He became the editor of the local daily newspaper in 1919. He was often seen working with a cigar sticking out of his mouth.

Titus was a philosophy professor at Catholic University in Nijmegan, a well-traveled speaker, journalist, author and lobbyist for the university. He became the university president in 1932 and conducted a speaking tour of the United States in 1935.

That same year, he wrote against anti-Jewish marriage laws, and later wrote that no Catholic publication could publish Nazi propaganda and still call itself Catholic, thus bringing himself to the attention of the Nazis. He was watched continually by the Gestapo. On January 19, 1942, he was arrested and shuttled from jail to jail for several weeks, punished and abused for ministering to other prisoners.

Titus was sent to the Dachau concentration camp in April, 1942. He asked his fellow prisoners to pray for the salvation of the guards. He was overworked, starved, and beaten. When he became too weak to work, he was used for medical experiments, and when he could no longer be used for experiments, he was murdered by lethal injection. Titus would shout out to God, "Not my will, but yours be done!" when he was being beaten or tortured by the medical experiments.

You can read some of Fr. Brandsma's letters from prison here, describing his cell, his thoughts, his little altar. There are also some recollections of Fr. Titus written by people who knew him.

Fr. Titus Brandsma is the patron of Catholic journalists. His memorial is July 27.

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 coherent witness to your abiding presence among us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen