Franz Jaegerstaetter
One
Today is the feast day of Franz Jaegerstaetter, a family man and farmer who, in 1943, gave up his life rather than serve the Nazi regime that so offended his faith. “Neither prison nor chains nor sentence of death can rob a man of the Faith and his free will,” he once wrote. And while he did ultimately endure prison, chains, and death, he never lost his free will. His difficult childhood and rough life forged in him an iron will. He grew up with the stigma of having been born out of wedlock, never knew his birth father who was killed in WWI. He grew wild and unruly, fathering a child out of wedlock while leading a motorcycle gang in the early 1930’s near his hometown of St. Radegund, Austria. His difficult years affected him in a surprising way. He was jailed due to a street brawl with his gang. Then, to support his daughter and her mother, he endured the strain and difficulty of the iron mines. These, however, became an opportunity for grace and for his remarkable conversion, rather than for godlessness and waywardness. After marrying Fraziska Schwaninger, a devout Catholic, on Holy Thursday, 1936, his faith became as strong as his will, a strength to be tested by the ferocious opposition of the Nazi’s. His refusal to serve in the Wehrmacht cost him his life, when he was executed by the Nazi’s Aug. 9, 1943. Pope Benedict XVI beatified him in 2007, declaring him a martyr of the faith.
Two
Perhaps it’s easy for us to think we would do the same in the face of serving the Nazis. Yet, how often do we fear praying before meals in public, or fear showing our faith, morals, or support for the Church’s controversial teachings when they are under heavy attack? Or how often do we succumb to temptation due to peer pressure. It is in these moments we recognize our weakness and the need to bolster our faith. This is why Jaegerstaetter is such a surprising inspiration. His daily life of meditation and study of God’s word with His wife transformed the difficult trials of his life, resulting in acts of faith and courage in the face of persecution. Franz valued His relationship with God over that of his own life. His love of God set the right priorities. He wrote, “everyone tells me, of course, that I should not do what I am doing because of the danger of death. I believe it is better to sacrifice one’s life right away than to place oneself in the grave danger of committing sin and then dying.” He couldn’t justify being a Catholic and a Nazi; can you justify your everyday actions with your Catholic faith?
Three
There are times when societies and cultures become so wicked that we must resist cooperation at all costs, even when that entails heroic sacrifice. It’s tempting to live by the formula ‘go along to get along,’ but if this is truly our life’s philosophy, then we’re not living according to who and what we’re made for. GK Chesterton once said that a dead fish goes with the flow; it takes life and strength to swim against the current. Comfort in any age breeds complacency and spiritual death. St. Paul warns us, “Do not conform to the spirit of the age. Rather, be transformed by a renewal of you minds” (Rom 12:2). It is the truth of Christ we must obey if we wish to be happy in this life and the next.
Four
God calls us to follow Him and put the Kingdom of Heaven first. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven; all else you’ll have besides” (Mt 6:33). The devil wants us to focus on what will happen if we do seek God first. “What will they think? Will I get punished or persecuted? Will I lose my job or my friends or family?” These are familiar questions for all of us. Yet, rarely do they actually happen. I have experienced many times a positive result when I did the right thing, forgetting how much angst I put myself through before doing it. The enemy wants us to psyche ourselves out by projecting negativity and fearful outcomes. We must turn from these bad thoughts like we would thoughts of impurity. The devil loves to incite the imagination so that we fail by not even trying. It is time for us to reject his wiles and be open and courageous with our faith. Today, ask Jesus some practical ways He is calling you to witness your love and obedience to Him and so challenge a wicked age.
Five
Blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter may have lost his life, but he told his wife that he was so at peace. "Although people have accused me of criminal behavior and condemned me to death, be consoled knowing that in God's eyes not everything is criminal which the world perceives to be criminal”. His conviction and courage are fruits of his faith and love of God and neighbor. His faith wasn’t just a Sunday event; it was his life, and as such, inspired him to stand against the storm of evil. Blessed Franz, inspire our faith to resist the storm!