Fr Titus Brandsma and discouragement

Net Abbey home page

God is there. And we are called to tell those around us about God and His Salvation despite the fact it may be the unpopular view in our world today.

"He who wants to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come in conflict with it." Bl Fr Titus Brandsma wrote.

Fr Titus who was pronounced "Beata" in 1985 (first step to sainthood) also wrote this:

A new awareness of Thy love
Encompasses my heart:
Sweet Jesus, I in Thee and Thou
In me shall never part.

No grief shall fall my way but I
Shall see Thy grief-filled eyes;
The lonely way that Thou once walked
Has made me sorrow-wise.

All trouble is a white-lit joy
That lights my darkest day;
Thy love has turned to brightest light
This night-like way.

If I have Thee alone,
The hours will bless
With still, cold hands of love
My utter loneliness.

Stay with me, Jesus, only stay;
I shall not fear
If, reaching out my hand,
I feel Thee near.

Father Titus Brandsma, O.Carm

A true hero, he was one whom Hitler put in the concentration camp for his Catholic beliefs and opposition to the Third Reich. He was chosen for

the horrendous Nazi medical "experiments". When his body was worn out and no longer useful for their horrific experiments, a doctor gave him a shot of carbolic acid to end his life. One of the nurses had been fallen away from the church for quite a while but felt guilty about the murdering the priest. The priest's kindness and love impressed her and she asked him if he would hear her confession which he did. She returned to the Catholic church shortly after. Fr Titus was a Carmelite priest.

Fr Titus walked the way of the Cross in the concentration camp but still, was known for his courage and kindness:

“He has been beaten terribly in Dachau. His little jacket was covered with blood but ‘it’s not worth troubling about.’ With a few words he silenced any further comment. Then he would reflect for a few quiet moments and offer some thoughts from Teresa of Avila to whoever would listen to him.” — Brother Raphael Tijhuis, 1946, a Carmelite who was with Titus in the concentration camp, which Brother Raphael survived.

“The ‘Kretiner aus Holland’ [the cretin from Holland] has in the short time that he was with us often been severely beaten, so that his face was covered over with blood. But he kept up his courage, and his spirit could simply not be broken.” — H. A. C. Jansen

“His spirit could simply not be broken. Any thought of revenge was far from him: thus he could say his Our Father in silence while in the presence of his attackers.” — R. Höppener

It is difficult to speak God's message in the presence those who know what is right but don't want to hear it. Even IF spoken with kindness and respect, it will cause the messenger to be attacked in some way. But Bl. Fr Titus sends us all, a message of consolation. God is hidden from us but not well hidden if we search for Him. He won the victory over evil and He is with us, right by our side!