Abbey-Roads2

I almost forgot!  (Charity compels me to post on my fast from the internet day!)

Today, Franz Jägerstätter’s beatification takes place in Linz, Austria.  Blessed Franz was a conscientious objector under the Nazis and put to death for his refusal to kill for the German military.  In a time when many people in the world question the legality of the war in Iraq, and now with talk of possible war with Iran, Blessed Franz Jägerstätter’s beatification, his witness to the Gospel, invites us to examine our consciences on the issues of war and peace, violence and murder, hatred and bigotry. 

“The life of Franz Jägerstätter was the ordinary life of an Austrian farmer in the village of St. Radegund. He was a devout Catholic, a daily communicant who prayed the rosary while doing farm chores. Sexton of his parish church, he was married and had three children. But, on August 9, 1943 Franz Jägerstätter’s life became other than ordinary, when he was legally killed by the German Military for refusing to kill for the German Military.

At the hour of his death few people knew him and no one who did know him supported him in his refusal to engage in homicide for the Führer. Legions of Christians of all ranks told him to do his duty and go to war like the other Christian men. His bishop, pastor and spiritual advisors endeavored to persuade him that his conscientious objection was a wrong and futile course, even possibly sinful and contrary to Church teaching. He was looked upon as the embarrassing, if not mentally unstable, polar opposite of the heroic Aryan warrior. However, with a courage that, even on an exclusively human plane, was noble, heart-rending and eminently inspiring, he gently stood firm and said, “No,” to joining the German military. So it can be said with certitude, that when the blade of the guillotine fell at Brandenburg Prison near Berlin at 4 p.m. on August 9, 1943, Franz Jägerstätter was totally alone, almost totally unknown and destined to be totally forgotten.” - Rev. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy 

War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.

~ John F. Kennedy

[Thanks to my Bruderhoff brother for sending me this link earlier in the month.]