July 26 Blessed Titus Brandsma

I was first drawn to the story of Titus because of his nickname – Shorty. I like the idea of a Father Shorty. Drawn in by the name, his story impressed me.

A Carmelite from the the Netherlands, Father Shorty spoke multiple  languages, taught philosophy at the Catholic University of the Netherlands and was editor of the local daily newspaper. He was a common sight around campus with cigar and jaunty walk. After becoming president of the university, he hit the lecture circuit, traveling extensively around Euruope. He was appointed ecclesiastical advisor to Catholic journalists in 1935.

Shortly after the appointment, Father Shorty made a speaking tour of the United States, speaking out against Nazi propaganda. In 1935 he wrote against anti-Jewish marriage laws, which brought him to the attention of the Nazis. He later wrote that no Catholic publication could publish Nazi propaganda and still call itself Catholic; this led to more attention. Continually followed by the Gestapo, the Nazi attention led to his arrest on 19 January 1942. For several weeks he was shuttled from jail to jail, abused, and punished for ministering to other prisoners.

Deported to the Dachau concentration camp in April 1942. There he was overworked, underfed, and beaten daily; he asked fellow prisoners to pray for the salvation of the guards. When he could no longer work, he was used for medical experiments. When he was no longer any use for experimentation, he was murdered.

July 9 Blessed Fidelis Jerome Chojnacki

Jerome was an interesting character. A student of philosophy, an organizor of the intellectual ans social justice groups and a mentor and guide to recovering alcoholics. Jerome was raised in a pious family, studied in public schools and a military academy. He worked for a year at Szczuczyn Mowogrodzki in the Institute of Social Insurance, followed by work at the Central Post Office in Warsaw. Member and administrator of the group Catholic Action. Worked against alcohol abuse and helped recovering alcoholics in his region. Joined the Secular Franciscan Order at the Capuchin church in Warsaw. Joined the Capuchins on August 27, 1933, taking the name Fidelis. He studied philosophy at Zakroczym. Founded the Club for Intellectual Collaboration for the seminarians. He continued his work with alcoholics, working a group of Franciscans. While studying theology in Lublin, the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939. Arrested for his faith on January 25, 1940 and held in the “Fortress of Lublin”. On June 18, 1940 he was moved to the prison camp at Sachsenhausen. To this point, Fidelis had kept alive his optimism, hope and simplicity, but this camp broke him; the abuse of himself and the other prisoners sent him into depression. On December 14, 1940 he, with other priests and religious, was transferred to the Dachau concentration camp; tattooed with his prisoner number, and subjected to more abuse. Abused, starved and over-worked, he developed a serious heart condition, and finally died of excessive abuse on July 9, 1942.