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Also known as: Anno
Sjoera Brandsma; Shorty
Memorial: 26 July
Profile
Pious youth from a pious family; three of his four sisters were nuns, and
a brother became a Franciscan priest. Had the nickname Shorty. Good
student who felt an early call to the priesthood. Entered a Franciscan
minor seminary from ages 11 to 17, but health problems, primarily an
intestinal disorder, prevented him becoming a Franciscan. Joined the
Carmelites at Boxmeer, taking the name Titus, and making his first vows in
1899.
Spoke Italian, Frisian, Dutch, and English, and could read Spanish.
Translated the works of Saint Teresa of Avila from Spanish to Dutch,
publishing them in 1901. Ordained in 1905 at age 24. Doctorate in
philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1909 at age
28. Taught at the Carmelite seminary at Oss, Netherlands. Editor of the
local daily newspaper in 1919; often seen working with a cigar in his
mouth.
Taught philosophy at Catholic University, Nijmegen, Netherlands. Superior
of the university's Carmelite student house. Popular confessor. Widely
traveled orator, journalist, author, and lobbyist for the university.
University president in 1932. Appointed ecclesiastical advisor to Catholic
journalists in 1935. Conducted a speaking tour throughout the United
States beginning in 1935.
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. Martyr.
Born: 23 February 1881 at Bolsward, Friesland, Holland as Anno
Sjoera Brandsma
Died: 26 July 1942 by lethal injection at Dachau concentration camp;
his executioner was a nurse who had been raised Catholic, but left the
Church; body cremated and no relics remain
Beatified: 3 November 1985 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized: pending
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