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↗A Biographical Outline
Bernhard Lichtenberg
Blessed Priest and Martyr
* Ohlau, December 3, 1875
† Hof, November 5, 1943
Memorial: November 5
Bernhard Lichtenberg was born
in Ohlau (Silesia) on December 3, 1875. An exemplary, pious priest
(1899), Cathedral Parish Priest (1932), and Provost of the Cathedral
Chapter (1938), he worked tirelessly and fearlessly in pastoral
ministry and Caritas in Berlin. He was arrested by the Secret State
Police (Gestapo) on October 23, 1941, for publicly praying for the
persecuted Jews and for criticizing the "euthanasia" murders and then
found guilty by a special court on May 22, 1943. Seriously ill after
two years in prison, he died in Hof on November 5, 1943 while being
transferred to the Dachau concentration camp. Pope John Paul II
beatified him as a martyr in Berlin on June 23, 1996. Today, Blessed
Bernhard's grave is located in the crypt of St. Hedwig's Cathedral,
Berlin.
From the notes written by him in prison:
We are called upon to view, judge
and respond to everything in the light of eternity.
Begin therefore, my soul, to say slowly and mindfully upon awaking in
the morning, "Today I intend to regard everything in the light of
eternity – anything that happens to me, joyful and painful, uplifting
and depressing." In a few weeks, I may perhaps add a second resolution,
may even be forced to do so, as I have already come to realize my
impediment: It is my impatience. Therefore, in future, I will say
slowly and mindfully after the first resolution, "Today, I intend to
take possession of my soul through my patience." I know that I will
lose patience a thousand times, but I will renew my resolve of patience
again and again. Perhaps, after several months, I will know why I lose
patience so quickly: I speak too readily, my heart is on my tongue, I
am too quick at showing my displeasure – and I will add a third
resolution: "Today, I will not sin with a single word." And because a
word always presupposes a thought, I will reformulate the third
resolution and say, "Today, I will not sin with a single thought and a
single word." Now it seems that I have come full circle. Now I will act
according to this recipe for a few years; and should I discover that I
still have not become amor et
deliciae [love and delight] of those around me, of my family, of
my colleagues, then I will pause once again and delve yet more deeply
into the matter: "Who and what stands in my way?" And I will discover:
In spite of everything, I lack the right supernatural attitude. I just
want to be people's favorite, not God's. I want to be praised and
appreciated. It annoys me to be reprimanded, criticized, or spitefully
judged; and so I will add a fourth resolution: "Today, I will do
everything in a spirit of love and suffer everything for the sake of
love." Now I will faithfully act according to this recipe for a few
years and then see how far I get, and may God take me to task pretty
hard. And God is already doing so: "For the Lord reproves him whom he
loves." (Proverbs 3:12). "For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves
(Hebrews 12:6). So often, I have found this to be true in my day-to-day
pastoral work ...
Blessed Bernhard, pray for us.
Please send information about answers
to your prayers for the
intercession of Blessed Bernhard Lichtenberg to:
Dompropst Dr. Stefan Dybowski
Hinter der Katholischen Kirche 3
10117 Berlin
GERMANY
stefan.dybowski@erzbistumberlin.de
Translated by Ilse Andrews
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