Franz Jagerstatter

"What Catholic can dare to say that these raids which Germany was carrying out in several countries, and is still carrying out, constitute a just and holy war?" - Franz Jagerstatter

Franz Jagerstatter was born in Austria on this date in 1907. His father was killed during the first world war and as a youngster, he was adopted by a farmer whom his mother later married.
After a wild youth, Franz settled down to married life and fatherhood. In addtion to his farm work, he became sacristan at a Catholic parish in the small, rural village in lived in.
As the Nazi regime gained power, Franz was quite vocal in speaking out against it. When he recieved notice that he was being drafted into the German army, Jagerstatter sought advice from several priests and his bishop. Although they assured him that active duty was compatible with his Christianity, Jagerstatter felt he could neither fight for, nor support the Nazi regime in this way. He finally went to the induction center, reported in, but refused to to serve, saying tha it was "opposed to my Catholic religion."
He was imprisoned, convicted in a military trial, and beheaded on 9 August, 1943.

He had no support network, but he had a wife and, I believe, two young daughters. His bishop told him he was being proud!

exactly what "wild" meant in 1930's rural Austria! He came through when things counted, though.

the Catholic church's top theologian until Saint Thomas Aquinas was Saint Augustine. It was Augustine who, once converted, said, "Oh God, make me pure. But not just yet."

Oddly, Thomas was his polar opposite. Brought up as a Benedictine oblate - strange word - his confession on his death-bed was said by his confessor to have been like that of a young child. But, doubtless, you know this stuff.