Blessed Nikolaus Gross-Martyr

The life of Nikolaus Gross epitomises, the virtues of family life through the example he not only left his children but what he teaches us to this day. In order to provide for his family he not only met their physical needs but also helped in developing their character in going against the trend if that trend is evil. For as a father Nikolaus wished to be able to leave a legacy where good does overcome evil and the vanquished will become the victors, but also that life itself need not be a hellish experience.

Though Nikolaus was born in the 19th century in his homeland of Germany, his life was spent trying to improve the working conditions of the lower to middle class citizens of Germany. In this effort he joined the Christian Miner's Union and in 1919 he also joined the St. Anthony Miners Trade Union, perhaps Nikolaus recognised from the beginning that one of the sins that cry out to Heaven is to give a man his rightful wage. To fight for the rights of the honourable working labourer does not make one a 'communist' but it does ennoble the workers rights in the eyes of God, Nikolaus Gross understood this perfectly.

At the young age of 22 years he worked on the paper 'The Miner' as assistant editor this work took him all over Germany and it was in Essen that Nikolaus decided to settle down and it was here that he married his wife, Elizabeth Koch. This loving couple were to be blessed with 7 children, even though Nikolaus did not let up in his efforts to provide better conditions for the working man, he didnt neglect his duties as a loving husband or a loving father of which he was both. Indeed both Nikolaus and Elizabeth instilled into all their children a deep devotion to the Catholic Church and filial obedience to God and also a love for the poor and sick.

It was in 1927 that Nikolaus became editor in chief of the West German Workers Newspaper an affiliate of the St. Anthony Miners Association. It was also during this period that Nikolaus understood that though a man must be given his rightful wage and better working conditions still this was not enough to make one truly happy, as this could only be achieved through faith based principles. During all his activities Nikolaus found strong support in his wife, Elizabeth as both provided a stable and faithfilled family life.

What set Nikolaus apart from many others was his understanding and grasp of the threat that National Socialism could wreak on the German people, he recognised the inherent evil within the Nazi philosophy. Where others at first embraced the Nazi's Nikolaus sounded a cautious note as he discerned the implications of a dictatorial state run by a group of fascists with no leanings towards God or respect towards man. Indeed in one of his editorials Nikolaus Gross wrote this towards those who wished to embrace this new philosophy, "As Catholic workers we reject Nazism not only for political and economic reasons, but decisively also, resolutely and clearly, on account of our religious and cultural attitude".

This earned a reprimand once the Nazi's gained power and set Nikolaus on a course of a non compromising position so though Nikolaus worded his editorials differently the message maintained its integrity to the truth. This did not appease the Minister for Labour Roberty Ley who had the paper banned. It was here that the conviction grew within Nikolaus heart that he could not be a bystander when such evil presented itself in the form of the Nazi party.

Both Nikolaus and Elizabeth knew that one cannot afford apathy if they wished to provide a wholesome future for their children. Nikolaus made the decision to join the underground resistance within Germany a very dangerous activity indeed! At the heart of all that moved this heroic man was his love of God and Church and he knew that to live on his knees was not the course that God would choose for him, rather he would stand his ground and fight this evil threat not only to the German people but to the whole world.

For above all things Nikolaus followed God and did not seek to appease man at the price of his principles. This decision must have proved very difficult for both Elizabeth and Nikolaus as they sought to protect their children, but not at all costs for what is a world devoid of love and ruled by brute force!

During this time, though no great writer or orator Nikolaus Gross wrote two pieces which condemned the Nazi regime, unfortunately these two written pieces fell into the hands of the dreaded Gestapo. From this time on Nikolaus's days were numbered as he and his family endured interrogations and house searches, through this terror the Gross family held strong in full knowledge that at times Principles must come before safety.

The courage shown by Nikolaus Gross was truly admirable as he faced down the Nazi terror without flinching. There were many who admired this man of great strength of character and principle including Priests and Monsignors as Monsignor Schulte said to Nikolaus, "Mr. Gross, remember that you have seven children. I have no family for which I am responsible. It's a matter of your life'. To which Gross made a really great statement to me: "If we do not risk our life today, how do we then want one day to justify ourselves before God and our people?'' Though Nikolaus displayed true heroic virtue still he was not a superman and at times what lay ahead of him if he continued terrified him but it did not paralyse him as he overcame his fear and lived on principle alone, he did this not only for himself but for the future of his wife and children.

After the assassination of Hitler Nikolaus Gross was thought to be a member of those that had planned this, but the Nazi intelligence was wrong for though Nikolaus opposed Hitler and all that he stood for he did not take part in the assassination plot. This did not stop the Nazi's arresting this difficult and outspoken nuisance so in 1944 Nikolaus was arrested and sent to the notorious concentration camp of Ravensbruck, where he suffered deprivation and torture before being transferred to a penitentiary in Berlin, where the torture continued as evidence of this was seen by his beloved and devoted wife Elizabeth.

Through this difficult period Nikolaus courage and determination in the face of death was admired by all he met. What gave Nikolaus such courage to face what seemed an inevitable death and a torturous one at that? The key to Nikolaus Gross was his strong prayer life which he had maintained throughout and the knowledge that what he was going through had a greater meaning than the mere temporal. During this time his wife and children prayed with fervour for the safety of their father but more importantly that God would strengthen him for the ordeals that lay ahead of this great man. One's heart goes out to Elizabeth and their children as they knew what their father was doing was right but still they loved him and wanted him home, but God had other plans. Through the prayers of his family and friends Nikolaus embraced his death as one meeting his great love, his Heavenly Father. Till the end Nikolaus displayed no fear.

Nikolaus Gross was executed in 1945.

Blessed Nikolaus Gross was beatified in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

Some Quotes.

"that one must obey God more than men". "If something is demanded of us that goes against God or the Faith, then not only may we, but we must, refuse obedience (towards men)"

"If we do not risk our life today, how do we then want one day to justify ourselves before God and our people?'"

"Sometimes, my heart becomes heavy and the task appears insoluble if I measure my own human imperfection and inadequacy against the greatness of the obligation and the weight of the responsibility. If a generation must pay the highest price, death, for its short life, we look for the answer in ourselves in vain. We find it only in Him in whose hand we are safe in life and in death. We never know what problems are waiting to test the power and strength of our souls.... Man's ways lie in obscurity. But even darkness is not without light. Hope and faith, which always hasten ahead of us, already have a presentiment of the breaking of a new dawn. If we know that the best thing in us, the soul, is immortal, then we also know that we shall meet each other again".

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Roman Catholic
Catholic Saints

Saint Clare of Montefalco

Clare Vengente was born in the year 1268 in the region of Montefalco, Italy. Her parents were prosperous so money was not a critical issue both Clare's parents instilled in their children a great devotion towards their Faith, which Clare took very much to heart as she grew in devotion towards God and the Church.

One of Clare's greatest examples was her sister Joan who practiced mortifications and penances as was common to this particular Era in time. Both Joan and Clare in their zealousness and love for God practiced denying their physical needs as in limiting their eating and other forms of bodily penances. As both Clare and her sister had an abhorrence and dread of even the slightest sin that may offend their beloved Jesus and the Blessed Mother.

The parents of both Joan and Clare, Damiano and Iacopa Vengente encouraged their daughters in this zealous love for God and provided them with their own hermitage which their father built for his daughters not far from the family home. This enabled both of their daughters the ability to withdraw from recreations and spend days and weeks in prayer and the practice of penances at times very severe penances.

Even though Clare loved God with a passionate love, this did not stop her suffering a severe sense of abandonment, this trial lasted 11 long years as Clare suffered the loss of 'feelings' as our Lord guided her towards a more mature love of Himself. During this ordeal Clare did not lose her Faith even though she suffered much. At times God calls all the souls who are particularly devoted to Him along the path of thorns rather than rose petals, though Clare did not doubt Gods Power she did have doubts about her own worthiness which plagued her for many years.

It was in 1290 that Joan and Clare's hermitage which had been built by their father became a monastery, the Bishop decided that the Monastery would be run by the Rule of St. Augustine. When the Bishop sent his envoy to Montefalco in order to vote for an Abbess the election outcome was that Clare was voted in by a majority. This did not appeal to Clare who merely wanted to serve her community and not be in charge of it, after pleading to her fellow Sisters who refused to hear them, Clare accepted the position of Abbess reluctantly.

Clare was to prove herself to be a worthy Abbess as she nurtured her community and helped them to keep a joyful interior as they did their daily round of chores and a life of prayer and penances. Her diplomacy in being able to guide this small group of women with no rancour was indeed meritorious as she wisely governed the Convent not with an iron hand but with the hand of a mother.

Though Clare continued her practice of mortification this did not lead her to become an unhappy or dour personality, indeed many came to love Clare for the happiness that sprung from her very nature and the wisdom and compassion she showed to her fellow Sisters and in the service of the poor in the community. Many came to not only love Clare but also to respect the obvious holy content of her very essence and many paid visits to her monastery in order to gain advice and to simply lift their spirits in the company of one so full of love and compassion.

Clare's particular devotion was for the Crucified Lord and she spent many hours in compassioning prayer for the suffering our Lord endured for the salvation of sinners. Her whole life revolved around pleasing her Lord and offering up her own sufferings for the sake of poor sinners. This focus on Christ's Passion was not done from a sense of morbidity but one of deep devotion and also Mystical experiences of what our Lord suffered as He endured the pain of the Crucifixion.

Through the years of practicing severe penances took a heavy toll on Clare's own health and so it was that she suffered through her last illness once again offering up her pains for the forgiveness of sins committed against God.

Clare Vengente died in 1308.

St. Clare of Montefalco was Canonized in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Roman Catholic
Catholic Saints

Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi

God was to touch the heart of Iwene Tansi very early in his youth, but as always God's Ways are not always mans way! Iwene Tansi was born in Nigeria in a village called Onitsha, in the year 1903. His parents, Tabansi and Ejilowevi were not Christian, but when his father was arrested this had a profound affect on the Tansi family, in that the father vowed that none of his children would be subject to such humiliation!

So though both Iwene's parents were not Christian they sent their children to Christian schools to be educated, so that they may prosper more than their parents and have a good start in life. This Christian education would affect the young Iwene profoundly, as he developed a very high and intense form of prayer, which often left him in tears, when he contemplated the Lord's suffering. This would often lead other young boys his age to beat him up, as they thought him a cry baby.

But the young Iwene took no note and continued his prayer life as he knelt each day in front of the Tabernacle in solitude and meditative prayer. Tears of joy and also of sorrow would fall down the face of this holy young boy as he sought to try and alleviate the pain that our Lord had suffered on behalf of sinners. The depth of his prayer life was also followed by his deeply humble behaviour towards all who knew him; Iwene never held grudges and treated all with respect and kindness in his simple manner.

In the year 1912 Iwene is baptised and given the Christian Michael, after this Michael would continue his schooling at Holy Trinity primary School. After completing his studies there he went on to gain his school leavers Certificate at St. Josephs School which allowed him to teach professionally. Many of his fellow teachers and students noted Michaels Iwene's love of prayer and how often he could be found kneeling in deep prayer often having open conversations with Our Lady, when he thought he was alone. Michael had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and always carried a Rosary on his person.

But even though Michael’s prayer life was intense, he was not a dour or downhearted man, but one of quiet manner, gentle humour and a generous spirit towards all. If anybody needed help it would be Michael who would lend a hand at whatever needed doing, with a cheerfulness that lifted the hearts of all who knew him. But even though Michael Iwene displayed a cheerful countenance he also undertook severe personal penances for love of God and sinners. He also was very strict with his students and encouraged all to lead a more ascetic lifestyle, and to rise to the challenge of their studies. Perhaps Michael understood that the only way out of poverty was to be educated, and so he wasted no time in instilling the virtues to his young students, sometimes with the rod, which was acceptable discipline in that particular Era.

So it was in the year 1925 Michael entered the Seminary and upon completing his studies at St. Paul's he was Ordained a Priest in 1937, and though he was not a theologian, which would trouble him, he fully understood what it means to live and spread the Good News to all he met. He served as Parish Priest in Eastern Nigeria for the next 13 years, serving the people in the area with great devotion and tirelessness and making sure that all knew the Catholic Faith.

For in this particular part of Nigeria many pagan customs were still kept such as living together before marriage which was described as 'trial marriages', Father Michael fought vigorously to re-educate the people into accepting the need for Holy Matrimony before becoming one in flesh. So it was that Fr. Michael would often walk miles in order to teach the young people the importance of all the Sacraments of the Church while emphasising the Sacrament of Penance and the Sacrament of Marriage.

But deep in his heart, Father Michael longed for a more secluded life, even from a child he had shown a predilection for solitude and a longing for Monastic living. And so it was that in 1950 Fr. Michael left for England to study the Monastic spirituality in order to return to his own homeland and begin one there. This fuelled Fr. Michael’s zealous nature of love toward God but it also challenged him in that back in his homeland he had obtained a certain prominence whereas in England he became another brother Monk with a new name, Father Cyprian.

Though he struggled with a few issues, still he knew that this was where God wished for him to be and so Father Cyprian took to this new Monastic Rule of life like a duck to water. Though he strove hard to study and learn in order to bring the Monastic Rule back to his beloved homeland, this unfortunately did not eventuate as those in authority ruled that a Monastic Order would begin in Cameroon. This was a disappointment to Father Cyprian, but he humbly accepted it, for from his early years, as Iwene he knew God did indeed work in mysterious Ways!

And though Father Cyprian longed to join his fellow Priests in Cameroon this was not to be as he fell ill and was unable to recover.

Father Cyprian died in 1964.

Blessed Father Cyprian was beatified in 1998 by Pope John Paul II.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Roman Catholic
Catholic Saints