A German priest known as the “ANGEL of DACHAU” was beatified as a martyr in Würzburg , Germany
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| Icon- Lewis Williams, OFS |
BLESSED ENGELMAR UNZEITIG was born in
As a new priest, he said Masses for French prisoners of war, though this was strictly forbidden. After a move to Glockelberg, he came to the attention of Hitler's Youth, who were bothered by his actions and words. Their reports led to his imprisonment at the age 30.. He arrived in Dachau July of 1941 and became #26147. 3,000 clergy were gathered in priest barracks and forced to wear a red triangle on their clothes.
Threats, terror, abuse, fear, and death were his companions, day after day, for almost 4 years. He endured 12 hour workdays on little food. He said Mass, read the Bible and ministered the Eucharist to his fellow prisoners. His letters show he never succumbed to hate, forever trusting God’s will in his life. He wrote from this hell of suffering: ‘Even behind the hardest sacrifices and worst suffering stands God with his Fatherly love, who is satisfied with the good will of his children and gives them and others happiness.’
He also studied Russian in order to be able to help the prisoners from In December, 1944, a typhus epidemic broke out. The sick were gathered in specific barracks, and left to die alone. 20 clergy from the two priest barracks volunteered for what in reality was a death sentence. In that last month of his life he wrote to his sister: “Love doubles one’s strength, it really ‘has not entered into the heart of any man what God has prepared for those that love him’, and “the Good is undying.”
During his Angelus address on September 25, Pope Francis said, “Killed in hatred of the faith in the extermination camp of Dachau
