Introduction
Born at Bolsward (The Netherlands) in 1881, Blessed Titus Brandsma joined the Carmelite Order as a young man. Ordained a priest in 1905, he earned a doctorate in philosophy in Rome. He then taught in various schools in Holland and was named professor of philosophy and of the history of mysticism in the Catholic University of Nijmegen, now Radboud University, where he also served as Rector Magnificus. He was noted for his constant availability to everyone. He was a professional journalist, and in 1935 he was appointed ecclesiastical advisor to Catholic journalists. Both before and during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands he fought, faithful to the Gospel, against the spread of Nazi ideology and for the freedom of Catholic education and of the Catholic press. For this he was arrested and sent to a succession of prisons and concentration camps where he brought comfort and peace to his fellow prisoners and did good even to his tormentors; in 1942, after much suffering and humiliation, he was killed at Dachau. He was beatified by John Paul II on November 3, 1985.
Opening prayer
O Jesus, when I gaze on You
Once more alive, that I love You
And that your heart loves me too
Moreover as your special friend.
Although that calls me to suffer more
Oh, for me all suffering is good,
For in this way I resemble You
And this is the way to Your Kingdom.
I am blissful in my suffering
For I know it no more as sorrow
But the most ultimate elected lot
That unites me with You, o God.
O, just leave me here silently alone,
The chill and cold around me
And let no people be with me
Here alone I grow not weary.
For Thou, O Jesus, art with me
I have never been so close to You.
Stay with me, with me, Jesus sweet,
Your presence makes all things good for me.
(From the poem, O Jesus, written by Titus Brandsma and translated by Susan Verkerk-Wheatley and Anne-Marie Bos)
From the writings of Blessed Titus Brandsma
The image of God
From the speech of Titus Brandsma, Godsbegrip
(Translated by Susan Verkerk-Wheatley / Anne-Marie Bos)
Among the many questions which I ask myself, none occupies me more than the riddle, that the evolving human being, proud and spirited in his progress, turns away from God in such great number.
It is disconcerting that in our time of such great progress in various area, we face, like an infectious disease, an insidiously spreading violation and denial of God.
Why is the image of God so obscured that so many are no longer moved by it? Is the failure only on their side? Or is there something asked of us to make it shine brightly again over the world and might we hope that a study of the concept of God will at least alleviate this greatest of all needs?
I do not imagine, in the space of one hour, to find a solution to this world problem, greater than that of material need. I want to share only some thoughts which this question evokes in me, in the quiet hope that the posing of this question in this place will benefit Catholic learning, not because of the answer I give to it, but because this incomplete and imperfect answer will bring others to a better and more complete one, thus one of the most vital questions, too little reflected upon, will find the attention proportionate to its significance, for the alleviation of the need and for the advancement of true progress.
We live in a time of great confusion in the realm of thought. The most contradictory systems are held as truth and defended with passion by recognized scholars. But I see the most awful chasm in the thoughts concerning God. Next to the great, fortunately still overwhelmingly great majority which holds a very specific idea of God and worships him with reverence, are – the press and statistics put it bluntly – hundreds of thousands, nay, millions, I shudder to name such large numbers, but there are millions who no longer see any basis for their concept of God and, not satisfied with denying his existence, wage a battle full of passion and hatred to efface every thought of God from society.
It is not my intention to defend the concept of God, there is too much apologetics. All too often we walk the negative way of defence and rebuttal, whilst it is nobler and more useful to make the truth shine forth, in a positive way, in the light which emanates from it and always appeals to the human spirit. So, I believe that we have the task, must consider it an honourable duty, to look around us at this phenomenon of the denial of God, not in the first place to set ourselves up in opposition to it, but taking it into account, to make known the concept of God under new forms, in this sense to adapt it to present-day culture, which from the richness of this concept especially brings to the fore that glory, which for this time of that concept of God, emanates the most appeal.
Despite the great progress in many areas, the human mind must be terribly dazzled that it no longer has the capacity to see God. This obstruction of vision, however, is not a total blindness. And without ignoring that this defective vision results from an ailing mentality which has clouded the eye, I ask myself if the object to be viewed is placed sufficiently in the light and whether we should not try to illuminate and place it so that even, through this ailing defective vision, it will be seen again?
(Spend a moment of silent prayer.)
Responsory
Praise to you, Father, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
– For God has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God
No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
– For God has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God
Let us pray
Loving God,
your servant Titus Brandsma laboured zealously in your vineyard
and gave his life freely because of his faith in you.
Through his intercession I ask for your mercy and help.
Heavenly Father, Titus never refused
when he was asked for help by your people.
In his name, I come to you with my needs:
(In silence mention your requests)
Lord, help me always to imitate the great faith, generous love,
and burning zeal of Titus Brandsma.
Glorify your servant as he wished to glorify you. Amen.
Mary, Mother of Carmel, pray for us.
Titus Brandsma, Carmelite and Martyr, pray for us.
Amen.