As we move through the alphabet the Saint-vember, we come to the letter 'F' and Bl. Franz Jägerstätter. I chose Franz because there was a movie made about his life that my Dad shared with me not too long ago and I wanted to know more about him.
Franz was born in Austria in 1907. Since his parents could not afford to marry, he was initially raised by his grandmother. His biological father was killed in WWI and his mother then married Heinrich Jägerstätter, who adopted the boy and gave him his name. Franz' life was much like that of any other Austrian peasant. He worked as a farmhand and a miner until he inherited his adoptive father's farmstead in 1933. In 1936, he married Franziska Schwaninger, who was deeply religious. Their honeymoon was spent in pilgimage to Rome, where they received a Papal blessing. Inspired by his wife, Franz began to study the Bible and the lives of the Saints.
When German troops moved into Germany in 1938, he was the only person in his village to vote against the unification of Austria to Germany. His vote was suppressed and local authorities announced unanimous approval. He was dismayed to see many Catholics in his town supporting the Nazis. Franz underwent military training, but he refused to take the Hitler oath. His military service was deferred several times as he had exemption as a farmer. He was finally called to active duty on February 23, 1943. By this time, he had begun questioning the morality of the war and declared his status as a conscientious objector. His offer to serve as a medic was ignored and he was arrested and put in prison. A priest from his village visited him and tried to convince him to serve, but he stood firm on his convictions.
Accused of undermining military morale, Franz was sentenced to death in a military trial. He was executed by guillotine on August 9, 1943 at the age of 36. In June 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued an apostolic exhortation declaring Franz Jägerstätter to be a martyr. He was beatified later that same year. His feast day is the date of his baptism, May 21. He is the patron of contentious objectors.
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