Blessed Eduard Profittlich

Eduard Profittlich was born on 11 September 1890 at Birresdorf in Germany to peasant parents and grew up in a large family. After classical studies he entered the seminary of Trier in 1912, but the following year, drawn to the spirituality of the Society of Jesus, was received into the Jesuit novitiate at Heerenberg in Holland. Called up when the First World War broke out, he served in the medical corps, and afterwards resumed philosophy and theology, being ordained on 27 August 1922. Sent to Poland, he took doctorates in philosophy and theology at the Jesuit house of studies in Kraków, and was then sent to Estonia in the Society's eastern mission, receiving the care of the parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Tallinn.

On 11 May 1931 Pius XI named him Apostolic Administrator of Estonia, and he set about rebuilding a very small local Catholic community, drawing up a pastoral plan, improving the formation of the clergy, founding new parishes and inviting priests and religious from Poland and Czechoslovakia. Made archbishop in 1936, he chose after the Soviet invasion of 1940 to stay with his people rather than return home. Arrested on 27 June 1941 and deported to Kirov, he was tortured, condemned to death, and died of the sufferings of prison.