Saint Titus Brandsma

Biography

St. Titus Brandsma, originally known as Anno Sjoera Brandsma and affectionately referred to as Shorty, was born on 23 February 1881 in Oegeklooster, Friesland, Netherlands. He grew up in a devoutly Catholic family, with three of his four sisters becoming nuns and one brother becoming a Franciscan priest. From a young age, Titus showed great piety and a strong inclination towards the priesthood. He entered a Franciscan minor seminary at the age of 11 and stayed there until he was 17. However, due to health issues, particularly an intestinal disorder, he was unable to continue on the path of becoming a Franciscan. Undeterred by these setbacks, Titus joined the Carmelites at Boxmeer, Netherlands, taking the name Titus. He made his first vows in 1899 and was ordained as a priest in 1905 at the age of 24. Titus was a gifted linguist, fluent in Italian, Frisian, Dutch, and English, and he could also read Spanish. In fact, he translated the works of Saint Teresa of Avila from Spanish to Dutch and published them in 1901. Titus's educational pursuits also saw him earning a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy in 1909, at the age of 28. He later taught philosophy at the Carmelite seminary in Oss, Netherlands. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Titus took on various roles and responsibilities throughout his life. In 1919, he became the editor of a local daily newspaper, often seen with a cigar in his mouth while working. He then went on to teach philosophy at Catholic University in Nijmegen, Netherlands, where he also served as the superior of the university's Carmelite student house. Titus gained popularity as a confessor and was widely known as an eloquent orator, journalist, author, and lobbyist for the university. In 1932, Titus became the president of the university, and three years later, in 1935, he was appointed as the ecclesiastical advisor to Catholic journalists. It was during this time that he began to face the attention of the Nazis due to his outspoken opposition to their anti-Jewish marriage laws. He boldly declared that no Catholic publication could publish Nazi propaganda and still consider itself Catholic, which further intensified the scrutiny on him. Titus was continually followed by the Gestapo, the German secret police, which eventually led to his arrest on 19 January 1942. For several weeks, he was moved between different prisons, subjected to abuse, and punished for ministering to other prisoners. Finally, in April 1942, Titus was deported to the Dachau concentration camp. In Dachau, Titus endured extreme hardships, including overwork, undernourishment, and daily beatings. However, he remained steadfast in his faith, even asking fellow prisoners to pray for the salvation of the guards. As his health deteriorated, he was subjected to cruel medical experiments, which ultimately resulted in his death. On 26 July 1942, Titus Brandsma was martyred through a lethal injection administered by his executioner, a nurse who had drifted away from the Catholic Church. His body was cremated, leaving no physical relics behind. However, his spirit and legacy have endured. In recognition of his unwavering faith and sacrifice, St. Titus Brandsma was beatified on 3 November 1985 by Pope John Paul II and canonized on 15 May 2022 by Pope Francis. His canonization was celebrated at Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Rome. The canonization miracle involved the healing of a Carmelite priest from "metastatic melanoma in the lymph nodes." St. Titus Brandsma is revered as a patron against cancer, and he is also honored by the Philippine Province of the Order of Carmelites. His life and martyrdom serve as a shining example of faith, courage, and dedication to truth in the face of oppression and adversity.