St Titus Brandsma O. Carm Martyr [Age 61]
(February 23, 1881 Netherlands - July 26, 1942 Germany)
Titus Brandsma was born in the Netherlands, a country bordering Belgium and Germany, on February 23, 1881. He was ordained a Carmelite priest in 1905 and 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, 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 killed at Dachau. He was canonized by Pope Francis on May 15, 2022.
