|
Original sound recording of this document |
The two Germans beatified today take us back into a dark side of the 20th century. Our eyes are on Blessed Nikolaus Groß, the journalist and family father. With astuteness he realized that the national socialist ideology is incompatible with Christian faith. Courageously he put pen to paper in order to make a plea for the dignity of man. Nikolaus Groß loved his wife and children very much. But not even the deep bond with his own family could prevent him from professing his loyalty and faith to Jesus Christ and to his church. It was clear to him: "If we don`t commit our lives today, how shall we face up to God and our people in the future?" For this conviction he was hanged, but then the heaven opened for him. In the Blessed Martyr Nikolaus Groß this word of the prophet comes true:
The just man stays alive because of his faithfulness (Hab 1,4).