Shrine of Bl. Titus Brandsma

Bl. Titus Brandsma

Prayer to Blessed Titus Brandsma

God our Father,
your servant, Titus Brandsma,
laboured zealously in your vineyard
and gave his life freely because of his faith in you.
Through his intercession,
I ask you for your mercy and help.
Father Titus never refused when he was asked for help by your people.
In his name I come to you with my needs
(here mention your request)
Lord, help me always to imitate the great faith,
generous love and burning zeal of Titus Brandsma.
Glorify your servant as he wished to glorify you.
Amen.

Born at Bolsward (The Netherlands) in 1861, Blessed Titus Brandsma joined the Carmelite Order as a young man. Ordained priest in 1905, he obtained 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. During the 1930’s, he visited Ireland and stayed in Kinsale with the Carmelite Community there to improve his English before giving a series of lectures in the United States. Both before and during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands he fought, faithful to the Gospel, against the spread of the Nazi ideology and for the freedom of Catholic education and the Catholic press. For this he was arrested and sent to a succession of prisons and concentration camps where he brought comfort and peace to his fellow prisoners and did good even to his tormentors. In 1942, after much suffering and humiliations, he was killed at Dachau.

He was beatified by John Paul II on November 3rd, 1985.