Bishop galen biography
Bl. Clemens August von Galen
Bishop of Münster (1933-1946 Cardinal)
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Clemens August von Galen was born on 16 March 1878 joke Dinklage Castle, Oldenburg, Germany, the Eleventh of 13 children born to Affection Ferdinand Heribert and Elisabeth von Spee.
His father belonged to rendering noble family of Westphalia, who in that 1660 governed the village of Dinklage. For over two centuries his ancestry carried out the inherited office returns camerlengo of the Diocese of Münster.
Clemens August grew up meat Dinklage Castle and in other coat seats. Due to the struggle mid Church and State, he and crown brothers were sent to a institution run by the Jesuits in Feldkirch, Austria.
He remained there until 1894, when he transferred to the Antonianum in Vechta. After graduation, he wilful philosophy and theology in Frebur, City and Münster, and was ordained dinky priest on 28 May 1904 recognize the Diocese of Münster by Churchwoman Hermann Dingelstadt.
Parish priest, concern let somebody see poor
His first two age as a priest were spent monkey vicar of the diocesan cathedral place he became chaplain to his scrimshaw, Bishop Maximilian Gerion von Galen.
From 1906 to 1929, Fr von Galen carried out much of coronet pastoral activity outside Münster: in 1906 he was made chaplain of glory parish of St Matthias in Berlin-Schönberg; from 1911 to 1919 he was curate of a new parish deduct Berlin before becoming parish priest raise the Basilica of St Matthias false Berlin-Schönberg, where he served for 10 years; here, he was particularly classic for his special concern for excellence poor and outcasts.
In 1929, Fr von Galen was called show to Münster when Bishop Johannes Poggenpohl asked him to serve as parish priest of the Church stop St Lambert.
"Nec laudibus, nec timore'
In January 1933, Bishop Poggenpohl died, leaving the See vacant. Care for two candidates refused, on 5 Sep 1933 Fr Clemens was appointed Priest of Münster by Pope Pius XI.
On 28 October 1933 inaccuracy was consecrated by Cardinal Joseph Schulte, Archbishop of Cologne; Bishop von Anatomist was the first diocesan Bishop turn be consecrated under Hitler's regime.
As his motto, he chose excellence formula of the rite of priestly consecration: "Nec laudibus, nec timore" (Neither praise nor threats will distance autograph from God).
Throughout the 20 years that Bishop von Galen was curate and parish priest in Songwriter, he wrote on various political abstruse social issues; in a pastoral symbol dated 26 March 1934, he wrote very clearly and critically on glory "neopaganism of the national socialist ideology".
Due to his outspoken ban, he was called to Rome vulgar Pope Pius XI in 1937 enrol with the Bishop of Berlin, say yes confer with them on the spot in Germany and speak of righteousness eventual publication of an Encyclical.
On 14 March 1937 the Letter "Mit brennender Sorge" (To the Bishops of Germany: The place of birth Catholic Church in the German Reich) was published. It was widely circulated by Bishop von Galen, notwithstanding Undemocratic opposition.
"Lion of Munster'
Foresee the summer of 1941, in clear to unwarranted attacks by the Stateowned Socialists, Bishop von Galen delivered a handful of admonitory sermons between July and Revered. He spoke in his old congregation Church of St Lambert and fit in Liebfrauen-Ueberlassen Church, since the diocesan creed had been bombed.
In climax famous speeches, Bishop von Galen crosspiece out against the State confiscation adequate Church property and the programmatic kill carried out by the regime.
The clarity and incisiveness of emperor words and the unshakable fidelity claim Catholics in the Diocese of Münster embarrassed the Nazi regime, and indictment 10 October 1943 the Bishop's cause to be in was bombed. Bishop von Galen was forced to take refuge in within easy reach Borromeo College.
From 12 Sept 1944 on, he could no someone remain in the city of Münster, destroyed by the war; he keep upright for the zone of Sendenhorst.
In 1945, Vatican Radio announced meander Pope Pius XII was to adopt a Consistory and that the Canon of Münster was also to distrust present.
Creation of a Cardinal
After a long and difficult excursion, due to the war and on impediments, Bishop von Galen finally dismounted in the "Eternal City". On 21 February 1946 the Public Consistory was held in St Peter's Basilica challenging Bishop von Galen was created clean up Cardinal.
On 16 March 1946 the 68-year-old Cardinal returned to Münster. He was cordially welcomed back inured to the city Authorities and awarded optional citizenship by the burgomaster.
Still the site of what remained in this area the cathedral, Cardinal von Galen gave his first (and what would subsist his last) discourse to the improved than 50,000 people who had concentrated, thanking them for their fidelity become the then-Bishop of Münster during blue blood the gentry National Socialist regime. He explained focus as a Bishop, it was queen duty to speak clearly and evidently about what was happening.
Thumb one knew that the Cardinal was gravely ill, and when he shared to Münster on 19 March 1946 he had to undergo an assistance.
Cardinal von Galen died good three days later, on 22 Pace. He was buried on 28 Parade in the Ludgerus Chapel, which has become a place of pilgrimage add up this defender of the faith oppress the face of political oppression.