In Solemn Memory: Frater Massäus (Josef) Stemeseder OFM (1891–1940)

Photo FR frater Massäus Stemeseder. Held in: Archive of the Franciscan Province in Hall in Tyrol.

This page is dedicated to the memory of a brother whose life and tragic fate reflect the immense suffering inflicted by the National Socialist regime on countless innocent people. We remember Frater Massäus Stemeseder, who led a simple life in service to his community and became a victim of the Nazi "Euthanasia" crimes.

A Life of Service to Others

Josef Stemeseder was born on February 3, 1891, in Obertrum am See, in the Salzburg region. The son of a miller, he found his vocation early in the Franciscan Order. His spiritual journey began on January 16, 1913, when he was invested as a tertiary in Bolzano (Bozen), making his profession there on February 5, 1914.
For over a decade, he served his brothers in various monasteries in Tyrol and Salzburg in the humble yet essential roles of cook (coqu.) and gardener (hort.). His assignments included Bolzano (1913-1920), Hall in Tirol at the Leopoldinum (1920-1921), Salzburg (1921-1922), and Schwaz (1922-1923).
He finally entered the First Order of the Franciscans in Schwaz on September 22, 1923, making his temporary profession on September 23, 1924. His solemn, final profession followed on October 6, 1927, in Salzburg. Known in the monastery by the nickname "Brillenschlang," Brother Massäus was remembered by his brothers as a diligent and humble man, who contributed to the well-being of all through his work in the kitchen and garden.

Tragic Fate and Martyrdom

In 1931, Frater Massäus became seriously ill and required treatment at the State Sanatorium and Nursing Home (Landes-Heil- und Pflegeanstalt) in Hall, Tyrol. The diagnosis of a "mental illness" would cost him his life just a few years later.
After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, the National Socialists began the systematic murder of people with physical and mental disabilities. Under the covert name "Aktion T4," tens of thousands of people were declared "life unworthy of life" and murdered in specially designed killing centers.
On December 10, 1940, Frater Massäus Stemeseder was taken from the institution in Hall and transported with others to the killing facility at Hartheim Castle near Linz. There, in the castle's gas chamber, he was murdered shortly after his arrival. His officially communicated date of death was January 9, 1941—a fictitious date created by the perpetrators to cover up their crimes.
Frater Massäus was one of an estimated 30,000 people murdered in Hartheim between 1940 and 1944. The Franciscan order received the sad news of his death.

Our Remembrance

We remember Frater Massäus not primarily as a victim, but as our brother who lived a life of devotion and service. His violent death serves as a powerful reminder to always and everywhere defend the dignity of every human life, especially that of the weakest and most vulnerable among us.
May he rest in peace.
Requiescat in pace.