Photograph: Franz Dionysos Reinisch. Franz-Reinisch Forum, Palottistraße 3, 56179 Vallendar. Online unter, {https://www.franz-reinisch.org/}, (Stand 8. 6.2025). 1. Early Life and Spiritual Formation Franz Reinisch was born on February 1, 1903, in Feldkirch, Austria, into a devout Catholic family. From an early age, he felt a calling to the priesthood and joined the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines) in 1922. He was ordained a priest in 1928 and became known for his dynamic preaching, deep Marian devotion, and commitment to social justice. During the 1930s, Reinisch grew increasingly alarmed by the rise of Nazism. He saw Hitler’s ideology as a direct attack on human dignity, religious freedom, and Christian morality. When Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938 (the Anschluss), Reinisch became an outspoken critic of the regime. 2. Conscientious Objection: Refusal to Swear the Hitler OathIn 1940, Reinisch was drafted into the German Wehrmacht (military). However, he declared that he could not in good conscience swear the required oath to Hitler, which stated: "I swear by God this sacred oath, that I will render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Führer of the German Reich and people, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and that I will be ready as a brave soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath." Reinisch wrote in his diary: "As a priest, I cannot swear loyalty to a man whose actions are in direct contradiction to the commandments of God. To do so would be to betray my faith." He sought counsel from his superiors and fellow priests, many of whom advised caution. But Reinisch remained firm, believing that silence in the face of evil was complicity. 3. Arrest, Trial, and Imprisonment On April 7, 1942, Reinisch was arrested for "Wehrkraftzersetzung" (undermining military morale). During his trial, he stated: "I do not resist out of stubbornness, but out of a clear conscience before God. I cannot serve a regime that murders the innocent, persecutes the Church, and wages unjust war." Despite pressure to recant, he refused. He was sentenced to death on July 6, 1942. While imprisoned in Berlin-Tegel and later in Plötzensee, he wrote letters to his family and fellow Pallottines, expressing peace and readiness for martyrdom: "Do not grieve for me. I go to my death with a joyful heart, for I know that my sacrifice is not in vain. Christ, too, was condemned by the powers of this world." 4. Execution and Last Words On August 21, 1942, Reinisch was executed by guillotine. Eyewitnesses reported that he faced death with remarkable calmness, praying the rosary until the end. His final recorded words were: "I die for my Lord and Savior. May my blood be a seed for freedom and a new, Christian Austria!" 5. Legacy and Beatification Process
Key Quotes from His Writings |
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