Johannes Prassek (13 August 1911 – 10 November 1943) was a German Catholic priest, and one of the Lübeck martyrs, guillotined for opposing the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler in 1943.[1][2] Prassek was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.[1][3]
Born in Barmbek, Prassek came from a working class Hamburg family, and financially struggled through his studies in theology. Ordained a priest at Osnabrück in 1937, he became a chaplain at Lübeck in 1939. A popular pastor, Prassek, impressed his congregation with his sermons, and work with young people. Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime was governing Germany, and in his theological discussion groups, Prassek often openly spoke of irreconcilable contradictions between Catholicism and Nazi ideology. He also established contact with forced labourers, and learned the Polish language in order to assist in his ministry work with them.[2]
Aged 30, in 1941, Prassek met Karl Friedrich Stellbrink, a pastor at the nearby Lutheran Church. They shared disapproval of the Nazi regime, and Prassek introduced Stellbrink to his Catholic colleagues, Hermann Lange and Eduard Mueller. The four priests spoke publicly against the Nazis – initially discreetly – distributing pamphlets to friends and congregants.[4] They copied and distributed the anti-Nazi sermons of Bishop Clemens August von Galen of Münster.[1] Then, following the 28 March 1942 RAF air raid, after which Stellbrink tended wounded, he delivered a Palm Sunday sermon which attributed the bombing to divine punishment. Stellbrink was arrested, followed by the three Catholic priests.[4] Prassek had been denounced by a Gestapo informer. Arrested in May 1942, he was sentenced to death by the People's Court in June 1943, in the "Lübeck Christians’ Trial", and executed on 10 November 1943 in Hamburg, alongside the other priests.[2] Resigned to martyrdom, Prassek wrote to his family: "Who can oppress one who dies". The mingling of the blood of the four guillotined martyrs has become a symbol of German Ecumenism.[4]
Prassek is remembered in his home city of Hamburg by having a park named after him.[5]
^ abcBeatification Of WWII Martyrs Divides Lutherans, Catholics; Huffington Post; By Omar Sacirbey; 20/6/2011
^Stadtentwicklung: Hamburg bekommt den Johannes-Prassek-Park. Hamburger Abendblatt, 22 June 2011
October 17, 2023
johannes, prassek, august, 1911, november, 1943, german, catholic, priest, lübeck, martyrs, guillotined, opposing, nazi, regime, adolf, hitler, 1943, prassek, beatified, pope, benedict, 2011, contents, biography, also, external, links, referencesbiography, edi. Johannes Prassek 13 August 1911 10 November 1943 was a German Catholic priest and one of the Lubeck martyrs guillotined for opposing the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler in 1943 1 2 Prassek was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 1 3 Johannes Prassek Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 External links 4 ReferencesBiography EditBorn in Barmbek Prassek came from a working class Hamburg family and financially struggled through his studies in theology Ordained a priest at Osnabruck in 1937 he became a chaplain at Lubeck in 1939 A popular pastor Prassek impressed his congregation with his sermons and work with young people Adolf Hitler s Nazi regime was governing Germany and in his theological discussion groups Prassek often openly spoke of irreconcilable contradictions between Catholicism and Nazi ideology He also established contact with forced labourers and learned the Polish language in order to assist in his ministry work with them 2 Aged 30 in 1941 Prassek met Karl Friedrich Stellbrink a pastor at the nearby Lutheran Church They shared disapproval of the Nazi regime and Prassek introduced Stellbrink to his Catholic colleagues Hermann Lange and Eduard Mueller The four priests spoke publicly against the Nazis initially discreetly distributing pamphlets to friends and congregants 4 They copied and distributed the anti Nazi sermons of Bishop Clemens August von Galen of Munster 1 Then following the 28 March 1942 RAF air raid after which Stellbrink tended wounded he delivered a Palm Sunday sermon which attributed the bombing to divine punishment Stellbrink was arrested followed by the three Catholic priests 4 Prassek had been denounced by a Gestapo informer Arrested in May 1942 he was sentenced to death by the People s Court in June 1943 in the Lubeck Christians Trial and executed on 10 November 1943 in Hamburg alongside the other priests 2 Resigned to martyrdom Prassek wrote to his family Who can oppress one who dies The mingling of the blood of the four guillotined martyrs has become a symbol of German Ecumenism 4 Prassek is remembered in his home city of Hamburg by having a park named after him 5 See also EditKirchenkampf Catholic Church and Nazi GermanyExternal links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Johannes Prassek Archidiocese of Hamburg Lubeck Martyrs Johannes Prassek References Edit a b c Three priest martyrs of Nazis beatified in Germany Catholic News Agency 25 June 2011 a b c Biography of Johannes Prassek at German Resistance Memorial Centre retrieved 30 Sep 2013 Tausende bei Seligsprechung von Nazi Widerstandlern in Lubeck Lubecker Nachrichten 25 June 2011 a b c Beatification Of WWII Martyrs Divides Lutherans Catholics Huffington Post By Omar Sacirbey 20 6 2011 Stadtentwicklung Hamburg bekommt den Johannes Prassek Park Hamburger Abendblatt 22 June 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johannes Prassek amp oldid 1173022490, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
