Bienheureuse Marie-Restitute Kafka
Religieuse
franciscaine autrichienne martyre (✝ 1943)
Franciscaine
autrichienne, elle s'opposa au nazisme et refusa que les crucifix soient
enlevés dans l'hôpital où se trouvaient les religieuses. En octobre 1942, elle
fut arrêtée pour haute trahison, jetée en prison et condamnée à mort. Une
pétition demanda sa grâce au général des S.S., Martin Bormann qui la refuse et
elle fut décapitée le 30 mars 1943, après avoir demandé à l'aumônier de la
prison de tracer une croix sur son front.
Voir aussi: Homélie de Jean-Paul II lors de la Messe de Béatification de Jakob Kern, Restituta Kafka et Anton Maria Schwartz (Vienne, 21 Juin 1998) [Anglais, Espagnol, Portugais]
Près de Vienne en Autriche, l’an 1943, la bienheureuse Hélène Kafka (Marie-Restituta), vierge, des Sœurs franciscaines de la Charité et martyre. Originaire de Bohême, elle était infirmière; pendant la seconde guerre mondiale quand elle fut arrêtée par le régime nazi et décapitée.
Martyrologe romain
Nom: KAFKA
Prénom: Hélène
Nom de religion: Marie Restituta (Maria Restituta)
Pays: Autriche
Naissance: 1894
Mort: 30.03.1943 à Vienne
Etat: Religieuse - Martyre
Note: Religieuse franciscaine de la charité.
Infirmière. Elle lutta contre le nazisme. Elle refusa de retirer les crucifix
des chambres des malades. Arrêtée pour avoir composé un poème satirique sur
Hitler. Condamnée pour haute trahison le 29.10.1942. Guillotinée à la prison de
Vienne.
Béatification: 21.06.1998 à Vienne par Jean Paul II
Canonisation:
Fête: 30 mars
Réf. dans l’Osservatore Romano : 1998 n.26 p.4
Réf. dans la Documentation Catholique : 1998
n.14 p.690
Notice
Le 21 juin
1998 Jean Paul II béatifie trois Autrichiens (Jacob
Kern 2, Anton
Schwartz 2 et Restituta
Kafka) sur la "Place des héros" de Vienne. 60 ans auparavant en 1938
- rappelle le Pape - Hitler du balcon qui domine cette place a fait acclamer
l'Anschluss (rattachement de l'Autriche à l'Allemagne) par une foule en délire
de 250'000 personnes. Sur cette même "Heldenplatz", devant une foule
enthousiaste de 50'000 personnes (on en attendait plus, mais l'Église
d'Autriche, quoique bien vivante, traverse à ce moment-là une crise), Jean Paul
II béatifie une martyre de Nazisme, Sœur Restituta Kafka. Hitler avait proclamé
que le salut était en lui; les "héros selon l'Église" annoncent que
le salut ne se trouve pas dans l'homme mais dans le Christ, Roi et Sauveur.
Restituta
Kafka naît en 1894. Avant d'être majeure, elle exprime son intention d'entrer
au couvent. Ses parents s'y opposent, mais elle ne perd pas de vue son projet:
devenir sœur "par amour de Dieu et des hommes" et servir en
particulier les pauvres et les malades. Les "Sœurs franciscaines de la
Charité" l'accueillent, lui permettant de réaliser sa vocation dans le
monde hospitalier: un engagement quotidien souvent dur et monotone. Sœur
infirmière dans l'âme, elle fait bientôt figure "d'institution" à
Mödling. Sa compétence, sa résolution et sa cordialité sont telles que de
nombreuses personnes l'appellent Sœur Resoluta et non Sœur Restituta. Son
courage et sa fermeté ne lui permettent pas de se taire face au régime
national-socialiste. Elle refuse de retirer le crucifix des chambres des
malades et même lorsqu'on bâtit une nouvelle aile à l'hôpital, elle y fait
mettre des crucifix, prête à payer de sa vie plutôt que de renoncer à ses
convictions. Effectivement, à la suite d'une perquisition chez elle, on
découvre un poème satirique contre Hitler. Le mercredi des Cendre 1942, elle
est arrêtée par la Gestapo. C'est alors que commence pour elle en prison un
'Calvaire' qui dure plus d'un an. Malgré de nombreux recours en grâce, elle est
condamnée à mort. Conservant le crucifix dans son cœur, elle lui rend encore
témoignage peu de temps avent d'être conduite au lieu de l'exécution: elle
demande à l'aumônier de la prison de lui faire "le signe de la croix sur
le front". Ses dernières paroles connues sont: "J'ai vécu pour le
Christ, je veux mourir pour le Christ". Elle est décapitée dans la prison
de Vienne le 30 mars 1943. La Gestapo prend soin que son corps ne soit pas
rendu à la Communauté de peur qu'on en fasse une martyre.
"Tant de
choses peuvent nous être enlevées à nous chrétiens, mais nous ne permettront à
personne de nous enlever la Croix comme signe de salut - conclut le Pape - Nous
ne permettrons pas qu'elle soit exclue de la vie publique". Puis s'adressant
aux jeunes: "Plantez dans votre vie la Croix du Christ! La Croix est le
véritable arbre de vie". Et les jeunes d'apprécier ce message avec
enthousiasme.
Note d'humour:
Pour fêter cette béatification, les Sœurs franciscaines ont fait brasser des
bières avec l'étiquette "Restituta", rappelant ainsi qu'après chaque
opération difficile, la bienheureuse se faisait servir au bistrot une chope de
bière avec une goulache…
Maria Restitua, née le 1er mai
1884 à Husovice, près de Brünn (aujourd'hui Brno) en Moravie (actuellement République
tchèque) et décapitée le 30 mars 1943 à Vienne est une religieuse catholique.
Son nom séculier était Hélène
Kafka (ou Kafková).
En 1896, ses parents s'installent
avec leurs six autres enfants à Vienne, où le père était cordonnier. Elle fut
vendeuse, et en 1914, entra dans la congrégation hospitalière des Franciscaines
de la Charité à Vienne. A sa profession, elle prit le nom de Marie Restituta.
Elle devint infirmière anesthésiste à l'hôpital de Mödling en 1919.
Après l'Anschluss en mars 1938,
elle s'opposa au régime nazi et refusa que les crucifix soient enlevés dans
l'hôpital où se trouvaient les religieuses. Elle fut dénoncée comme opposante
et arrêtée le Mercredi des Cendres 1942, sous le prétexte d'avoir écrit des
poèmes satiriques à l'encontre d'Hitler.
Une pétition demanda sa grâce au
général des S.S., Martin Bormann qui la refusa et elle fut décapitée le 30 mars
1943 à la prison de Vienne, après avoir demandé à l'aumônier de la prison de
tracer une croix sur son front.
Elle fut béatifiée à Vienne par
le Pape Jean-Paul II le 21 juin 1998.
Blessed Maria Restituta
Kafka M (AC)
(also known as Helena Kafka)
Born at Brno, Czech Republic, May 10, 1894; died in Vienna, Austria, March 30,
1943; beatified June 21, 1998.
Blessed Maria
Restituta Kafka, baptized Helena, was the sixth daughter of a shoemaker. Her
family moved to Vienna, Austria, where she grew up and worked as a salesgirl,
then as a nurse, which brought her into contact with the Franciscan Sister of
Christian Charity (Hartmannschwestern).
Impressed by their
lives, she joined the congregation in 1914 and took the name Restituta. After
her novitiate, she was a surgical nurse for twenty years, during which she
gained a particular reputation for her devotion to the materially and socially
poor.
After the
Anschluss, when Austria was united to Germany, Sister Restituta was vocal in
her opposition to Nazism and Hitler, whom she called a "madman." Her
first personal encounter with the Nazis occurred when she hung a crucifix in
every room of a new hospital wing. The Nazis demanded that they or Sister
Restituta be removed; neither were. Her community declared that Sister
Restituta was irreplaceable.
The blessed nun was
arrested and, on October 28, 1942, sentenced to death for "aiding and
abetting the enemy in the betrayal of the fatherland and for plotting high
treason" because she had hung the crucifixes and allegedly written a poem
that mocked the Nazi leader. Sister Restituta was later offered her freedom in
exchange for leaving the order. She refused. Martin Bormann expressly rejected
the requested commutation of her sentence with the words: "I think the
execution of the death penalty is necessary for effective intimidation."
For the next five month, Blessed Maria Restituta tended to the needs of others
in prison. On March 30, 1943, the sentence of decapitation was executed (L'Osservatore
Romano English Edition).
BLESSED MARIA RESTITUTA KAFKA
Helen Kafka was born in 1894 to a shoemaker and grew up in Vienna,
Austria. At the age of 20, she decided to join the Franciscan Sisters of
Christian Charity and took the name Restituta after an early Church martyr.
In 1919, she
began working as a surgical nurse in Austria. When the Germans took over
the country, she became a local opponent of the Nazi regime. Her conflict
with them escalated after they ordered her to remove all the crucifixes she had
hung up in each room of a new hospital wing.
Sister Maria
Restitua refused, and was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942. She was
sentenced to death for "aiding and abetting the enemy in the betrayal of
the fatherland and for plotting high treason.”
She spent
the rest of her days in prison caring for other prisoners, who loved her.
The Nazis offered her freedom if she would abandon the Franciscan sisters, but
she refused. She was beheaded March 30, 1943 in Vienna, and was beatified by
Pope John Paul II on June 21, 1998.
APOSTOLIC
JOURNEY
OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
TO AUSTRIA (JUNE 19-21, 1998)
OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
TO AUSTRIA (JUNE 19-21, 1998)
BEATIFICATION OF FR JAKOB KERN,
SR RESTITUTA KAFKA AND FR ANTON MARIA SCHWARTZ
SR RESTITUTA KAFKA AND FR ANTON MARIA SCHWARTZ
HOMILY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
Sunday, 21 June 1998
1. "Who do the
people say I am?" (Lk 9:18).
Jesus asked his disciples
this question one day as they were walking together. He also puts this question
to Christians on the paths of our time: "Who do the people say I
am?".
As it was 2,000 years ago
in an obscure part of the then known world, so today, human opinions about
Jesus are divided. Some attribute to him the gift of prophetic speech. Others
consider him an extraordinary personality, an idol that attracts people.
Others, again, believe he is even capable of ushering in a new era.
"But who do you say
that I am?" (Lk 9:20). The question cannot be given a
"neutral" answer. It requires a taking of sides and involves
everyone. Today, as well, Christ is asking: you Catholics of Austria, you
Christians of this country, you citizens, "who do you say that I am?".
It is a question that comes
from Jesus' heart. He who opens his own heart wants the person before him not
to answer with his mind alone. The question that comes from Jesus' heart must
move ours: Who am I for you? What do I mean to you? Do you really know me?
Are you my witnesses? Do you love me?
2. Then Peter, the
disciples' spokesman, answered: "We consider you the Christ of God"
(Lk 9:20). The Evangelist Matthew reports Peter's profession in greater detail:
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" (Mt 16:16). Today
the Pope, as Successor of the Apostle Peter by the grace of God, professes on
your behalf and with you: "You are the Messiah of God. You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God".
3. Down the centuries,
there has been a continual struggle for the correct profession of faith. Thanks
be to Peter, whose words have become the norm!
They should be used to
measure the Church's efforts in seeking to express in time what Christ means to
her. In fact, it is not enough to profess with one's lips alone. Knowledge of
Scripture and Tradition is important, the study of the Catechism is valuable;
but what good is all this if faith lacks deeds?
Professing Christ calls for
following Christ. The correct profession of faith must be
accompanied by a correct conduct of life. Orthodoxy requires orthopraxis. From
the start, Jesus never concealed this demanding truth from his disciples.
Actually, Peter had barely made an extraordinary profession of faith when he
and the other disciples immediately heard Christ clarify what the Master was
expecting of them: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9:23).
As it was in the beginning,
so it is today: Jesus does not only look for people to acclaim him. He looks
for people to follow him.
4. Dear brothers and
sisters, whoever reflects on the history of the Church with eyes of love will
discover that despite the many faults and shadows, there were and still are men
and women everywhere whose lives highlight the credibility of the Gospel.
Today I am given the joy to
enrol three Christians from your land among the blesseds. Each of them
individually confirmed his or her profession of faith in the Messiah through
personal witness of life. All three blesseds show us that "Messiah"
is not only a title for Christ but also means a willingness to co-operate in
the messianic work: the great become small and the weak take the lead.
It is not the heroes of the
world who are speaking today in Heroes' Square, but the heroes of the Church. Sixty years ago from the balcony overlooking this square, a man
proclaimed himself salvation. The new blesseds have another message. They tell
us: Salvation [Heil] is not found in a man, but rather: Hail [Heil]
to Christ, the King and Redeemer!
5. Jakob Kern came from a humble Viennese family of
workers. The First World War tore him abruptly from his studies at the minor
seminary in Hollabrunn. A serious war injury made his brief earthly life in the
major seminary and the Premonstratensian monastery of Geras - as he said
himself - a "Holy Week". For love of Christ he did not cling to life
but consciously offered it to others. At first he wanted to become a diocesan
priest. But one event made him change direction. When a Premonstratensian left
the monastery to follow the Czech National Church formed after the separation
from Rome which had just occurred, Jakob Kern discovered his vocation in this
sad event. He wanted to atone for this religious. Jakob Kern joined the
monastery of Geras in his place, and the Lord accepted his offering a
"substitute".
Bl. Jakob Kern stands
before us as a witness of fidelity to the priesthood. At the beginning,
it was a childhood desire that he expressed in imitating the priest at the
altar. Later this desire matured. The purification of pain revealed the
profound meaning of his priestly vocation: to unite his own life with the
sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and to offer it vicariously for the salvation of
others.
May Bl. Jakob Kern, who was
a vivacious and enthusiastic student, encourage many young men generously to
accept Christ's call to the priesthood. The words he spoke then are addressed
to us: "Today more than ever there is a need for authentic and holy
priests. All the prayers, all the sacrifices, all the efforts and all the
suffering united with a right intention become the divine seed which sooner or
later will bear its fruit".
6. In Vienna 100 years ago,
Fr Anton Maria Schwartz was
concerned with the lot of workers. He first dedicated himself to the young
apprentices in the period of their professional training. Ever mindful of his
own humble origins, he felt especially close to poor workers. To help them, he
founded the Congregation of Christian Workers according to the rule of St
Joseph Calasanz, and it is still flourishing. He deeply longed to convert
society to Christ and to renew it in him. He was sensitive to the needs of
apprentices and workers, who frequently lacked support and guidance. Fr
Schwartz dedicated himself to them with love and creativity, finding the ways
and means to build "the first workers' church in Vienna". This
humble house of God hidden among the modest dwellings, resembles the work of
its founder, who filled it with life for 40 years.
Opinions on the "worker
apostle" of Vienna varied. Many found his dedication exaggerated.
Others felt he deserved the highest esteem. Fr Schwartz stayed faithful to
himself and also took some courageous steps. His petitions for training positions
for the young and a day of rest on Sunday even reached Parliament.
He leaves us a message: Do
all you can to protect Sunday! Show that it cannot be a work day because it is
celebrated as the Lord's day! Above all, support young people who are unemployed!
Those who give today's young people an opportunity to earn their living help
make it possible for tomorrow's adults to pass the meaning of life on to their
children. I know that there are no easy solutions. This is why I repeat the
words which guided Bl. Fr Schwarz in his many efforts: "We must pray
more!".
7. Sr Restituta Kafka was not yet an adult when she expressed
her intention to enter the convent. Her parents were against it, but the young
girl remained faithful to her goal of becoming a sister "for the love
of God and men". She wanted to serve the Lord especially in the poor
and the sick. She was accepted by the Franciscan Sisters of Charity to fulfil
her vocation in everyday hospital life, which was often hard and monotonous. A
true nurse, she soon became an institution in Mödling. Her nursing ability,
determination and warmth caused many to call her Sr Resoluta instead of Sr
Restituta.
Because of her courage and
fearlessness, she did not wish to be silent even in the face of the National
Socialist regime. Challenging the political authority's prohibitions, Sr
Restituta had crucifixes hung in all the hospital rooms. On Ash Wednesday 1942
she was taken away by the Gestapo. In prison her "Lent" began, which
was to last more than a year and to end in execution. Her last words passed on
to us were: "I have lived for Christ; I want to die for Christ".
Looking at Bl. Sr
Restituta, we can see to what heights of inner maturity a person can be led by
the divine hand. She risked her life for her witness to the Cross. And
she kept the Cross in her heart, bearing witness to it once again before being
led to execution, when she asked the prison chaplain to "make the Sign of
the Cross on my forehead".
Many things can be taken
from us Christians. But we will not let the Cross as a sign of salvation be
taken from us. We will not let it be removed from public life! We will listen
to the voice of our conscience, which says: "We must obey God rather than
men" (Acts 5:29).
8. Dear brothers and
sisters, today's celebration has a particularly European tone. In addition to
the distinguished President of the Republic of Austria, Mr Thomas Klestil, the
Presidents of Lithuania and Romania, political leaders from home and abroad,
have honoured us with their presence. I offer them my cordial greetings and
through them I also greet the people they represent.
With joy for the gift of
three new blesseds which we are offered today, I turn to all my brothers and
sisters in the People of God who are gathered here or have joined us through
radio or television. In particular, I greet the Pastor of the Archdiocese of
Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, and the President of the Austrian
Bishops' Conference, Bishop Johann Weber, as well as my Brothers in the
Episcopate who have come to Heroes' Square from near and far. Then I cannot
forget the many priests and deacons, religious and pastoral assistants in the
parishes and communities.
Dear young people! I extend
a special greeting to you today. Your presence in such large numbers is a great
joy for me. Many of you have come a long way, and not only in a geographical
sense.... But now you are here: the gift of youth which life is waiting for!
May the three heroes of the Church who have just been enrolled among the
blesseds sustain you on your way: young Jakob Kern, who precisely through his
illness won the trust of young people; Fr Anton Maria Schwartz, who knew how to
touch the hearts of apprentices; Sr Restituta Kafka, who gave courageous
witness to her convictions.
They were not
"photocopied Christians", but each was authentic, unrepeatable and
unique. They began like you: as young people, full of ideals, seeking to give
meaning to their life.
Another thing makes the
three blesseds so attractive: their biographies show us that their
personalities matured gradually. Thus your life too has yet to become a ripe
fruit. It is therefore important that you cultivate life in such a way that
it can bloom and mature. Nourish it with the vital fluid of the Gospel! Offer
it to Christ, the sun of salvation! Plant the Cross of Christ in your life!
The Cross is the true tree of life.
9. Dear brothers and
sisters! "But who do you say that I am?".
In a short time we will
profess our faith. To this profession, which puts us in the community of the
Apostles and of the Church's Tradition, as well as in the ranks of the saints
and blesseds, we must also add our personal response. The persuasive power
of the message also depends on the credibility of its messengers. Indeed,
the new evangelization starts with us, with our life-style.
The Church today does
not need part-time Catholics but full-blooded Christians. This is what the
three new blesseds were! We can learn from them!
Thank you, Bl. Jakob Kern,
for your priestly fidelity!
Thank you, Bl. Anton Maria
Schwartz, for your commitment to workers!
Thank you, Sr Restituta
Kafka, for swimming against the tide of the times!
All of you saints and
blesseds of God, pray for us. Amen.
©
Copyright - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Blessed Mary Restituta
Kafka
Also known as
- Helen Kafka
- Helena Kafka
- Maria Restituta Kafka
- Sister Restituta
- 30 March
- 30 October on some calendars
Profile
Sixth daughter of a shoemaker. Grew up in Vienna, Austria. Worked as a sales clerk. Nurse. Joined the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (Hartmannschwestern)
in 1914, taking the name Restituta after an early
Church martyr. Worked for twenty years as a surgical nurse, beginning in 1919. Known as a protector of the poor and oppressed. Vocal opponent of the Nazis after Anschluss,
the German take over of Austria. Sister Restituta hung a crucifix
in every room of a new hospital wing. The Nazis ordered them removed; Restituta refused.
She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942. Sentenced to death on 28 October 1942 for “aiding and abetting the enemy in the betrayal of the
fatherland and for plotting high treason”; Martin Bormann decided that her
execution would provide “effective intimidation” for other opponents of the
Nazis. She spent her remaining time in prison caring for other prisoners; even the Communist prisoners spoke well of her. She was offered her freedom if she
would abandon her religious community; she declined. Martyr.
Born
- 1 May 1894 in Brno, Czechoslovakia (modern Czech Republic) as Helena
Kafka
- 6 April 1998 by Pope John Paul II (decree of martyrdom)
BL. MARIA RESTITUTA
KAFKA was born
in Brno (in what is now the Czech Republic) on 10 May 1894, the sixth daughter
of a shoemaker, and was given the name Helena at Baptism. She grew up with her
family in Vienna and was employed as a salesgirl and later as a nurse. As a
nurse she came into contact with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
(known as the "Hartmannschwestern") and entered their congregation in
1914, taking the name of an ancient martyr, Restituta.
From 1919 she worked for 20
years as a surgical nurse and soon gained the reputation not only of a devoted
and capable nurse but one who was particularly close to the poor, the
persecuted and the oppressed. She even protected a Nazi doctor from arrest which
she thought was unjustified.
When Hitler took over
Austria, Sr Restituta made her total rejection of Nazism quite clear. She
called Hitler "a madman" and said of herself: "A Viennese cannot
keep her mouth shut". Her reputation spread rapidly when she hung a
crucifix in every room of a new hospital wing. The Nazis demanded that the
crosses be removed, threatening Sr Restituta's dismissal. The crucifixes were
not removed, nor was Sr Restituta, since her community said they could not
replace her. Sr Restituta was arrested and accused not only of hanging the
crosses but also of having written a poem mocking Hitler.
On 28 October 1942 she was
sentenced to death for "aiding and abetting the enemy in the betrayal of
the fatherland and for plotting high treason". She was later offered her
freedom if she would leave her religious congregation, but she refused. When
asked to commute her sentence, Martin Bormann expressly rejected the request,
saying: "I think the execution of the death penalty is necessary for
effective intimidation.
While in prison she cared
for the other prisoners, as even communist prisoners later attested. After
various requests for clemency were rejected by the authorities, Sr Restituta
was decapitated on 30 March 1943.
Countering the Swastika
with the Cross of Christ
L'Osservatore
Romano
Relic of Blessed Restituta
Kafka in the Basilica of St Bartholomew on Tiber Island
A strong and courageous
woman. Ward sister and head nurse in an Austrian hospital, she firmly, opposed
the anti-religious measures of the Nazi regime and defended the rights of the
weak and the sick, speaking of peace and democracy. She was denounced by the
SS, was imprisoned, condemned to death and then decapitated in Vienna on 30
March 1943, at the age of 49. She was killed together with some Communist
workmen whom she managed to comfort on the eve of their death.
The sacrifice of Bl. Maria
Restituta (in the world: Helen Kafka) — the only nun to be condemned to death
under the National-Socialist regime and judged after a court hearing — was
recently commemorated in the Basilica of St Bartholomew on Tiber Island.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, celebrated on 4 March a
Mass at which the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity gave to the Basilica
a small cross which Maria Restituta carried on the belt of her habit. The relic
was placed in the altar — which commemorates the martyrs of
Nationalist-Socialism — by a woman who was born in 1941 in very the hospital
where the religious served in those years. Immediately following the Great
Jubilee of 2000, John Paul II decided that the Roman Basilica of St Bartholomew
on Tiber Island was to become a memorial of the "new martyrs" and
witnesses of the faith from the 20th and 21st century.
Born on 1 May 1894 at
Brno-Husovice, in modern day Czech Republic, of humble background, Helen Kafka
grew up in the Austrian capital where she worked in the Lainz hospital with the
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. In 1914 she entered the convent and
received the name Maria Restituta. From 1919 until 1942 she served in the
hospital in Mödling, Vienna, where she became a surgical nurse and an
anaesthetist, esteemed for her professional competence, beloved for her
sensitivity and respected for her energetic character, so much so that she soon
earned the nickname "Sister Resoluta" .
After Germany annexed
Austria, the religious worked for justice and the dignity of every human being.
Faced with the anti-religious suppression of the Nazis, she responded by
reaffirming religious freedom and by refusing to remove the crucifixes in the
hospital. She also countered Hitler's swastika with the Cross of Christ. She
also spread "A soldier's song" that spoke of democracy, peace, and a
free Austria. Spied on by two ladies, she was denounced by a doctor close to
the SS, who for some time sought an opportunity to distance her from the
hospital.
After her arrest by the
Gestapo on Ash Wednesday, 18 February 1942, she was condemned to death on 29
October 1942 (the day chosen for her liturgical memorial). The sentence was
carried out 30 March 1943. Before her death she asked the chaplain to make the
sign of the cross on her forehead. "She was a saint because in that
situation she encouraged everyone, she transmitted a power, a positive spirit
and one of confidence", a fellow-prisoner later recalled.
On 21 June 1998 Restituta
Kafka was beatified in Vienna, together with the servants of God, Jakob
Kern and Anton Maria Schwartz, by John Paul II, who said: "Looking at Bl.
Sr Restituta, we can see to what heights of inner maturity a person can be led
by the divine hand. She risked her life for her witness to the Cross. And she
kept the Cross in her heart, bearing witness to it once again before being led
to execution, when she asked the prison chaplain to make the Sign of the Cross
on my forehead". John Paul II continued: "Many things can be taken
from us Christians but the Cross as the sign of salvation will not be taken
from us. We will not let it be removed from public life! We will listen to the
voice of our conscience, which says: 'We must obey God rather than men' (Acts
5:29)."
Bl. Maria Restituta Helen
Kafka was a lady who, with a power for renewal, was able to give an example of
freedom of expression and of responsibility of the individual conscience — even
in difficult circumstances, animated by a virtue that is at times inconvenient:
courage. "No matter how far we are from everything we are, no matter what
is taken from us", the religious wrote in a letter from prison, "no
one can take from us the faith we have in our heart. In this way we can build
an altar in our own heart".
Taken from:
L'Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
10 April 2010, page 10
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A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF BLESSED
MARIA RESTITUTA KAFKA
21Jul
WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN (ACTS 5:29).
“A strong and courageous woman, Ward Sister and Head Nurse in an
Austrian hospital, she firmly opposed the anti-religious measures of the Nazi
regime and defended the rights of the weak and the sick, speaking of peace and
democracy. She was denounced by the SS, was imprisoned, condemned to death and
then beheaded in Vienna on the 30th March 1943, at the age of 49. She was
killed together with some communist workmen whom she managed to comfort on the
eve of their death.
THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY
The sacrifice of Blessed Maria Restituta (Helene Kafka) – the only nun
to be condemned to death under the National-Socialist regime and judged after a
court hearing – was recently commemorated in the Basilica of St Bartholomew on
Tiber Island. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna, celebrated a
Mass at which the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity gave to the Basilica
a small cross which Maria Restituta carried on the belt of her habit. The relic
was placed in the altar – which commemorates the martyrs of National-Socialism
– by a woman who was born in 1941 in the very hospital where the religious
served in those years. Immediately following the great jubilee of 2000, John
Paul II decided that the Roman Basilica of St Bartholomew on Tiber Island was
to become a memorial of the ‘new martyrs’ and witnesses of the faith from the
20th and 21st centuries.
ENERGETIC CHARACTER
Born on 1 May 1894 [at Hussowitz bei Bruenn in the Austria-Hungary
Empire, today] Brno-Husovice, in modern day Czech Republic, of humble
background, Helene Kafka grew up in the Austrian capital where she worked in
the Lainz hospital with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. In 1914
she entered the convent and received the name Maria Restituta. From 1919 until
1942 she served in the hospital in Moedling, Vienna, where she became a
surgical nurse and an anaesthetist, esteemed for her professional competence,
beloved for her sensitivity and respected for her energetic character, so much
that she soon earned the nickname ‘Sister Resoluta’.
THE CROSS OF CHRIST
After Germany annexed Austria, the religious worked for justice and the
dignity of every human being. Faced with the anti-religious suppression of the
Nazis, she responded by reaffirming religious freedom and by refusing to remove
the crucifixes in the hospital. She also countered Hitler’s swastika with the
Cross of Christ. She also spread ‘A soldier’s song’ that spoke of democracy,
peace, and a free Austria. Spied on by two ladies, she was denounced by a doctor
close to the SS, who for some time sought an opportunity to distance her from
the hospital.
‘SHE WAS A SAINT’
After her arrest by the Gestapo on Ash Wednesday, 18 February 1942, she
was condemned to death on 29th October 1942 (the day chosen for her liturgical
memorial). The sentence was carried out on 30th March 1943. Before her death
she asked the chaplain to make the sign of the cross on her forehead. ‘She was
a saint because in that situation she encouraged everyone, she transmitted a
power, a positive spirit and one of confidence’, a fellow prisoner later
recalled.
On 21 June 1998 Restituta Kafka was beatified in Vienna, together with
the servants of God, Jakob Kern and Anton Maria Schwartz, by John Paul II, who
said: ‘Looking at Blessed Sister Restituta, we can see to what heights of inner
maturity a person can be led by the divine hand.
She risked her life for her witness to the Cross. And she kept the Cross
in her heart, bearing witness to it once again before being led to execution,
when she asked the prison chaplain to ‘make the Sign of the Cross on my
forehead’. John Paul II continued: ‘Many things can be taken from us Christians
but the Cross as the sign of salvation will not be taken from us. We will not
let it be removed from public life! We will listen to the voice of our
conscience, which says: ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).
‘NO ONE CAN TAKE FROM US THE FAITH’
Blessed Maria Restituta Helene Kafka was a lady who, with a power for
renewal, was able to give an example of freedom of expression and of
responsibility of the individual conscience – even in difficult circumstances,
animated by a virtue that is at times inconvenient: courage. ‘No matter how far
we are from everything we are, no matter what is taken from us,’ the religious
wrote in a letter from prison, ‘no one can take from us the faith we have in
our heart. In this way we can build an altar in our own heart.'”
– This article was published in “The Crusader” issue June 2013. For donations
towards the Restoration Appeal and subscriptions, please contact: The
Secretary, All Saints Friary, Redclyffe Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 7LG
The brutal murder of American journalist, James
Foley, is just the latest act inspired by Satan, and carried out by his
malevolent followers. James Foley was not killed because he was James
Foley. He was killed because, like so many before him, he represented
GOODNESS. The evil that has given us the heinous torture and bloodletting
of Christians, since ISIS reared its Satanic head, is nothing new. It has
been with us throughout history. I would like you to take a trip
back to Nazi Germany, circa 1943. Meet Helena Kafka, who grew up to be
become Sister Maria Restituta, a Franciscan Sister of Charity.
May 1, 1894, was a happy day for Anton
and Marie Kafka. Marie had just given birth to her sixth child, a
girl, and mom and her daughter were both doing fine. The proud parents named
their new baby, Helena. Devout Catholics, Anton and Marie had
Helena baptized into the faith thirteen days after her birth in
their parish, The Church of the Assumption, in the town of Husovice, located in
Austria. Before Helena reached her second birthday, and due to financial
circumstances, the family had to move. They settled in the city of Vienna,
where Helena and her siblings would remain and grow up.
Helena was a good student and worked hard. She received her First Holy
Communion in May of 1905 in St. Brigitta Church, and was confirmed in the same
church a year later. After eight years of school, Helena spent another year
in housekeeping school. By the age of 15, she was working as a
servant, a cook and was earning nursing. She became an assistant nurse at Lainz
City Hospital in 1913. This was Helena's first contact with the Franciscan
Sisters of Christian Charity, and she was immediately moved to become a Sister
herself. On April 25, 1914, Helena Kafka joined the Franciscan sisters,
and on October 23, 1915, she became Sister Maria Restituta. She made her final
vows one year later, and began working solely as a nurse.
When World War I ended, Sister Maria was the lead surgical nurse at Modling
Hospital in Vienna. She and all other Austrians had never heard of Adolf
Hitler, and could never have imagined that one day their beloved nation
would be annexed into the German Republic because of this man.
After a successful coup d'etat by the Austrian Nazi Party on March 12,
1938, these unforeseen and unimagined things came to pass. The Nazis, under
Hitler, now controlled the once proud Austrian nation.
Sister Restituta was very outspoken in her opposition to the Nazi regime. When
a new wing to the hospital was built, she hung a Crucifix in each of the new
bedrooms. The Nazis demanded that they be removed, telling Sister Restituta
that she would be dismissed if she did not comply. She refused, and the
crucifixes remained hanging on the walls One of the doctors on
staff, a fanatical Nazi, would have none of it. He denounced her to the Nazi
Party, and on Ash Wednesday, 1942, she was arrested by the Gestapo after coming
out of the operating room. The "charges" against her included
"hanging crucifixes and writing a poem that mocked
Hitler".
Sister Maria Restituta, the former Helena Kafka, loved her Catholic faith, and,
filled with the Spirit, she wanted to do nothing more than serve the sick. The
Nazis promptly sentenced her to death by the guillotine for "favouring
the enemy and conspiracy to commit high treason". The Nazis
offered her freedom if she would abandon the Franciscans she loved so much.
She adamantly refused. An appeal for clemency went as far as the
desk of Martin Bormann, Hitler's personal secretary and Nazi Party Chancellor.
His response was that her execution "would provide effective intimidation
for others who might want to resist the Nazis". Sister Maria
Restituta spent her final days in prison caring for the sick. Because of
her love for the Crucifix, and the Person who was nailed to it and died on it,
she was beheaded on March 30, 1943. She was 48 years old.
Pope John Paul II visited Vienna on June
21,1998. That was the day Helena Kafka, the girl who originally went to
housekeeping school to learn how to be a servant, was beatified by the Pope,
and declared Blessed Maria Restituta. She had learned how to serve
extremely well, always serving others before herself.
Blessed Marie Restituta, please pray for us.
SOURCE : http://www.catholic365.com/article/76/evil-transcends-the-ages-meet-blessed-maria-restituta-a-holocaust-victim-executed-for-hanging-a-crucifix.html
La sua terra di Moravia è soggetta all’imperatore austriaco Francesco Giuseppe: lei, Helene, è la sesta dei sette figli di Anton e Maria Kafka, che nel 1896 si sono trasferiti dalla regione nativa a Vienna, capitale dell’Impero. Helene si avvia alla professione di infermiera e vuole anche farsi suora. I genitori dicono di no, lei si rassegna ad aspettare i vent’anni, e infine la accolgono le Francescane della Carità Cristiana in Vienna. Qui, come religiosa, prende il nome di sua madre e quello di una martire dei primi secoli. Si chiamerà dunque suor Maria Restituta.
Abbastanza presto, però, molti cominciano a chiamarla suor Resoluta, per i modi cordiali e decisi e per la sua sicurezza e capacità come infermiera di sala operatoria e come anestesista. Nell’ospedale regionale di Mödling, presso Vienna, la religiosa diventa un’istituzione: per i medici, per le altre infermiere, ma soprattutto per i malati, ai quali sa comunicare con straordinaria efficacia il suo amore per la vita, la sua e quella degli altri, nella gioia e nella sofferenza. Una donna, diremmo oggi, splendidamente realizzata.
Nel marzo 1938, Hitler manda il suo esercito a occupare l’Austria, a tradimento. Vienna, già capitale di un Impero multietnico e multilingue, si ritrova capoluogo di una provincia del Reich tedesco, sottoposta a brutale nazificazione. Suor Restituta si trova naturalmente, fisiologicamente avversa a tutto questo. E non vuole, non può nasconderlo. Essendo per la vita è contro il nazismo. A tutti i costi.
E quando i nazisti tolgono il Crocifisso anche dagli ospedali, lei tranquillamente lo va a rimettere, a testa alta, sfidando comandi e comandanti.
Non potendola piegare, i nazisti la sopprimono. Arrestata il mercoledì delle Ceneri 1942, è condannata a morte nell’ottobre, poi trascorre 5 mesi nel braccio della morte, e il 30 marzo 1943 muore decapitata. Alle consorelle ha mandato un messaggio: "Per Cristo sono vissuta, per Cristo voglio morire".
E in faccia agli assassini, prima che il carnefice alzi la mannaia, suor Restituta dice al cappellano: "Padre, mi faccia sulla fronte il segno della Croce".
Papa Giovanni Paolo II l’ha beatificata il 21 giugno 1998 a Vienna.
Autore: Domenico Agasso
Beata Restituta Kafka Vergine
e martire
Brno, Repubblica Ceca, 1°
maggio 1894 - Vienna, Austria, 30 marzo 1943
Martirologio
Romano: A Vienna in Austria, beata Maria Restituta (Elena) Kafka, vergine delle
Suore Francescane della Carità Cristiana e martire, che, originaria della
Moravia, svolse servizio di infermiera e, arrestata durante la guerra dai
nemici della fede, morì decapitata.
La sua è
l’umile famiglia di un calzolaio con sette figli; lei è povera e perdipiù
balbuziente. Anche un po’ testarda, a giudicare almeno dal carattere forte e
dal suo modo di fare, sbrigativo e risoluto, che l’accompagnerà per tutta la
vita. A 15 anni vorrebbe continuare a studiare, ma la mandano a far la
cameriera; a 18 vorrebbe farsi suora, ma i suoi sono decisamente contrari. Si rassegna così ad aspettare i 20 anni e, quando li raggiunge, scappa
di casa per andare in convento. Le Suore Francescane della Carità Cristiana di
Vienna le danno il nome di Suor Restituta e la mandano a fare l’infermiera: è
sempre stato quello il suo desiderio più grande, perché le piace servire Gesù
nei malati. Come infermiera ci sa davvero fare: medici e colleghi l’apprezzano e
la stimano sia come infermiera di sala operatoria che come anestesista. Qui e
là continua a far capolino quel suo carattere cordiale ma deciso, tanto che
suor Restituta viene presto ribattezzata “suor Resoluta” . Al letto dei malati,
però, nessuno la può superare, perché è di una delicatezza e di una
amorevolezza uniche. Scoppia la prima guerra mondiale e suor Restituta è
accanto ai feriti , sollecita ad ogni chiamata, pronta per ogni emergenza. Nel
1938 i nazisti invadono Vienna e sono due tra le prime disposizioni di Hitler
che cercano di applicare: far sparire i crocifissi dai luoghi pubblici e
allontanare le suore dalle corsie degli ospedali. Suor Restituta, però, è così
indispensabile per la sua indiscussa competenza, che più o meno segretamente
può continuare la sua opera di carità al letto dei malati. Il crocifisso nelle
stanze e nelle corsie dell’ospedale diventa invece quasi una questione
personale: Suor Restituta, risoluta come sempre, si prende l’incarico di
personalmente andare a rimpiazzarli là dove sono stati tolti: sa di rischiare
parecchio con quel suo gesto provocatorio, ma intanto più crocifissi vengono
eliminati e più lei ne risistema. Tanto, tra lei e il nazismo c’è
un’incompatibilità dichiarata, perché non può condividere l’ideologia di morte
e di razzismo che Hitler va professando. E così la furia nazista si scatena
anche su di lei: viene arrestata il mercoledì delle Ceneri del 1942 e messa in
prigione, ma nella sua cella continua ad aiutare donne incinte e compagni
deperiti, oltre a consolare e sostenere i condannati a morte. Per lei la
condanna a morte arriva quasi un anno dopo e viene decapitata il 30 marzo 1943.
Prima di morire chiede al cappellano di tracciarle in fronte il segno della
croce: quasi il timbro di autenticità su una vita che si è sempre ispirata al
crocifisso. Il 21 giugno 1998 il Papa proclama beata Suor Restituta Kafka, la
martire del crocifisso, fissando al 29 ottobre la sua memoria liturgica.
Autore: Gianpiero Pettiti
Autore: Gianpiero Pettiti
La sua terra di Moravia è soggetta all’imperatore austriaco Francesco Giuseppe: lei, Helene, è la sesta dei sette figli di Anton e Maria Kafka, che nel 1896 si sono trasferiti dalla regione nativa a Vienna, capitale dell’Impero. Helene si avvia alla professione di infermiera e vuole anche farsi suora. I genitori dicono di no, lei si rassegna ad aspettare i vent’anni, e infine la accolgono le Francescane della Carità Cristiana in Vienna. Qui, come religiosa, prende il nome di sua madre e quello di una martire dei primi secoli. Si chiamerà dunque suor Maria Restituta.
Abbastanza presto, però, molti cominciano a chiamarla suor Resoluta, per i modi cordiali e decisi e per la sua sicurezza e capacità come infermiera di sala operatoria e come anestesista. Nell’ospedale regionale di Mödling, presso Vienna, la religiosa diventa un’istituzione: per i medici, per le altre infermiere, ma soprattutto per i malati, ai quali sa comunicare con straordinaria efficacia il suo amore per la vita, la sua e quella degli altri, nella gioia e nella sofferenza. Una donna, diremmo oggi, splendidamente realizzata.
Nel marzo 1938, Hitler manda il suo esercito a occupare l’Austria, a tradimento. Vienna, già capitale di un Impero multietnico e multilingue, si ritrova capoluogo di una provincia del Reich tedesco, sottoposta a brutale nazificazione. Suor Restituta si trova naturalmente, fisiologicamente avversa a tutto questo. E non vuole, non può nasconderlo. Essendo per la vita è contro il nazismo. A tutti i costi.
E quando i nazisti tolgono il Crocifisso anche dagli ospedali, lei tranquillamente lo va a rimettere, a testa alta, sfidando comandi e comandanti.
Non potendola piegare, i nazisti la sopprimono. Arrestata il mercoledì delle Ceneri 1942, è condannata a morte nell’ottobre, poi trascorre 5 mesi nel braccio della morte, e il 30 marzo 1943 muore decapitata. Alle consorelle ha mandato un messaggio: "Per Cristo sono vissuta, per Cristo voglio morire".
E in faccia agli assassini, prima che il carnefice alzi la mannaia, suor Restituta dice al cappellano: "Padre, mi faccia sulla fronte il segno della Croce".
Papa Giovanni Paolo II l’ha beatificata il 21 giugno 1998 a Vienna.
Autore: Domenico Agasso
http://www.santegidio.org/pageID/3/langID/fr/itemID/6527/Une_femme_contre_le_mal__Sur_Maria_Restituta_Kafka_martyre_du_nationalsocialisme.html
