ADOLPH
KOLPING
Prêtre,
Fondateur, Bienheureux
1813-1865
Adolphe
(Adolf) Kolping naquit près de Cologne à Kerpen, le 8 décembre 1813. Il était
le quatrième des cinq enfants de
son père Peter et de sa mère Anna-Maria, modestes agriculteurs qui s'étaient
sacrifiés pour donner à leurs enfants une meilleure éducation. A treize ans,
Adolphe dut gagner sa vie chez un cordonnier de Kerpen, puis il entra dans
une fabrique plus importante à Cologne. Il se souviendra plus tard de la misère
de l'époque et de l'indifférence religieuse de ses jeunes compagnons de
travail.
Malgré
cette atmosphère hostile, Adolphe, avec l'aide de prêtres bienfaiteurs, put
mûrir sa vocation. Il parvint à suivre des cours dans un lycée de Cologne et à
obtenir l'équivalent du baccalauréat à 24 ans. En 1841, il s'inscrivit à la
faculté de théologie de Munich, puis à celle de Cologne.
Il fut
ordonné prêtre en 1845 à l'âge de 32 ans. Il devint vicaire à la paroisse
Saint-Laurent de la ville d'Eleberfeld et s'occupa en particulier du
catéchisme. Dans cette ville industrielle, les Catholiques étaient en minorité.
L'abbé Kolping y fit la connaissance de la Gesellenverein, société d'entraide
des artisans fondée par Johann Gregor Breuer (1821-1897). Ancien ouvrier
artisan lui-même, l'abbé Kolping était parfaitement au courant des problèmes de
cette catégorie de population. Il avait conscience de leurs besoins dans le
domaine social, culturel et spirituel. Il fut donc à l' origine en 1846 d'une
Gesellenverein tournée vers l'enseignement et l'aide économique.
En 1849,
alors qu'il était devenu vicaire à la cathédrale de Cologne, il fonda une
fédération des différentes associations artisanales d'entraide, spécialement tournée
vers la jeunesse. Il en devint le président. De nombreuses autres associations
se fédérèrent par la suite autour de ce noyau.
Le but
d'Adolphe Kolping était de favoriser le modèle de l'employé chrétien, conscient
de ses devoirs et de ses droits, bon citoyen et futur bon père de famille. Il
créa aussi une gazette hebdomadaire, le Rheinische Volksblätter et plus tard le
Volkskalender. Il réussit à atteindre et à permettre l'évangélisation d'un
vaste public.
Il mourut à
seulement 52 ans, le 4 décembre 1865. Il était vicaire, journaliste, patron de
presse, président de la fédération des Gesellenverein, et surtout apôtre de son
époque.
Il fut
béatifié par Jean-Paul II, le 27 octobre 1991.
ADOLPH
KOLPING
Prêtre,
Fondateur, Bienheureux
1813-1865
Aujourd'hui, nous
allons faire un petit tour en Allemagne, saluer un bienheureux que vous ne
connaissez certainement pas: Adoph Kolping.
Adolph Kolping naquit le 8 décembre 1813, à Kerpen près de Cologne. Il fut
élevé par son père qui était berger. À 18 ans Adolph vint à Cologne comme
assistant cordonnier. Il fut bouleversé quand il découvrit les conditions de
vie de beaucoup de gens qui vivaient dans la ville, et décida alors de devenir
prêtre. Cinq ans plus tard, grâce à un bienfaiteur, Adolph, âgé de 23 ans put
entrer au lycée, "Marcellengymnasium" à Cologne. Il poursuivit
ensuite des études de théologie à Munich, Bonn et Cologne.
Kolping fut ordonné
prêtre à Cologne, le 13 avril 1845. Il travailla d'abord à Elberfeld (faisant
maintenant partie de Wuppertal) comme aumônier et professeur de religion. En
1847, il devint le second président de l'Association catholique des compagnons,
fondée l'année précédente par Johann Gregor Breuer, association qui donnait aux
jeunes ouvriers une aide sociale et religieuse. En 1849 il retourna à Cologne
comme vicaire de la cathédrale et établit, en 1850, l'association des
compagnons de Cologne unissant les associations de compagnons existantes,
telles que "Rheinischer Gesellenbund" ("Fédération des compagnons
de la Rhénanie"). Cette fusion fut à l'origine de l'actuelle
"Kolpingwerk. Cette association, qui fut à l’origine de l’actuelle
association Kolping, avait pour but de lutter contre l’injustice sociale, de
mettre en valeur la famille, la profession, la religion et la société humaine.
Jusqu'à sa mort Adolph Kolping œuvra pour répandre ces fédérations d'ouvriers.
À sa mort en 1865, il y avait plus de 400 associations de compagnons dans le
monde. 140 ans après sa fondation le mouvement existe dans 56 pays avec plus de
400.000 membres.
Entre temps, en 1854
Kolping avait fondé le Journal du Peuple Rhénan, le "Rheinische
Volksblätter" hebdomadaire qui devint rapidement l'un des principaux
organes de presse de l'époque. En 1862 Adolph devint recteur de l'église
Minoriten de Cologne.
Kolping mourut le 4
décembre 1865. En raison de son engagement social le "Père des
Compagnons" a été béatifié par le Pape Jean-Paul II le 27 octobre 1991 à
Rome.
Paulette Leblanc
Allemagne: Le pape encourage les membres de
l´association du Bx Kolping
Un précurseur de l´enseignement social de l´Eglise
catholique
OCTOBRE 25, 2001 00:00 REDACTIONÉGLISE
CATHOLIQUE
CITE DU VATICAN, Jeudi 25 octobre 2001 (ZENIT.org) – Le bienheureux Adolph Kolping
(1813-1865) a « anticipé », a affirmé Jean-Paul II, sur
l´enseignement social de l´Eglise catholique. Il encourageait ses disciples à
poursuivre son témoignage aujourd´hui.
Le pape a reçu ce matin en audience place Saint-Pierre
quelque 13.000 membres de la « Famille Kolping international », à dix
ans de la béatification.
Jean-Paul II s´était recueilli sur la tombe du
fondateur en l´église des Franciscains de Cologne, le 15 novembre 1980, lors de
l´un de ses voyages en Allemagne. Le P. Adolph Kölping a été béatifié en 1991.
Selon la revue Magnificat, ce prêtre surnommé « le Don Bosco allemand » a été
le fondateur et l’organisateur de nombreuses œuvres sociales qu’il confiait à
la gestion des laïcs. Cet ensemble est actuellement constitué de quelque 4.000
organisations – « familles » – présentes dans une cinquantaine de
pays et comptant environ 42.000 adhérents.
Les fruits spirituels laissés en héritage par le P.
Kolping ont été évoqués ce matin par le pape. Son œuvre est répandue dans 52
pays et compte sur la collaboration de quelque 450.000 volontaires.
L´oeuvre était à l´origine centrée sur l´artisanat.
L´association a ensuite étendu ses activités à d´autres secteurs
professionnels. En 1968, naissait une nouvelle branche pour les questions du
Tiers Monde.
« Il est important, disait Kolping, d´apporter le
christianisme à la vie sociale réelle,
selon son esprit et sa mise en œuvre pratique ».
Le pape rappelait ce matin ces paroles du prêtre allemand, remerciait ses
disciples engagés à sa suite et les exhortait à ne pas se laisser décourager
dans leur témoignage.
OCTOBRE 25, 2001 00:00ÉGLISE
CATHOLIQUE
SOURCE : https://fr.zenit.org/articles/allemagne-le-pape-encourage-les-membres-de-l-association-du-bx-kolping/
Kolpings Wohnhaus in Bonn
Blessed Adolph Kolping
Also known as
Father of All Apprentices
Apostle of Working Men
Memorial
4 December
Profile
Son of a poor shepherd. Apprenticed to
a shoemaker. Studied in Munich, Bonn and Cologne in Germany. Ordained on 10 April 1845.
Chaplain of Saint Laurentius parish,
Elberfeld, Germany from 1845 to 1849.
Founded several Catholic apprentice associations,
one of which became the International Kolping Society with all its
national and local organizations. Worked to improve the physical and spiritual
lives of craftsmen and
their apprentices.
Worked with youth,
and to improve family life. Vicar of the cathedral in Cologne. Rector of
Saint Maria Empfängnis Church, Cologne in 1862.
Born
8 December 1813 at
Kerpend, Germany
Died
4 December 1865 at Cologne, Germany of
natural causes
buried in
the Church of the Minor Friars, Saint Maria Empfängnis, Cologne
Venerated
13 May 1989 by Pope John
Paul II
Beatified
27 October 1991 by Pope John
Paul II in Rome, Italy
Additional Information
books
Adolf
Kolping, The Apostle of Working Men, by Ellis Schreiber
other sites in english
Catholic
Online
Franciscan
Media
Hagiography
Circle
Kolping
International
images
Wikimedia
Commons
video
YouTube PlayList
sitios en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
Readings
Almighty, everlasting God! You gave us Blessed Adolph
Kolping as an intercessor and role model. His life found fulfilment in his
concern for the young people in religious and social difficulties. For many he
was an untiring pastor, a fatherly advisor, a patient teacher and a true
friend. He set us an example in his love for your Son. In his loyalty to the
Church he is an exemplary role model for us. His concern was to understand
work, family and society in the light of our faith. He considered helping one
another within the community to be the expression of the Christian love for
one’s neighbour. From the Holy Scripture, the sacraments and prayer he drew the
strength to create a movement that is to serve You and mankind. At all times
you have called us to help establish your kingdom. We therefore beseech you:
help us work together to overcome poverty, injustice and hopelessness. Through
the intercession of Blessed Adolph Kolping, help us to defend human life and
protect marriage and family. As members of the International Kolping Society in
the community of your Church let us be the salt of the earth and the light of
the world. Fulfill our hope of being able to honour Adolph Kolping as a Saint
throughout the whole church in all languages and nations. Let us, through
faith, hope and love, work towards bringing your kingdom in this world, just as
Adolph Kolping did. This we ask of You, through Christ, our Lord. Amen. –
prayer for the canonization of Blessed Adolph
MLA Citation
“Blessed Adolph Kolping“. CatholicSaints.Info. 4
May 2020. Web. 3 December 2021. <http://catholicsaints.info/blessed-adolph-kolping/>
SOURCE : http://catholicsaints.info/blessed-adolph-kolping/
Blessed Adolph Kolping’s Story
The
rise of the factory system in 19th-century Germany brought many single men into
cities where they faced new challenges to their faith. Father Adolph Kolping
began a ministry to them, hoping that they would not be lost to the Catholic
faith, as was happening to workers elsewhere in industrialized Europe.
Born
in the village of Kerpen, Adolph became a shoemaker at an early age because of
his family’s economic situation. Ordained in 1845, he ministered to young
workers in Cologne, establishing a choir, which by 1849 had grown into the
Young Workmen’s Society. A branch of this began in St. Louis, Missouri, in
1856. Nine years later there were over 400 Gesellenvereine—workman’s societies—around the world. Today this group has over
450,000 members in 54 countries across the globe.
More
commonly called the Kolping Society, it emphasizes the sanctification of family
life and the dignity of labor. Father Kolping worked to improve conditions for
workers and greatly assisted those in need. He and St. John Bosco in Turin had
similar interests in working with young men in big cities. He told his
followers, “The needs of the times will teach you what to do.” Father Kolping
once said, “The first thing that a person finds in life and the last to which
he holds out his hand, and the most precious that he possesses, even if he does
not realize it, is family life.”
Blessed
Adolph Kolping and Blessed John Duns Scotus are buried in Cologne’s
Minoritenkirche, originally served by the Conventual Franciscans. The Kolping
Society’s international headquarters are located across from this church.
Kolping
members journeyed to Rome from Europe, America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, for
Father Kolping’s beatification in 1991, the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo
XIII’s revolutionary encyclical “Rerum
Novarum”—“On the Social Order.” Father Kolping’s personal witness and
apostolate helped prepare for that encyclical.
Reflection
Some
people thought that Father Kolping was wasting his time and talents on young
working men in industrialized cities. In some countries, the Catholic Church
was seen by many workers as the ally of owners and the enemy of workers. Men
like Adolph Kolping showed that was not true.
Bl. Adolf Kolping
(1813-1865)
In Europe, from medieval times on, those who made
their living as craftsmen were not trained in craft schools but taken on as
pupils by experts in the particular skill. After they had-served for a term as
learners (apprentices) and passed the required tests, they went forth as
“journeymen” to work as employees of others of the craft. Finally, when they
had served this internship and demonstrated their skill, they were advanced to
the rank of “masters.” Then they normally established their own workshops and businesses.
This craft system had arisen in a rural and largely
agricultural society. The arrival of the industrial revolution in the last
century did not result in the abandonment of the European craft tradition as it
did in America through the factory system, but it did pose increasing social,
economic, and religious problems for the aspiring young tradesmen. Particularly
was this true in the German-speaking countries.
Father Adolf Kolping detected this need of working
youth, and sought to answer it by establishing Catholic societies for the
protection and training of young craftsmen.
Kolping, born near Cologne, Germany, was the son of
poor parents. Although by nature inclined to a studious life, he had to learn
the craft of shoemaking to support himself. But even though cobblers had a
12-hour workday, Adolf made time to complete his secondary studies and pass on
to the universities of Munich and Bonn. More than that, he studied for the
priesthood, to which he had experienced an attraction.
Ordained a diocesan priest in 1845 at age 32, Kolping
was assigned as a curate in the poor industrial city of Elberfeld. There he saw
at firsthand what he, as a craftsman, was especially able to appreciate: the
economic, cultural and spiritual needs of novice tradesmen. He met many of them
in an Elberfeld youth organization, and discovered that youth societies of the
sort could provide a good solution for many problems faced by struggling young
skilled laborers.
In 1849, Father Kolping was transferred to the staff
of the Cologne Cathedral. It was in Cologne that he developed his plan of
multiplying “friendship” societies for junior workingmen. His purpose was to
raise the intellectual, social, and spiritual status of working youth, to
prepare them to become leading citizens themselves, and thus gradually to raise
the quality of the whole working class. Political discussions and religious
polemics were forbidden to the members in the local groups; prayer, study and
self-improvement were the staples.
As the idea proved to work, Kolping established branch
societies in many other German cities, and in Austria, Hungary, Switzerland,
the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. Many local societies had their own
residences or “Kolping Houses,” where a loving home atmosphere was maintained.
There the working residents and journeymen en route knew they would find a
ready welcome. In the nineteenth century, the organization was carried abroad
from Cologne to Australia, South Africa, and the Americas.
In the USA the first Kolping societies were organized
in 1859. The organizers were usually German immigrants. The “Kolping Family”
membership has three sections: married men, a ladies’ auxiliary, and the
young-adult group. Each unit is governed by a priest director, subject to the central
director in Cologne. The American Kolping Families continue to be largely
German in orientation. Worldwide, the societies now number 3500, in 38
countries, with an international membership of 370,000. About 20 of these
Families are in the United States. (A leader in the Rochester branch was the
late Leo Saeum of St. Thomas the Apostle parish.)
Fr. Adolf Kolping, devout and hard-working, is
reminiscent of St. Vincent de Paul, in that he brought forth a pragmatic
spiritual response to perceived social needs. The young German workers of his
day needed encouragement and spiritual guidance. Convinced that “religion and
work are the golden foundation of the people,” he provided that foundation, and
his institute helped countless workers to become conscientious, well-educated,
and responsible citizens.
Since Fr. Kolping’s death, his tomb in Cologne’s
Minoriten (Franciscan) Church has been a center of pilgrimage, and his devotees
have appropriately prayed for his canonization. Their prayer was partly granted
on October 27, 1991, when Pope John Paul II beatified Fr. Adolf as Blessed
Adolf Kolping. Rochester’s Kolping Family was represented at the ceremony.
Since 1991, the devotees of this great social leader
have been working for his canonization.
–Father Robert F. McNamara
SOURCE : https://www.kateriirondequoit.org/resources/saints-alive/abercius-augustine-of-canterbury/bl-adolf-kolping/
.jpg)
The
International Kolping Society was founded by Adolph Kolping as a Catholic,
educational and action-oriented organization. He was born on December 8, 1813,
in Kerpen, a small village not far from Cologne. His Father, Peter Kolping, was
a shepherd for a well-to-do farmer. In school Adolph Kolping proved an able
student, but because the family was poor he was unable to further his
education. He took up an apprenticeship as a shoemaker, but his desire for
higher education never ceased. At the age of 23, after working for ten years as
a shoemaker, he entered secondary school. Adolph had been a sickly child and
continues to suffer from poor health. Yet despite this fact, he managed to
complete his education in record time.
It was
Adolph Kolping’s wish to become a priest. During his secondary school years he
was able to realize his vocation and what was to be his role in life. In the
summer of 1841, he began his studies in theology at the University of Munich.
As his father died the night before his ordination, the joyous day that was to
be shared by father and son was instead one of sadness. On April 13, 1845,
Adolph Kolping was ordained in the Minorite Church in Cologne.
On his
first assignment in Elberfeld he met Gragor Breuer, a school teacher who had
set up an organization for journeymen. In 1847, Father Kolping was elected
Praeses of this association. He had intended to lead an academic life, but his
work with the journeymen made him realize that God had called him to devote his
life and efforts to the young people and their organization.
A
transfer to Cologne in 1849 enabled him to enlarge the journeymen’s
organization. As rector of the cathedral, Father Kolping had more time to
devote to travel and writing articles, which gained him recognition as a writer
and journalist. Through his example and efforts the journeymen’s organization
grew. By 1865, over 400 local groups of the journeymen’s organization had been
established and were functioning throughout Europe and in America.
In 1862,
Father Kolping was placed in charge of the Minorite Church. His devotion to his
calling and his determination to further his work caused him to neglect his
health, a factor which may have contributed to his early death, at the age of
51, on December 4, 1865. Father Adolph Kolping was laid to rest in the Minorite
Church, a church he had saved from demolition.
His
legacy to us is his life’s work, his ideals and goals, but most important, his
own example in recognizing his vocation, in making a personal commitment to his
calling and carrying it to fulfilment. No obstacles are too great to overcome
if we have faith, work hard and are willing to make sacrifices.
On August
8, 1906 the Archbishop of Vienna, Anton Joseph Cardinal Gruscha, a long time
friend and confidant of Kolping, took the first step towards the canonization
of Father Kolping. He handed a detailed petition to the Archbishop of Cologne,
Cardinal Fischer, for the initiation of the beatification process. The
circumstances of the times – both political and religious – did not permit the
process to continue. After the Second World War these efforts were resumed and
finally, on January 22, 1991, Pope John Paul II signed the documents for his
beatification. The beatification ceremony took place in Rome on October 27,
1991.
During
his visit to Germany in 1980, Pope John Paul II visited Adolph Kolping’s tomb
in the Minorite Church in Cologne. Referring to the significance of the blessed
and the saints in our lives, he said:”We need models like Adolph Kolping in
today’s Church.” These words of our Holy Father express precisely the purpose
of the beatification of Adolph Kolping.
SOURCE
: http://www.kolping.org/about/
The
International Kolping Society was founded by Blessed Adolph Kolping as a Catholic, educational and action-oriented organization. He was born
on December 8, 1813, in Kerpen, a small village not far from Cologne. His
Father, Peter Kolping, was a shepherd for a well-to-do farmer. In school Adolph
Kolping proved an able student, but because the family was poor he was unable
to further his education. He took up an apprenticeship as a shoemaker, but his
desire for higher education never ceased. At the age of 23, after working for ten
years as a shoemaker, he entered secondary school. Adolph had been a sickly
child and continues to suffer from poor health. Yet despite this fact, he
managed to complete his education in record time.
It was Adolph Kolping's
wish to become a priest. During his secondary school years he was able to
realize his vocation and what was to be his role in life. In the summer of
1841, he began his studies in theology at the University of Munich. As his
father died the night before his ordination, the joyous day that was to be
shared by father and son was instead one of sadness. On April 13, 1845, Adolph Kolping was ordained in the Minorite Church in Cologne.
On his first assignment
in Elberfeld he met Gragor Breuer, a school teacher who had set up an
organization for journeymen. In 1847, Father Kolping was elected Praeses of
this association. He had intended to lead an academic life, but his work with
the journeymen made him realize that God had called him to devote his life and efforts
to the young people and their organization.
A transfer to Cologne in
1849 enabled him to enlarge the journeymen's organization. As rector of the
cathedral, Father Kolping had more time to devote to travel and writing
articles, which gained him recognition as a writer and journalist. Through his
example and efforts the journeymen's organization grew. By 1865, over 400 local
groups of the journeymen's organization had been established and were
functioning throughout Europe and in America.
In 1862, Father Kolping was placed in charge of the Minorite Church. His devotion to his calling
and his determination to further his work caused him to neglect his health, a
factor which may have contributed to his early death, at the age of 51, on
December 4, 1865. Father Adolph Kolping was laid to rest in the Minorite
Church, a church he had saved from demolition.
His legacy to us is his life's work, his ideals and goals, but most important,
his own example in recognizing his vocation, in making a personal commitment to
his calling and carrying it to fulfilment. No obstacles are too great to
overcome if we have faith, work hard and are willing to make sacrifices.
On August 8, 1906 the
Archbishop of Vienna, Anton Joseph Cardinal Gruscha, a long time friend and
confidant of Kolping, took the first step towards the canonization of Father
Kolping. He handed a detailed petition to the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal
Fischer, for the initiation of the beatification process. The circumstances of
the times - both political and religious - did not permit the process to
continue. After the Second World War these efforts were resumed and finally, on
January 22, 1991, Pope John Paul II signed the documents for his beatification.
The beatification ceremony took place in Rome on October 27, 1991.
During his visit to
Germany in 1980, Pope John Paul II visited Adolph Kolping's tomb in the
Minorite Church in Cologne. Referring to the significance of the blessed and
the saints in our lives, he said: "We need models like Adolph Kolping in
today's Church." These words of our Holy Father express precisely the
purpose of the beatification of Adolph Kolping.
Almighty, everlasting God !
You gave us Blessed
Adolph Kolping as an intercessor and role model. His life found fulfilment in
his concern for the young people in religious and social difficulties. For many
he was an untiring pastor, a fatherly advisor, a patient teacher and a true
friend.
He set us an example in
his love for your Son. In his loyalty to the Church he is an exemplary role
model for us. His concern was to understand work, family and society in the
light of our faith. He considered helping one another within the community to
be the expression of the Christian love for one's neighbour.
From the Holy Scripture,
the sacraments and prayer he drew the strength to create a movement that is to
serve You and mankind.
At all times you have
called us to help establish your kingdom. We therefore beseech you: help us
work together to overcome poverty, injustice and hopelessness. Through the
intercession of Blessed Adolph Kolping, help us to defend human life and
protect marriage and family. As members of the International Kolping Society in
the community of your Church let us be the salt of the earth and the light of
the world.
Fulfill our hope of
being able to honour Adolph Kolping as a Saint throughout the whole church in
all languages and nations. Let us, through faith, hope and love, work towards
bringing your kingdom in this world, just as Adolph Kolping did.
This we ask of You, through
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Imprimatur – Coloniae,
die m. 26. Septembris 2003
Jr.Nr. 106250 I 90 - + Rainer Woelki, vic. eplis. top
Beato Adolfo Kolping Sacerdote, fondatore
Kerpen (Colonia), 8 dicembre 1813 –
Colonia, 4 dicembre 1865
Adolph
Kolping da calzolaio si fece sacerdote e da vero "padre dei lavoratori
artigiani" fondò un'opera, Kolpingwerk, diffusa in tutto il mondo con
centinaia di migliaia di membri. Nato nel 1813 a Kerpen (vicino Colonia) da
famiglia di pastori, esercitò il mestiere di ciabattino in giro per la
Germania. Poi riprese gli studi interrotti e fu ordinato prete a Colonia. Fu
destinato alla zona industriale di Wuppertal e divenne assistente della locale
società dei giovani lavoratori. Nel 1835 fondò la prima casa di assistenza e di
insegnamento professionale. Morì
a Colonia nel 1865. È beato dal 1991. (Avvenire)
Etimologia: Adolfo = nobile lupo, dal tedesco
Martirologio Romano: A Colonia in Germania, beato Adolfo
Kolping, sacerdote, che, mosso da fervida carità per i problemi dei lavoratori
delle fabbriche e per i temi della giustizia sociale, fondò un’associazione di
giovani operai e la diffuse in molti luoghi.
Partito dalle condizioni disagiate della sua famiglia, con i suoi
sforzi, volontà e capacità, diventò un personaggio di livello mondiale, fino a
raggiungere l’onore degli altari come Beato della Chiesa Cattolica.
Adolph Kolping, quarto dei cinque figli di Peter Kolping e Anna Maria
Zurheyden, nacque a Kerpen (Colonia) in Germania l’8 dicembre 1813.
Il padre era un pastore e piccolo agricoltore
e nonostante il duro lavoro, a stento riusciva a mantenere la famiglia; ma
volle a tutti i costi che i figli avessero una istruzione seppur elementare.
Dopo aver frequentato la scuola elementare, Adolph non ancora tredicenne, fu
costretto ad andare a lavorare presso un calzolaio di Kerpen, successivamente
lavorò come ragazzo di bottega, presso altri laboratori artigiani del
circondario.
Finalmente riuscì ad entrare come operaio fisso in una calzoleria di Colonia;
era un posto molto ambito nella miseria dell’epoca, ma Adolph Kolping ricorderà
soprattutto l’ambiente dissoluto e indifferente in cui vivevano i ragazzi di
bottega della Germania di quel periodo.
Nonostante tutto, in lui maturò fermamente la vocazione sacerdotale e dal 1837
a 24 anni, aiutato da alcuni sacerdoti benefattori, prese a frequentare il
Margellen-Gymnasium di Colonia, dove nel 1841 conseguì la maturità classica;
nello stesso 1841 si iscrisse alla Facoltà di Teologia di Monaco di Baviera,
passando poi a quella di Bonn.
Fu ordinato sacerdote il 13 aprile 1845 a Colonia nella chiesa dei Minoriti,
aveva 32 anni. Ebbe subito l’incarico di cappellano e catechista nella
parrocchia di S. Lorenzo, nella città industriale di Elberfeld (Wuppertal) dove
i cattolici erano una minoranza, qui poté conoscere più approfonditamente il
mondo del lavoro specie artigianale.
“L’artigianato e la classe operaia in genere, in fondo sono migliori di quanto
solitamente si creda e l’accesso al loro cuore è più facile che altrove”.
A Elberfeld, padre Adolph Kolping conobbe l’Associazione di artigiani
(Gesellenverein) fondata da Johann Gregor Breuer (1821-1897); l’esperienza come
assistente religioso in questa comunità, cattolica, pedagogica e culturale,
unitamente alla sua personale esperienza di ex artigiano calzolaio e conoscenza
delle problematiche del modo del lavoro, gli diede l’impulso a realizzare un
progetto più vasto e dinamico a favore del modo giovanile artigiano.
Nell’autunno del 1846, fondò il primo “Gesellenverein” (Casa di assistenza e di
insegnamento professionale) del quale nel 1847 divenne preside.
Un anno dopo, nel 1848 scrisse il suo opuscolo “Il Gesellenverein.
All’attenzione di quanti hanno a cuore l’autentico bene del popolo”; il motto
dell’Associazione era “Pregare, imparare, lavorare, con serietà, ma anche in
allegria”.
Passato all’ufficio di viceparroco del Duomo di Colonia, fondò il 6 maggio 1849
anche qui un “Gesellenverein”, che poi diventò il centro mondiale di tutte le
organizzazioni di giovani operai, di cui divenne Presidente, come pure lo fu di
tutte le numerose associazioni da lui fondate in seguito.
Gli scopi culturali del Kolping erano: il cristiano impegnato, l’artigiano
valente, il buon padre di famiglia e il cittadino responsabile; animato da un grande
amore per gli artigiani, esercitò con loro un’intensa attività non solo
caritativa, ma anche evangelizzatrice, interessandosi della pastorale di tutto
il mondo del lavoro.
Fu anche apostolo nel giornalismo, fondò e diresse per molti anni i settimanali
“Rheinische Volksblätter” e “Volkskalender” a sfondo popolare e abbastanza
diffusi; con l’edizione di calendari e riviste sotto il motto “Religione e
lavoro sono il terreno aureo del popolo”, non solo esercitava un’opera di
educazione e di pastorale, ma riusciva anche a garantire l’introito economico
per sostenere l’opera dei ‘Gesellenverein’.
Con le sue stampe riuscì a raggiungere un vasto pubblico, specie nelle classi
sociali dalle quali provenivano i suoi giovani apprendisti artigiani; Adolph
Kolping fu molto stimato dal popolo, dai vescovi e dallo stesso papa Pio IX,
che in una udienza gli regalò una preziosa pianeta.
L’esercizio simultaneo di tre professioni al servizio della Chiesa e della
società (vicario del Duomo, preside generale dei Gesellenverein, giornalista ed
editore), unitamente alla sua scarsa salute fin dalla giovane età, lo
estenuarono, e consumato dalle fatiche, dopo appena venti anni di sacerdozio,
si spense santamente a Colonia il 4 dicembre 1865 a soli 52 anni.
Lasciò una comunità di 24.000 soci in 400 località; il 20 aprile 1866 il re di
Prussia Guglielmo I, autorizzò il trasferimento dei suoi resti mortali dal
cimitero alla Minoritenkirche di Colonia, la chiesa da lui prediletta in tutta
la sua vita; il sepolcro è diventato meta di pellegrinaggi provenienti da tutto
il mondo.
Padre Adolfo Kolping, è stato proclamato Beato da papa Giovanni Paolo II, il 27
ottobre 1991.
