Annual commemoration of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter

Service in Westminster Cathedral Crypt, 2022

Source: Pax Christi

On Wednesday 9th August, it will be 80 years since the execution in Germany in 1943 of Franz Jägerstätter, the young Austrian farmer and Christian who resisted the Nazis and refused to fight for Germany in World War II. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI, who was born in German Bavaria not far from the village of Saint Radegund, declared Jägerstätter a martyr and Franz was beatified in Linz in October of that year.

On the 9th August itself, Pax Christi has organised the annual service commemorating his life and witness in the Crypt at Westminster Cathedral at 6.30pm and all are welcome. A reflection will be given by Canon Rob Esdaile, parish priest of St Dunstan's, Woking.

Afterwards, there will be an interfaith pilgrimage to the London Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park for the annual Nagasaki Day memorial gathering. It starts immediately after the service from the front of the Cathedral.

For resources on Franz Jägerstätter, and in particular 'Franz Jägerstätter: Christian and Martyr' co-published by the Diocese of Linz, Austria and Pax Christi, visit the shop area of Pax Christi's website https://paxchristi.org.uk/product-category/bl-franz-jagerstatter/