Displaying items by tag: Titus Brandsma
St. Titus Brandsma, priest and martyr
July 27 | Obligatory Memorial (Feast: Ger, Phil, Del Colombia)
A noted writer and journalist, in 1935, St. Titus was appointed adviser to the Dutch bishops for Catholic journalists. In the period leading up to and during the Nazi occupation in the Netherlands, he argued passionately against the National Socialist ideology, basing his stand on the Gospels. He continually defended the right to freedom in education and for a free the Catholic Press. As a result, he was imprisoned.
He passed from one prison or camp to another until he arrived in Dachau where he was killed on July 26, 1942. He was beatified as a martyr by Pope John Paul II on November 3, 1985 and was canonized by Pope Francis on May 15, 2022, in St Peter’s Square.
The Order’s petition to have the celebration of St. Titus Brandsma changed from an optional memorial to an obligatory memorial for the whole Order was accepted. The Provinces of Germany and the Philippines as well as the General Delegation in Columbia who have St. Titus as their patron celebrate the day as a feast.
Read more about the life of St. Titus Brandsma
Special Announcement:
We are proud to announce that Volume 5 in the Titus Brandsma series is due from the printer in the coming days. This incredible collection of the writings, speeches, and letters of St. Titus Brandsma, translated into English, provides the martyr of Dachau's life story in his own words.
Edizioni Carmelitane also provides a number of other excellent publications on Carmel's most recent saint including a theatrical play, a professionally produced tv production in multiple languages, as well as books in a variety of languages.
ABS-CBN Hosts Historic St. Titus Brandsma Relic Tour
Two years after the canonization of Carmelite Titus Brandsma, the relics and an image of the saint continue their tour around the Philippines. On May 14, the eve of the anniversary of Brandsma’s canonization, the relics were at the headquarters of ABS-CBN in Quezon City.
ABS-CBN Corporation is the largest radio broadcaster, entertainment television production, program syndication provider and media conglomerate in the Philippines. It is Filipino owned and based in Quezon City which is in Metro Manila, Philippines. It employs more than 5,200 people.
Tuesday’s event was the first time a media company has hosted the nationwide pilgrimage of the relic and image of St. Titus. Known as a defender of truth and a martyr for press freedom, the saint's values and principles “perfectly align” with ABS-CBN’s mission, said Brother Lester Hallig, O. Carm., as quote in an online article on the ABS-CBN website. “That’s what makes his presence here very special. He resonates with the values that ABS-CBN represents.”
Members of the Philippine Province which is dedicated to St. Titus Brandsma led the visit to the media corporation’s Chapel of the Annunciation. The chapel’s chaplain, Fr. Carmelo “Tito” Caluag, presided over the Mass to celebrate the relic’s visit.
Following the Mass, ABS-CBN’s President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, Chairman Mark Lopez, and Chief Operating Officer Cory Vidanes signed a “pledge of truth.”
The pilgrim relic tour of St. Titus started in July 2022, two months after he was declared as a saint on May 15, 2022. It has been the subject of a previous CITOC online Update (134/2023).
St. Titus' relic has visited several provinces, including Pangasinan, Isabela, and parts of Mindanao, as well as different schools around the Philippines. Last year, the Order of the Carmelites brought the relic and image of the saint to Kalibo, Aklan, and introduced it to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
World Press Freedom Day
May 3
A day observed to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
From an open letter from Catholic journalists to Pope Francis on the occasion of the canonization of Carmelite Titus Brandsma, May 15, 2022.
Your Holiness,
In 2018 you asked us, journalists, loud and clear, “to promote a journalism of peace”, a “journalism that is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines. A journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, (…) a journalism committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence” (“The truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32), Fake news and journalism for peace. Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for World Communications Day, 24 January 2018).
We wholeheartedly endorse your call to action and in it we recognize a mission statement for the whole of the journalistic enterprise: for old and new media, for editors of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and internet platforms - and not only for journalists of Catholic origin, but for all journalists of good will.
Titus Brandsma has meant a lot to the Catholic community in the Low Countries, but his journalistic work stands out among all his other activities. He was editor-in-chief of a newspaper, devoted himself to the modernization and professionalization of the Catholic daily press in the Netherlands, and strove for better working conditions and the establishment of a professional training for journalists.
Father Brandsma did his work in the context of the rise of fascism and Nazism in Europe. In word and deed he opposed the language of hatred and division that was becoming common at the time. In his view, what we now describe as ‘fake news' was not to be tolerated in the Catholic press; he successfully argued for an episcopal ban on the printing of National Socialist propaganda in Catholic newspapers.
[St. Titus Brandsma] paid with his life for his courageous actions.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 99 journalists were killed in 2023, 72 in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict alone.
Link to Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Link to the Windhoek Declaration (1991)
Link to full letter of the Catholic journalists to Pope Francis (May 2022)
Publications by or about St. Titus Brandsma, include the Collected Works of Titus Brandsma in English (4 of 7 volumes completed); Un Frate Pericoloso, a play in Italian; biographies in English, Spanish, and Italian; a RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana-Tiber Cinematografica produced movie, Le Due Croci (DVD, in Italian with subtitles available in English and Spanish); and many other excellent offerings.
Story Behind an Icon of Saint Titus Brandsma
Interview With Its Writer
Story Behind the Icon for the 100th Anniversary of the Indonesian Province
An icon written for the 100th anniversary of the Indonesian Province which concluded a short time ago has an interesting history and an interesting writer. The Icon will find a permanent home in the provincial house of the Indonesian Province. It is hoped that it becomes both a tool of prayer and a sign of courage to be the true light of God to others and the good follower of Jesus Christ.” according to its creator.
She was born into a Christian family although her mother, born in Bali, was Buddhist. Her parents enrolled her into a Catholic secondary school under the care of the Sisters of Perpetual Help. One of the nuns, Sr. Flora took care of her when she was sick and became her private teacher after school in the area of math, religion and catechism. Two years later, Sr. Flora invited her to become a Catholic and gave her the baptismal name of Cecilia. “However, as she was filling out the form for the baptism, Sr. Flora received a message in prayer that her name should be Marina Carmel. So Our Lady of Mount Carmel became my patron saint. This was my first contact with the Carmelites.”
Following an accident involving her hands, Marina Carmel had the opportunity to learn from Orthodox nuns and priests how to write icons. “They encouraged me, improving my ability to use my injured hands. I also asked for God’s healing in my soul. A few months later, some priests borrowed my icon for a public session of prayer. They saw God’s work and compassion through the icons. They saw the tears and peace of those who came to pray.”
“They advised me to listen my calling from God to see whether I should be an icon painter or not. After many years of my unwillingness and discernment, an invitation to write icons about the Our Lady of Mount Carmel came from the Discalced Carmelites in Taiwan, the Carmelites in Hong Kong and Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Hong Kong.”
What would such icons represent for their author? “It acts as a connection between myself and others in the tender hand of God. It is a way of communion with our Father in heaven, his constant presence to us. I am so grateful to be one of his tiny tools as iconographer serving in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Christian churches, religious communities, and monasteries both overseas as well as in Hong Kong.”
“The Carmelite saints I was invited to write are Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Jospeh, the Prophet Elijah, and St. Titus Brandsma. I do all of the icon writing as a result of an invitation, not because of my own wishes.
The icon of Titus is striking. It was written for a specific purpose. “There is an icon of Elijah created from icon material which was donated by an Orthodox person in gratitude for the of Carmelites prayers and kindnesses. However, that icon was sent to the new retreat house in Sumatra last year with Fr. Heru Purwanto, O. Carm. So, a Catholic sponsored icon material for me to write another icon for Carmelite evangelization. Fr. Albertus Herwanta, O. Carm., suggested that I write an icon of the recently canonized saint Titus Brandsma. So, I began to study about the life of St. Titus Brandsma. I received guidance from Fr. Benny Phang, O. Carm., other Carmelites in Rome, and the brothers of Mount Athos. Fr. Phang summed up the advice of those Carmelites, and asked me to include some signs on the icon which represent the virtue of the saint.
The Carmelites gave me the story of St. Titus and quotes from the saint to read for my spiritual preparation. I took a week for retreat and tried to reflect on my relationship with God through the poem which was written by St. Titus regarding Eucharist. Since Eucharist often comforted him in his suffering, Titus kept close to Jesus on the Cross. He really experienced the loneliness of the Lord and was devoted to the Eucharist through sacrifices and standing with weakness.”
“How do I stand with the weak through the icon writing in prayer, the pain of illness, and the grace that God gave me in His plan? How did I get to know His plan and the vision of God? From St. Titus I learned that I should be present to the Lord. I learned from the Prophet Elijah to have the courage to walk with Jesus in weakness. Those questions appeared in my mind when I was writing the icon. I feel the heaviness of my heart and brush. I beg for the mercy of God for my weakness in service, especially in my sacred harp music. With the icon for the illness, I kept praying by invoking Jesus' name, a kind of aspirative prayer in Carmelite spiritual and early Chrisitian faith. Hoping the Lord accepts my compassion, and lets me be his tiny tool to finish the icon in his way. Glory be to the Lord!”
According to the theology of traditional icons, there are special meanings in the icon of St. Titus Brandsma. Those colors were made with rare crystal and metal stone in prayer. The icon panel of special wood was made by carpenter in prayer. Those colors were mixed with egg, vinegar, and water in prayer. As iconographer, we cannot make any changes or put our on creative touches into the icon. All the colors of traditional icons were written from dark color to bright color. Because it means “Lord save us from sin,” it reminded me of the words of St. John of the Cross: "Even in the darkness, there is light.”
The dark blue color of the background is a sign of a martyr with purity in the soul. The shape of nose is straight, it means the breath of Holy Spirit is present in the life of the saint. The prominent, slightly out of proportion head of saint means the saint is full of wisdom in the Lord. St. Titus holding a pen and paper because he is a reporter and wrote to bring about justice.
“There also a quote of the saint written on a scroll of paper ‘He who wants to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come in conflict with it.’ It reminds us to be brave in following Jesus Christ. The mirror effect of the halo was made with real gold. Gold means the true light of God. It acts as the mirror of the heart which reflects our prototype of God's image. How did St. Titus Brandsma come to reflect the true light of God in his life, in the darkness? How he can he guarantee himself to be present before our Lord Jesus Christ? How enormous his courage be in order to savor the loneliness on the cross of Jesus Christ?”
II Biennial Titus Brandsma Congress - Call for Papers
The Titus Brandsma Circle in collaboration with scholars at various universities in Rome is organizing the second Biennial Titus Brandsma Congress. This will take place:
- November 27-29, 2025 (arrival November 26 and departure November 30)
- Rome, Istituto Maria Bambina (right outside St. Peter's Square)
The Dutch Carmelite and professor of philosophy Titus Brandsma (1881-1942) did groundbreaking work in the field of Dutch mysticism. He was one of the prominent thinkers regarding the social teaching of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands and promoted the improvement of education in Catholic schools and the professionalization of Catholic journalism. He criticized National Socialism and dedicated himself to the promotion of peace.
We welcome papers dealing with various aspects of his intense life, his different activities, and his astonishing number of writings.
Please send your abstract (300 words) in English, Spanish, or Italian to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The organization committee for the 2025 congress consists of four members:
- Prof. Fernando Millán, Comillas University Madrid, Spain, president of the Titus Brandsma Circle
- Prof. Giovanna Brizi, general postulator of the Carmelite Order and other orders, invited professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University
- Prof. Giovanni Grosso, chair of the Institutum Carmelitanum Rome, invited professor at the Teresianum
- Prof. Michael Plattig, member of the German Carmelite Institute and the Institutum Carmelitanum, invited professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Deadline for abstracts is: March 31, 2025
Philippines Confers Titus Brandsma Award
In August, the Carmelite Province of the Philippines awarded the Titus Brandsma Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Napoleon Isabelo “Billy” Veloso Abueva. The award was given posthumously. Ms Amihan Abueva addressed the group on behalf of the Abueva Family.
Dr. Abueva is recognized as the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture. His modernistic approach is apparent in the monumental character of his outdoor and public sculptures and the promotion of Philippine themes. Some of his sculptures include movable components. His prolific artwork began in the 1950s. He was very consistent in his support of the ideals and cause of St. Titus Brandsma for truth, free speech and free press, justice and peace. Dr. Abueva was a man of integrity, honor and faith.
Abueva designed and made the trophy which is presented to winners of the award. He has also designed a well-known bust of St. Titus.
The ceremony, which took place at the Titus Brandsma Center in Quezon City, began with a welcome from the prior provincial of the Philippine Province of St. Titus Brandsma, Rico Ponce. Carmelite Christian Buenafe, the executive director of the Titus Brandsma Media Center and Institute of Spirituality in Asia, made the introductions. Anne Marie Bos, a Carmelite from the Titus Brandsma Institute in Nijmegen, Netherlands, addressed the gathering. Angela Blardony Ureta, aO. Carm., the director of the Carmelite Center for Social-Pastoral Communication and member of the Titus Brandsma Award. Marc Jozsef Lester G. Hallig, O. Carm., acted as master of ceremonies.
The Titus Brandsma Award Philippines is the country’s version of the international Titus Brandsma Award. In 1999 the Carmelites, along with the Titus Brandsma Media Center, established the award. The first award was given the following year. The award is given to professionals in media and educators and then was expanded to include leadership in journalism, culture and the arts, press freedom, among other areas.
Conference on St. Titus Brandsma Held in Nijmegen
From October 3 to 6, the first congress of the newly established Titus Brandsma Circle was held at Radboud University. Approximately 70 people from 17 countries took part. The program of the congress can be seen here [https://www.ru.nl/
The Congress is part of the major project to publish the Collected Works of Titus Brandsma in seven volumes that Dr Elisabeth Hense, Associate Professor for Spirituality at Radboud University, is leading in collaboration with Joseph Chalmers S.T.L.
The project is funded by Radboud University and the British and Irish Provinces of the Carmelites as well as the General Council of the Carmelites in Rome.
Dr Elisabeth Hense organized the Congress in collaboration with Prof. Michael Plattig and Dr Edeltraud Klueting, both members of the German Carmelite Institute. The proceedings of the Congress will be published in the series of the German Carmelite Institute at Aschendorff.
The conference included talks by experts on the various facets of Brandsma’s life as well as a broader look at Dutch mysticism, Eastern mysticism, National Socialism, Carmelite Spirituality, and the Carmelite Rule.
The days also included a tour of the Carmelite monastery in Boxmeer where Brandsma made his novitiate. Today it houses the Dutch Provincial Archives and the Dutch Carmelite Institute. There was also a walk around the extensive Radboud University campus and “in the footsteps” of Titus Brandsma around the city of Nijmegen.
One night the composer Willibrord Huisman, Hendrik Jan Bosman, and a local choir performed works honoring the life and spirituality of Brandsma at the Titus Brandsma Memorial in Nijmegen.
The opening session was held in the theater in the Elinor Ostrom Building on the campus. There was an opening address by the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, followed by presentations on “The Meaning of Titus Brandsma for the Dutch Church” by Bishop Gerard de Korte, bishop fo Den Bosch; “The Meaning of Titus Brandsma for the Carmelite Order” by the prior general of the Order, Míceál O’Neill; and “The Meaning of Titus Brandsma for the Dutch Carmelite Province” by Huub Welzen, the prior provincial of the Dutch Province. Between presentations, music was provided by composer Chris Fictoor and a clarinettist and 4 choral signers.
The evening concluded with a social hour in the campus bar/cafeteria.
Each day began with morning prayer in the University Chaplaincy. On the final day the members celebrated a Eucharist together led by the prior general. A festive meal followed at a local restaurant.
New Circle Promotes Research into Brandsma's Life
A new group is forming to promote continuing research into the life of Carmelite Saint Titus Brandsma. The group was formally introduced at the end of the conference on Titus Brandsma held at Radboud University in Nijmegen October 3-6, 2023.
The Circle is inviting all scholars interested in research on Titus Brandsma from around the world to join. Members will receive information about research being conducted and invitations to its congresses.
Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm., from Comillas University in Madrid, has been appointed the first president. Christian Körner, O. Carm., general bursar of the Carmelite Order, will serve as treasurer. Elisabeth Hense, T.O. Carm. will be the secretary.
The membership fee is €50.00 or US$50.00 for Europe and North America. The fee for members in Asia, Africa, and South America is €40.00. There is a €10 or US$10 discount for members of the Order. Deadline for joining is November 11, 2023.
For further information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Relics of Titus Move the Philippine Church
Since July 2022, the Carmelites in the Philippines have sponsored a yearlong pilgrimage of the relics of St. Titus Brandsma. The pilgrimage was the result of a decision of the previous provincial council to promote the life of the Carmelite saint to the people of the nation. The relics made more than 90 stops during the year. Although the designated year finished, dioceses are still contacting the province to ask for the relics to visit them.
Each Carmelite community has received a relic of St Titus from the postulator general’s office in Rome, allowing each to foster their own program of evangelization of St. Titus. The traveling relic is in a reliquary which in turn is inside an urn. The pilgrimage is self-sustaining. The cost of transportation as well as the cost for accommodations for those accompanying the relics
“The relics went from one parish to another, from one monastery to another, from one diocese to another, from one island to another,” said Fr. Esmeraldo Reforeal, O. Carm., the national coordinator of the tour. “We traveled by car, boat and plane.” Some remote chapels were included in the tour, enabling people without access to transportation to benefit from the relic visit.
The presence of the relic provided the faithful with far more opportunities to experience the faith than just praying before the relic. The program at each stop included a catechism, lectio divina on the life of St. Titus, a Mass of Welcome, the opportunity for confessions, a farewell Mass. Some stops made requests for a specific service and these were honored if possible. The relics were accompanied by a Carmelite and others to provide security for the relics as well as the religious services.
The final stop for the year was in the annual meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The bishops welcomed the idea of presenting Titus as a “truth-seeker” "truth-defender" and a “promoter of the truth.” The relic was also present at the annual meeting of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines. The Carmelites were given time to present the story of St. Titus and spend time in prayer with the relics.
Feedback from the year long experience indicated that people were impressed and inspired by the life of St. Titus. This was also true among the students who were able to participate.
Brandsma Present at Esperanto World Congress
According to an article by Beatrice D’Ascenzi, published by Vatican News, over 1,300 Esperantists from 69 nations met in Turin, Italy for the 108th World Esperanto Congress. Over the seven days, scholars and enthusiasts focused their discussions on the theme Immigration and the Confluence of Human Values, the Inclusive Experience of Turin.
Two books were offered to participants during the conference: Pope Francis’ I Am I, Do Not Be Afraid. The second was Carmelite Fernando Millán’s Truth in Love: The Life of St. Titus Brandsma, Carmelite. Fr. Fernando was prior general of the Carmelite Order from 2007-2019 and is considered one of the top experts on the life of St. Titus. He was vice postulator for the cause of St. Titus as well.
The saint from the Netherlands was a major promoter of the Esperanto language. He is now considered the patron saint of the Catholic Esperantists. He participated in several of the international congresses and was a member of the Commission for the Ecclesiastical Dictionary of Esperanto. The language facilitated Brandsma’s desire to build community among all the people.
The language, developed by Polish linguist Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof in the second half of the 19th century, is estimated to have a worldwide following in at least 120 countries. It is considered the language of peace as it stresses equality and communion among people brought together by the language. Esperanto was created in order to establish a dialogue between various populations, trying to overcome hostilities and conflicts. Esperanto’s creator, felt that many misunderstandings were the result of linguistic difficulties. Zamenhor wished to solve this by creating a universal idiom, belonging to humanity and not to a single people. This would not only impact inter-personal relationships but political and culture connections.
According to the enthusiasts the artificial language of Esperanto is experiencing a rebirth 150 years after its development. Esperanto associations and the number of enthusiasts on the Internet continues to grow. According to experts, the digital age of communications has been a major plus for the growth in the number of people speaking the language. The simplicity of the language allows people to achieve a satisfactory proficiency in less time than any of the ethnic languages.
With this in mind, the recent world congress in Piedmont was the central event of the year for scholars and enthusiasts, who over the seven days of the event were able to reflect together on an extremely timely topic, "Immigration and the confluence of human values, the inclusive experience of Turin." Inclusive like the practice of Esperanto, which has in its DNA the will to establish a dialogue between different populations, trying to overcome hostilities and conflicts - fueled, according to the creator, also by linguistic misunderstandings - through the use of a universal idiom, belonging to humanity and not to a single people.
In fact, since its inception, Esperanto functioned through with wars and conflicts that have severely tested its scholars, who are culturally inclined to dialogue. However, these are often victims of discrimination and persecution in these situations because of their ability to receive information outside the official channels.
According to the experts, the social changes that followed the conflicts of the last century gradually consigned the national idioms of smaller countries with fewer resources into oblivion. This inevitably forced the inhabitants of these states to have to use the languages of the dominant countries, a practice strongly by Esperantists. Esperanto represents a supranational and neutral idiom, allowing all groups to connect and exchange information without discrimination, but rather protecting idioms considered "minor," otherwise doomed to extinction by the languages of stronger nations.
The flag of Esperanto, the verda stelo, sums up the Esperanto philosophy. The verda stelo is formed by a green background with a white box in the upper left corner with a centered, green 5-pointed star, representing the five inhabited continents. The green color also indicates hope for a better future, while white represents neutrality and peace.
Catholic Esperantists have always maintained a deep-rooted connection with Catholicism. In fact, a separate program for the Catholic Esperantists was offered during the Turin congress, led by President Marija Belošević. The connection, that began as early as the early 1900s and was consolidated after World War II, when Pius XII at a general audience in 1950 welcomed the Esperantists who had come to meet him in their own language. In 1966, two years after Paul VI publicly recognized the importance of the Catholic Esperanto movement and the usefulness of the language, Esperanto was officially recognized as a language in which it is possible to celebrate Mass and pray. Since that time, on the occasion of the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas and Easter Sunday, the pope has occasionally offered greetings in Esperanto. Some of Vatican Radio’s programs are broadcast in the language as well.
