Commemorating the life of Blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter

On 9 August 1943 a Catholic farmer, an Austrian, was sentenced to death and beheaded in Berlin for refusing to serve in Hitler's army. His name was Franz Jaegerstaetter and his witness and courage are commemorated by Pax Christi each year.

Franz was beatified in his home diocese of Linz in 2007. His story, and that of his faithful wife Franziska, who died last year, are an inspration to many. Writing from prison in Berlin close to the time of his death Franz wrote: "I am convinced that it is still best that I speak the truth, even if it costs me my life. For you will not find it written in any of the commandments of God or the Church that a man is obliged under pain of sin to take an oath committing him to obey whatever might be commanded of him by a secular ruler"

The 2015 service will be held on 9 August at 6.30 pm in Sacred Heart Church, Horseferry Road, London SW1P. the guest speaker is Chris Gabbett, head of Trinity School, Leamington Spa (a Pax Christi school),

Find out more about Franz here http://paxchristi.org.uk/resources/peace-people-2/blessed-franz-jagerstatter/

After the service there will be an interfaith procession to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park, interfaith prayers and a lantern ceremony on the river to commemorate those killed by the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945.