London: Service commemorates Blessed Franz Jaegerstatter

l-r: Valerie Flessati, Filippo Bortolato, Ellen Teague, Ann Farr, Pat Gaffney

The life and witness of Blessed Franz Jaegerstatter was commemorated yesterday (9 August) at a crowded interfaith service in Sacred Heart Church, Horseferry Road central London, organised by Pax Christi.

Among the participants were local civic leaders, members of other Christian denominations and London's Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist communities.

Franz was executed in Berlin on 9 August 1943 for refusing to serve in Hitler's army. He was beatified in 2007. During the service extracts from his writing were read out. In one of his final letters 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 service also recalled the names of others who have resisted war and there were prayers for victims of nuclear war, especially the people of Nagasaki where the atomic bomb was dropped 70 years ago that day. Candles were lit as a symbol of individual prayers and a sign of hope against the darkness of war and violence.

The guest speaker was Chris Gabbett, head of Trinity School, Leamington Spa. (a Pax Christi school). Chris said when he became head at the school he searched for a subject which would be appropriate for all his pupils - both Catholic and non Catholic. The character and message of Franz Jaegerstatter appeals very much to all young people, he said. Franz is as relevant today as he was during the Second World War.

The service was introduced by Pax Christi general secretary Pat Gaffney. The music group was led by Ellen and Gerry Teague.

Sunday's service came at the end of a week of peace vigils, fasts, television and radio reports and prayer services held across the country to mark the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

After the service there was an interfaith procession through Victoria to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park, prayers and a lantern ceremony on the river to commemorate those killed by the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945. (report to follow)