Remembering Fr Alfred Delp SJ

Alfred Delp SJ

Alfred Delp was a remarkable Jesuit priest who was martyred in Berlin on 2nd February 1945. It is fitting that we mark the 80th anniversary of his death, as his witness as well as his writings was so profound in teaching us lessons for our times.

Fr Alfred was imprisoned in Berlin with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, with whom he shared similar views.

He was articulate in showing resistance to the regime. He became convinced fhat in an age of 'Godlessness' we need to bring about an 'Advent of the Heart' in following the prophetic witness of John the Baptist in combatting the evils of the Nazi regime and others similar.

He was condemned to death in December 1944.In the final weeks before his execution in February 1945, he developed an inner courage that he found difficult to understand even though he became increasingly of his own fragility.

He came to realise that so much of his teaching prior to his imprisonment had been just rhetoric and that he had to form a new relationship with his God. He managed to smuggle out his writings on scraps of paper with his laundry.

As he approached his death he wrote about his impending death

'This is seed time, not harvest and some time or another he will do the reaping...the only thing I must do is to make sure that the seed falls on fertile ground - may others at some time have happier life and find it possible to have a better and happier life because we died in this 'hour of trial'. (From: The prison meditations of Fr Alfred Delp. Muriwai Books, 2017)

Ben Bano is a Councillor, Deal Town Council, Mill Hill Ward; Co Director, Seeking Sanctuary.
and Chair, National Spirituality and Mental Health Forum