Catholic Church
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In the 1920s, it was not uncommon in the Catholic south of the Netherlands for one or two children in a family to join a monastery or convent. However, having six out of eight children devote themselves to religious life was extraordinarily rare. What makes the Löb siblings’ story even more remarkable is that their…
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On July 26, 1897, in the Austrian village of Wattens, Jakob Gapp was born into a modest working-class family. He grew up like many boys in Tyrol: ordinary, hardworking, with no hint of the extraordinary courage that would one day define him. Yet his life would unfold in ways that would test the limits of…
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Gino Bartali won the Giro d’Italia 3 times, in 1936,1937 and 1946. He also won de Tour de France twice, the first time in 1938 and again in 1948. This alone would make him a sporting hero. Especially his 2nd Giro d’Italia win, when his younger brother, Giulio, died in a racing accident on 14…
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Luise Löwenfels (was a German nun of Jewish descent who is remembered for her courage and faith during the Nazi era. Her story is one of personal sacrifice, spiritual conviction, and tragic martyrdom. She was born on July 5, 1915, in Eschweiler, Germany, into a Jewish family. Her parents, both of Jewish heritage, raised her…
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An increasing amount of people say that stories of the Holocaust are no longer relevant and should be left in the past. I don’t subscribe to that point of view, remembering the Holocaust is now more important then it ever has been.In a time where some politicians are making policies based on hate, it is…
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When you think of popes, you wouldn’t believe that a small country like the Netherlands would ever produce a pope, but it did. Pope Adrian VI: The Dutch Reformer of the Papacy Pope Adrian VI, born Adriaan Florensz Boeyens, holds the unique distinction of being the only Dutchman to ascend to the papacy. His brief…
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Some lives are difficult to describe without resorting to words such as hero, martyr, or saint. Maximilian Kolbe is certainly one of them. Yet I use the word martyr reluctantly, not because the word is inappropriate, but because it can sometimes carry connotations that obscure the extraordinary nature of what Kolbe actually did. He did…
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On 2 August 1942, 245 Jewish Catholics in the Netherlands were arrested. To the Nazis it didn’t matter if they had converted to Catholicism, in their eyes and according to their laws these people were still considered Jewish. Else Michaelis was among them. Else Michaelis was born in Berlin on March 30, 1889. Her father…
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Pope Pius XII is often referred to as “Hitler’s Pope,” but the Catholic Church’s connections with fascist regimes began before his papacy. It was his predecessor, Pope Pius XI, who actively sought ties with fascist leaders. On June 16, 1936, he met with Anton Mussert, the leader of the Dutch Nazi party. The 20th century…
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The history of World War II is usually written in the sweeping movements of armies, the strategic decisions of generals, and the devastating statistics of ruined cities. Yet, some of the most profound battles of that dark era were fought in total silence, within the hidden recesses of the human soul. Among these quiet victories…
