Blessed Karl Leisner: 1915-1945

By Sister Irene Hartman, OP

Holy Ones of Our Time

“My heart wanders here and there, until it rests in You, O my God. Without the love of God and joy in my soul, I will accomplish nothing. With God I will have everything in me. Give me the strength, Lord.” These words are the prayer of a high school student who went on to become a Blessed in the Church.

Karl Leisner was born Feb. 28, 1915, in Westphalia, Germany. His father was a devout Catholic, a judicial treasurer with an impetuous nature. His mother was pleasant and kind, a model teacher for the children. Karl was a bright and mischievous child, energetic and fun-loving. He was a good student, curious, full of questions. Why and How, he asked over and over as he constantly searched to know why things were as they were.

The high school chaplain, Father Walter Vinnenberg, helped Karl develop into an organizer and leader of a youth group called the Saint Werner Group. Bicycle excursions became a great part of the groups’ activities. Before setting out on an excursion, Mass was celebrated. Karl and his friends enjoyed setting up tents, discovering new and exciting places, often singing to the accompaniment of flute and guitar. The group had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

At Easter of 1933, Karl made a spiritually moving retreat. His aim was to do his daily tasks as perfectly as possible and with as much love as he could. His group, however, met obstacles when National Socialism came into Germany and closed the buildings used by Catholic organizations. Karl’s name was put on file by the Gestapo. Was he to hide his religious activities or simply become more cautious? Every day he made the effort to attend an early Mass and receive Communion. His serious scholarly work kept the high school officials from expelling him. He graduated with honors.

In a December, 1933 retreat, he seriously studied which career to choose. On May 5, 1934, he entered a house in Munster which brought together students who intended to enter the priesthood. There he studied philosophy and theology for two years. After Easter, 1936, he continued his studies in a university of his choice; he chose Breisgau where he lived with a Catholic family. In the household, he oversaw the studies of their nine boys, but he also began playing attention to their eldest daughter, Elizabeth. He questioned God about his future; should he marry and father a family, or become a priest? His struggle continued until at last he wrote to Elizabeth telling her of his great admiration for her; she told him not to abandon his priestly vocation.

On March 4, 1939, Karl was ordained a sub-deacon and on the 25th, he received the diaconate from his bishop, Bishop von Galen. For some time, Karl had been experiencing much exhaustion accompanied by extended coughing spells. A medical examination showed advanced tuberculosis; this frightened Karl but he was intent on recovering and said, “I have to get well.” He was sent to a sanatorium in the Black Forest. He carefully followed the doctor’s orders and for a time recovery seemed in sight. It was during this time that World War II broke out in Europe.

In November, 1939, there had been an unsuccessful attempt on Hitler’s life. Karl’s comment was, “Too bad he made it through.” When a companion heard this, he quickly left the room and informed the police. That same day, Karl was locked up on a Freigburg prison, wrapped in a course blanket, laid out on an iron bed, shivering in the cold. He felt abandoned, doomed to an inescapable death. He prayed daily for his persecutors and forgave the harsh treatment.

Later, he was moved to a concentration camp near Berlin. His name was taken away; henceforth he was just a number. His head was shaved; he no longer had any rights as a German citizen. He was moved with hundreds of priests and ministers to Dachau. There, his only consolation was the opportunity to attend Mass. Later, when a pulmonary blood vessel ruptured, he was admitted to the infirmary for two months; this was a death ward. The dry coughs of the tuberculosis patients continued day and night. Karl sought refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and came to be known as the angel of comfort who brightened the lives of the sick with his beautiful smile. Under his pillow he had a box of consecrated Hosts which he distributed to his brothers in secret.

In September, 1944, a convoy of French deportees arrived at Dachau; among them was the French Bishop Gabriel Piguet. A rumor arose: “Why can’t Karl be ordained?” On Dec. 17, 1944, Karl Leisner, with cheeks red from fever, was ordained a priest. It was Gaudete Sunday, a day of rejoicing, yet a day of pain, for the new priest was too sick to celebrate his first Mass. Father Karl continued his way of the cross until Dec. 26, the date of his first Mass. He next and last Mass was celebrated on July 25, 1945, after the Allies had liberated Dachau. He died Aug. 12, 1945. Pope John Paul II named Father Karl a blessed in 1996. “Karl Leisner encourages us to remain on the way that is Christ, the way that leads to life.”