Alois Grimm

Memorial plaque in the Jesuit Church in Vienna

Alois Grimm SJ (born October 24, 1886 in Külsheim , Germany; † September 11, 1944 in the Brandenburg-Görden prison ) was a Jesuit , theologian ( patrology ), educator and resistance fighter against National Socialism , who was denounced and sentenced to death for degrading military strength .

Educator and teacher

Alois Grimm could after graduation in Tauberbischofsheim not immediately decide whether Marine - cadets or priest should be. He and his cousin made retreats in Holland with Jesuits , which had been forbidden in Germany since 1872 by the Jesuit law. In the autumn of 1907 he entered the Jesuit order. His philosophical and theological training was interrupted during the First World War by the medical service in the war hospital. In 1920 he was ordained a priest. In 1921 Grimm took over the German-speaking pastoral care abroad in Florence . From 1922 to 1926 he studied classical languages , history and German at the universities of Vienna and Heidelberg . From 1926 he taught at the Stella Matutina Jesuit college in Feldkirch and from 1934 at the St. Blasien college in the Black Forest.

scientist

As a patrologist and researcher, Grimm studied the writings of the church fathers . Among other things, he worked on a text-critical edition of Ambrosiaster for the Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum (CSEL) in Vienna. The Ambrosiaster is a Latin commentator on Paul of the fourth century, who exists in many different manuscripts with differing texts, and was ascribed to Ambrosius of Milan . Grimm's research had the goal of the "original Ambrosiaster" by comparing the manuscripts, their origins, authors and possible Familiae restore ( "family" connections with other manuscripts) so as to finally have a text with the original content, Editio Princeps to create, . The authenticity of the Ambrosia was also the subject of his publications.

Confrontation with National Socialism

Grimm was more than a religion or Latin teacher or a scientist. His clear arguments with National Socialist thinking from a Christian perspective caught the eye of others. A secular National Socialist teacher colleague said: “Grimm spoke in a mean way about the new spirit. I hope that his trade will soon be put down for years or forever. "Grimm counted on informers, but did not hold back with his opinion:" If something happens to me, it would be my greatest honor, my greatest happiness. "

After the St. Blasien College was closed by the National Socialists, Father Grimm went back to Tisis , Austria, in 1939 , where he taught Latin in the novitiate and helped out in pastoral care. In 1943 a private from Berlin asked him to join the church. He regularly attended private lessons, had his child baptized by Father Grimm and finally brought "his friend" with him to religious instruction. In October 1943, Father Grimm was arrested by the Gestapo and taken to the Gestapo building in Innsbruck . To his surprise, this “friend” met him there as a Gestapo officer.

Father Grimm was interrogated by the Gestapo and tortured, taken to Berlin, accused and other ill-treatment on 12 August 1944 by Roland Freisler for military morale in two cases and defeatism sentenced to death and declared dishonorable. His defense attorney at the People's Court , Joachim Lingenberg, wrote after the trial: “Father Grimm's defense is one of the most terrible memories of my life. It is a piece of historical truth that should be retained, especially at a time that tends to trivialize what happened, at least in memory. "

After his condemnation, Father Grimm wrote: “The hour has come, I am preparing to return home into eternity. In a few hours I will be standing before my Judge, my Savior and Father. It is God's will that it be done in everything. [...] Don't mourn me: I'm going home. You still have to endure. I give my life for the kingdom of God that knows no end, for the Society of Jesus, for the youth, for the religion of our homeland. "

Five years after the execution of the death sentence, the urn was buried in the St. Blasien College.

Quotes

“Not mercy and compassion, but honor is what is demanded today. But if one of the world's demands is in opposition to Christ's demand, then the world's demand is obviously wrong. Before the divine authority of Christ, every human authority, including that of a people, must resign. "

“Suffering increases, the cross becomes more oppressive, as everyone seems to know. But Christ carrying the cross is our example, our consolation, yes our joy. And before us stands the luminous eternity and the full victory of Jesus Christ the King, who in truth reigns forever. (1936). "

“We are living in difficult times. Our responsibility before God and the centuries to come will be great. Our work, prayers and sacrifices must help make the present and the future belong to Christ the King. It is a great and great task that we must enjoy and inspire, despite all the suffering. Now is no time for petty jealousy and sulking. It's all about! (1937). "

Honors

Five years after his death, the urn was entrusted to the St. Blasien College by P. Grimm. Rector Otto Faller said at the funeral of P. Grimm's ashes:

“Dear dead friend, that is our vow to your silent tomb: We live for the kingdom of God, which knows no end, for the society of Jesus, for the youth, for the religion of our homeland. Farewell, be now the guardian spirit of this house and its youth, which is constantly renewing itself. Keep us with your spirit and pray for us to keep our pledge, forever. Rest in the peace of God! "

Schools, buildings and streets were named after Father Alois Grimm, such as the Pater Alois Grimm School in Külsheim and the Alois Grimm House in St. Blasien. In the Jesuit Church in Innsbruck and in Pullach there are plaques of honor with his name. His scientific library is now located in the University of Philosophy in Munich.

The Catholic Church accepted Alois Grimm as a witness of faith in the German martyrology of the 20th century .

literature

• Otto Faller: Address for the funeral of the ashes by † P. Alois Grimm SJ. In: College letter Christmas 1949 . Kolleg St. Blasien, 1949, pp. 13-16.
• Benedicta Maria Kempner : Priest before Hitler's tribunals . Unchanged reprint of the 2nd edition from 1967. Bertelsmann, Munich 1996, ISBN 978-3-570-12292-1 , p. 125-135 .
• Helmut Moll (Ed. On behalf of the German Bishops' Conference): Witnesses for Christ. Das deutsche Martyrologium des 20. Jahrhundert , Paderborn et al. 1999, 7th revised and updated edition 2019, ISBN 978-3-506-78012-6 , Volume II, pp. 956-958.
• Günther Schüly: Father Alois Grimm. College Letter Christmas 1956, College St. Blasien 1956, pp. 35–48.
• Clemens Siebler: Grimm, Joseph Alois , in: Badische Biographien , NF 2, pp. 107-108 ( E-Text ).
• Elmar Weiss, Irmtraut Edelmann, Helmuth Lauf (authors): History of the well town of Külsheim. 2 volumes. City of Külsheim (ed.). Tauberbischofsheim, FN Druck 1992. Volume 1. With contributions by Dieter Frank, Walter Dietz, Pastor Franz Gehrig , Herwig John, Fritz Krug. Pp. 308-319.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Benedicta Maria Kempner: Priest before Hitler's tribunals. Munich 1967, p. 128.
2. ↑ Benedicta Maria Kempner: Priest before Hitler's tribunals. Munich 1967, p. 125.
3. ↑ Benedicta Maria Kempner: Priest before Hitler's tribunals. Munich 1967, p. 135.
4. ↑ Benedicta Maria Kempner: Priest before Hitler's tribunals. Munich 1967, p. 135.
5. ↑ Günther Schüly: Father Alois Grimm. College Letter Christmas 1956, College St.Blasien 1956, p. 42.
6. ↑ Benedicta Maria Kempner: Priest before Hitler's tribunals. Munich 1967, p. 126.
7. ↑ Günther Schüly: Father Alois Grimm. In: Kolleg-Brief Weihnachten 1956, Kolleg St. Blasien 1956, p. 41
8. ↑ Otto Faller: Address for the burial of the ashes by † P. Alois Grimm SJ. In: Kolleg-Brief Weihnachten 1949, p. 16