Johann Kaspar Kratz

Johann Kaspar Kratz (according to the baptism entry in the church book only Kaspar, the first name Johann was probably added later because of his father) (born September 14, 1698 in Golzheim (Ahrburg); † January 12, 1737 in Tonking , Vietnam ), was a missionary and Martyrs . In his home town of Golzheim, the Catholic primary school and the street in which it is located are named after Johann Kaspar Kratz.

Memorial plaque for Johann Kaspar Kratz at the Catholic primary school in Golzheim

biography

(Johann) Kaspar Kratz was born on September 14, 1698 as the son of the married couple Johann Kratz and Anna Maria Krudtwich in Golzheim . His father was a halfe at the Ahrburg in Golzheim and died there on December 8, 1709 in mental confusion. His mother died on February 24, 1733 in Golzheim.

Baptism entry of (Johann) Kaspar Kratz in the oldest Golzheim church book, Otto Curtius 1698

Kratz attended the Jesuit high school in Düsseldorf from 1713 to 1721 . Afterwards he studied philosophy with the Franciscans and at the same time held the position of private tutor. As a travel companion of a noble family and also alone he traveled across Europe until 1726 . This aroused his urge to go into the distance.

He then signed up for six years as an officer in the Dutch East India Company in Batavia . In 1729 he was honored farewell. In 1730 he traveled to Macau , where he became a novice of the Society of Jesus on October 27, 1730 and was ordained priest in 1734 . In 1735 he tried to travel by ship to Tonking with four Jesuits to do missionary work there . He was discovered and sent back. When he and others tried to get to Tonking by land in 1736, he was captured on April 12, sentenced to death in May , and beheaded on January 12, 1737 . On August 24, 1737, the news of his death reached Macau, where all the bells rang. The body of the Golzheimer is said to have been buried first in the village of Ke-Thua and then transferred to Macau. The burial church is said to have burned down later.

A beatification process was initiated soon after his death , but was interrupted by the repeal of the Jesuit order and resumed in 1926. So far, the proceedings could not be brought to a conclusion because the required file inspection is not possible in China and Vietnam .

literature

• Winand Virnich .:  Kratz, Johann Kaspar . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 25, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1887, p. 783 f.
• August Lüdenbach: Johann Kaspar Kratz - missionary and martyr in Tonking (pioneers of World Mission III) , Aachen 1920
• Karl-Heinz Meurer: Johann Caspar Kratz , in: Festschrift for the consecration of the flag on October 8, 1989 , Marianische Schützenbruderschaft Golzheim, Golzheim 1989
• Susanne Schurr:  Johann Kaspar Kratz. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 4, Bautz, Herzberg 1992, ISBN 3-88309-038-7 , Sp. 614-616.