Wilhelm Hünermann

Prelate Wilhelm Hünermann

Wilhelm Hünermann, personal dedication in one of his books: "Sincerely dedicated to my dear cousin Mariechen, Rheydt, August 9, 1939" . The cousin's name was Maria Pulch and lived in Grünstadt .

Wilhelm Hünermann, book cover of one of his early works. (It is the book that he himself gave his cousin.)

Wilhelm Hünermann (born July 28, 1900 in Kempen / Niederrhein , † November 28, 1975 in Essen ) was a German Catholic priest , biographer and writer.

Life

Origin and career

Wilhelm Hünermann was born as the son of a professor for mathematics and physics in Kempen on the Lower Rhine. There he also attended high school and passed his Abitur at the age of 17. Then he went to war as a soldier.

After the end of the war he began to study theology at the Westphalian Wilhelms University in Münster and was ordained a priest on May 26, 1923 . At that time, the region where he was born belonged to the Archdiocese of Cologne . His first position as chaplain was in the parish Herz Jesu in Oberhausen- Sterkrade .

Stay in Berlin

Then in 1926 he was appointed to the prince-bishop's delegation in Berlin-Brandenburg-Pomerania, which at that time was formally still under the diocese of Breslau . In 1930 the diocese of Berlin was formed from this , and Hünermann's home region on the Rhineland also became an independent diocese of Aachen . Wilhelm Hünermann worked in Berlin as a chaplain for the parish of St. Matthias on Winterfeldtplatz . Clemens August Graf von Galen , who later became a cardinal, who was beatified in 2005, was his pastor and superior .

The "social apostle" Carl Sonnenschein discovered Hünermann's literary talent and brought him to work on the editorial team of the diocese newspaper Katholisches Kirchenblatts of the prince-bishop's delegation for Berlin, Brandenburg and Pomerania (from 1929: Catholic Church Gazette for Berlin, Brandenburg and Pomerania , from 1932: Katholisches Kirchenblatt des Diocese of Berlin ). The Ministerialrat Erich Klausener , who was later murdered by the National Socialists, also entrusted him with the press work for the Catholic campaign, of which he was the leader.

Return to the Rhine and author

His Aachen bishop finally called Wilhelm Hünermann back to his home diocese, where he worked as a religion teacher at a secondary school. He was banned from teaching after he had publicly held a Holy Mass for his friend, “the murdered Ministerialdirektor Dr. Erich Klausener and his murderers ”. The crime committed by the SS on June 30, 1934 in the context of the so-called Röhm Putsch was officially portrayed as suicide.

During the compulsory “retirement”, Hünermann was active in pastoral care and devoted himself more to writing. In 1936 he wrote his first book Der Bäckerjunge von Znaim , a three-dimensional narrative representation of the life of St. Clement Maria Hofbauer . Other works soon followed - short stories and historical novels, which mostly dealt with great figures in church history or events in church history. Sometimes they were lighter products for young people, but often also sophisticated entertainment books for readers of all ages. Books of this first creative period are also priests of the exiles (1937), about the Aussätzigenapostel de Damian Veuster , Hermann Josef monk of Steinfeld (1939), the life of St. Hermann Joseph and The Living Light (1941), a biography of St. . Hildegard von Bingen .

During the Second World War the Reichsschrifttumskammer Wilhelm Hünermann banned any literary activity and banned and partially confiscated his works.

After the end of the war, the Bishop of Aachen appointed Wilhelm Hünermann to be the chief editor of the Aachen church newspaper. In 1947 he was released from this task in order to devote himself only to writing. He moved to Essen and his most fruitful writing time began. In addition to the history of the Kingdom of God , a complete church history in four volumes, Hünermann wrote a so-called legend of saints for every day of the year under the title The Endless Choir . He dedicated the work to his former boss, the late Cardinal Graf Galen, "whose household he shared as chaplain at the St. Matthias Church in Berlin," as it says in the foreword. Again and again he used upcoming beatifications or canonizations, anniversaries and the like to publish individual biographies of well-known witnesses of faith, such as the beatifications of Pope Pius X , the Margrave Bernhard von Baden , or Maria Goretti .

Wilhelm Hünermann died as a papal honorary prelate in Essen in 1975.

Work and effect

Interest in Hünermann's books decreased rapidly in the period after the Second Vatican Council (around 1970). Most of the works were removed from the publisher's programs or, on the grounds that they were out of date, removed from many public and church libraries. So they led a niche existence within conservatively oriented church circles. It was only in the context of the renaissance of decidedly Catholic books and publications, which began again at the beginning of the 21st century, that Hünermann's works began to be remembered and reissued with a contemporary appearance. So - after the almost complete disappearance of all Hünermann books - there is now a large program of new editions.

In total, the priest wrote more than 50 novels and stories, with a circulation of more than three million copies; not including the most recent new editions. They have been and are being translated into around 20 languages.

Fonts (in selection)

in each case in the order of the first editions; New editions are only listed if they were published under a different title

Biographical stories and biographies

• Father Hofbauer, Ensign of God , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1936.
  • in the same year also under the title Der Bäckerjunge von Znaim. Father Hofbauer , Kerle, Heidelberg 1936.
  • New edition under the title Der Bäckerjunge von Znaim. Klemens Maria Hofbauer , Kerle, Munich 1940 (up to the 52nd thousand under this title).
  • Licensed editions in several publishers under the title Der Bäckerjunge von Znaim. The life of St. Clement Maria Hofbauer , a. a. published by the Bonn Book Community Publishing House, 1936.
  • New edition under the title The Apostle of Vienna , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1988.
• Priest of the Exiles. Damian de Veuster , Flemish hero , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1937.
• Hermann Josef, the monk of Steinfeld. The life of St. Hermann Joseph von Steinfeld , Verlag der Buchgemeinde Bonn, 1939.
• The Herrgottsschanze. Story based on true events from the time of the French Revolution , Herder Verlag, Freiburg 1940 (about the life of the priest Pierre Coudrin ).
• The Lord God Brothers. A life picture of the Franciscan brother Firminus Wickenhäuser , Verlag der Bonifacius-Druckerei, Paderborn 1940.
• The living light. The life of Saint Hildegard von Bingen , Verlag der Buchgemeinde Bonn, Bonn 1941.
• Clemens August. From the book of life of Cardinal Count von Galen , Verlag des Borromäus-Verein, Bonn 1947.
• Kolping , the journeyman's father , Pfeiler-Verlag, Rottenburg am Neckar 1948/1949.
  • New edition under the title The Journeyman Father. The story of the life of Adolf Kolping , Herder Verlag, Freiburg 1950.
  • third edition under the title Father Kolping. The life picture of the journeyman's father , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1950.
  • fourth edition under the title Father Kolping. A picture of life , Herder Verlag, Freiburg 1958.
• Master Douvermann , the carver of Our Lady. An artist novel from the Lower Rhine , Verlag der Buchgemeinde Bonn, Bonn 1949.
• The beggar of Granada. A life picture of St. Johannes von Gott , Johannes von Gott Verlag, Regensburg 1949.
• To honor girls. The life and death of St. Maria Goretti , Herder Verlag, Freiburg 1950.
• Hedwig - mother and duchess. A people's book , Herder Verlag, Freiburg 1951.
• The saint and his demon. The life of the poor pastor of Ars , Kerle Verlag, Heidelberg 1952.
  • New edition under the title Der Pfarrer von Ars.Johannes Vianney , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1986.
• The Godcaller of Padua. Life of the life of Saint Anthony told according to history and legend , Pfeiler-Verlag, Rottenburg am Neckar 1953.
• Burning fire. Pope Pius X. , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1953 (up to the 54th thousand under this title).
  • New edition under the title Fire on Earth. Pope Pius X. , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1979.
• The mandarin of heaven. The life of the Cologne astronomer Father Johann Adam Schall at the Imperial Court of Beijing , Oppermann Verlag, Hanover 1954.
• Barfleur's daughter of rope. Life picture of St. Maria-Magdalena Postel , Herder Verlag, Freiburg 1956.
  • New edition under the title Daughter of the Storm , Verlag Petra Kehl, Fulda 2006.
• The rider against death and the devil. The life of Blessed Margrave Bernhard von Baden , Kerle Verlag, Heidelberg 1957.
• Vincent de Paul . The guardian of Saint-Lazare , Herder, Freiburg 1959.
• The obedient rebel. Abbot Franz Pfanner , the founder of Mariannhill , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1959.
  • New edition under the title The Obedient Rebel. Abbot Pfanner, the founder of Mariannhill , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1987.
• The Apostle of Turin. Johannes Don Bosco , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1961.
  • New edition under the title Don Bosco und seine Trolche , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1979.
  • third edition under the title Don Bosco und seine Buben , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1985.
• Saint Martin - The Horseman of Mercy. A picture of the life of St. Bishop Martin von Tours , Martin Verlag Walter Berger, Buxheim 1962.
• The song in the flames. The Martyrs of Uganda , Herder Verlag, Freiburg 1962.
• The dancer from Spoleto. A life picture of St. Gabriel Possenti , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1962.
  • New edition under the title The Dancer of Spoleto. The life of the youthful saint Gabriel Possenti (1838–1862) , Theresia-Verlag, Lauerz 2004.
• The son of the scissors grinder. A picture of the life of St. Peter Julien Eymard , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1963.
  • New edition under the title Julien Eymard. The son of the scissors grinder (1811–1868) , Theresia-Verlag, Lauerz 2005.
• A Flame in God's company. A life picture of St. Johannes Berchmans , 1599–1621 , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1964.
• Prince Gonzaga. A portrait of St. Aloysius , Rex-Verlag, Luzern 1965.
  • New edition under the title Prince Gonzaga. The life of Saint Aloysius von Gonzaga (1568–1591) , Theresia-Verlag, Lauerz 2002.
• A monk among wolves. Johannes von Kapistran , the apostle of Europe , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1965.
• The pastor of the world. The life of John XXIII , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1967.

Saints legends

• The endless choir. Stories for the Year of the Church for Youth and People , Herder Verlag, Freiburg 1948.
  • later editions under the title The Endless Choir. A book from the saints for the Christian home (9 editions under the title by Herder until 1964).
  • from 2003 under the title Saints and Blessed. The endless choir , Theresia-Verlag, Lauerz 2003.
• In the morning of grace. From the youth of great saints , Pfeiler-Verlag, Rottenburg am Neckar 1955 (Volume 1) and 1956 (Volume 2).
  • New edition in one volume under the title Children of Light. From the youth of great saints , Christiana-Verlag, Stein am Rhein 1977.

Biblical retelling

• We have seen his glory. A life of Jesus , Tyrolia Verlag, Innsbruck 1956.
• Covenant with god. The stories from the Old Testament , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1955.

Religious stories

• The golden candlestick. Stories , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1948.
• The stone tablets , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1949.
  • New edition under the title Light over Sinai - The stone tablets. Stories on the Decalogue , Theresia-Verlag, Lauerz 2002.
• The sevenfold source. Stories , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1951.
• The sky is stronger than us. A Fatima tale , Matthias Grünewald Verlag, Mainz 1954.
  • New edition under the title Fatima - The sky is stronger than us. A Fatima story , Theresia-Verlag, Lauerz 2001.

Books for children and teenagers

• Silver spurs , Steyler Missionsbuchhandlung, Kaldenkirchen 1946.
• The shining day. Stories for Communion Children , Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz 1948 (31 editions in Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag until 1993).
  • New edition by Haass-Verlag, Mönchengladbach 1992.
• The boys from Hallstadt. Retold a true story , Verlag des Borromäus-Verein, Bonn 1948.
  • New edition under the title The Guardians of the Flag , Petra Kehl Verlag, Stuttgart 1997.
• The Bone Man in the Maiden Tower and other hair-raising ghost stories , Paul Pattloch Verlag, Aschaffenburg 1949.
  • New edition under the title The Bone Man in the Jungfernturm , Theresia-Verlag, Lauerz 2001.
• Altar boys , Matthias Grünewald Verlag, Mainz 1950.
  • New edition under the title Die Lausbuben des Lieben Gottes , Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz 1997.
• The boys from Zeche Ludwig. A story from the Kohlenpott , Paul Pattloch Verlag, Aschaffenburg 1951.
• Sealed lips. Stories on the sacrament of the forgiveness of sins , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1953.
• The accolade. Stories on the Sacrament of Holy Confirmation , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1954.
• Teddy, the jockey apprentice. A story for boys , Pfeiffer, Munich 1954.
  • New edition under the title Comtessa muss siegen , Verlag Petra Kehl, Stuttgart 2001.
• The communion children from heaven. A story for communion children and other people , Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz 1957.
  • New edition under the title The Communion Children of Heaven. A story for communion children and other people , Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz 1959.
  • Third edition under the title The Communion Children from Himmelreich , Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz 1999.
• The city of a thousand boys. Father Flanagan's Boys-Town , Kerle Verlag, Heidelberg 1966.
• Don Vesuvio and the thugs. A boys game , Buchner, Munich 1968.
  • New edition under the title Vesuvio and his rascals. Mario Borrelli, a modern Don Bosco , Tyrolia-Verlag, Innsbruck 1969.

On church history and mission history

• History of the kingdom of God
  • Volume 1: The purple sail , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1956.
  • Volume 2: The cross on the flags , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1957.
  • Volume 3: The lost unity , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1957.
  • Volume 4: Solid as a rock , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1958.
• History of world mission. Life pictures of great missionaries
  • Volume 1: From Alaska to Tierra del Fuego , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1960.
  • Volume 2: Firestorm over Asia , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1960.
  • Volume 3: Under the African Sun , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1961.
• The forge of truth. Stories on the history of the General Councils , Rex-Verlag, Lucerne 1962.

Contributions to anthologies

• Rascals and archangels. Stories by 0. Berneder , Franz Braumann , Wilhelm Hünermann, Johannes Kirschweng , Margit Petermann and Ludwig Schuster . Paulusverlag, Recklinghausen 1930.

Web links

Commons : Wilhelm Hünermann  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Literature by and about Wilhelm Hünermann in the catalog of the German National Library
• Works by and about Wilhelm Hünermann  in the German Digital Library