BLESSED GEORG HAFNER

George Hafner was born on 19 October 1900 in Wurzburg, Bavaria.  His parents, Valentin and Barbara Hewig Ulsamer, were simple, humble and believing Christians who brought up George with a good education and a deep faith.  He was baptized on 28 October 1900 and given the names Joseph George Simon.

From early childhood, George manifested a strong inclination towards the priesthood. He excelled as an altar boy at serving Mass and often entertained his companions by playing at imitating a priest celebrating Mass.  His parents made many sacrifices so that George could complete his early studies. In 1918 he completed his secondary studies and, due to the First World War, was called up for army service. He never had to engage in any military activity. With a view to preparation for the priesthood, he began Philosophy and Theology in Wurzburg University and on 11 January 1920 he also joined the Carmelite Secular Order, taking the name Brother Aloysius of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Having obtained a doctorate in Theology, George was ordained a priest in the Seminary chapel of St. Michael, Wurzburg, by the Archbishop of Bamberga, Mons. Jacob von Hauck, on 13 April 1924.  He was engaged in Pastoral ministry in different parishes until 12 November 1934, when he was nominated as Parish Priest of Oberschwarzach.  Here he distinguished himself for his firm faith, extraordinary zeal and outstanding charity.

The Venerable Servant of God fulfilled all his priestly duties with great humility, in constant silence and prayer.  His only desire was to encourage his faithful to be aware of their duties and to observe  their religious practices.

Due to his fruitful pastoral activity, including religious education in the state schools, the Parish Priest of Oberschwarzach came to be seen as an enemy of the Nationalist-Socialist regime, due to his propagating 0f Christian principles which were considered as being opposed to the State.  As his enemies could not find any valid accusation against him they resorted to a treacherous plot.  During the funeral of a forest guard, they took the opportunity of denouncing him to the Gestapo.  At that funeral service, Don Georg revealed that the deceased had been reconciled to the Catholic Church before his death.  As a result, a second marriage of his, contracted in a civil rite, was invalid. 

On 31 October 1941, the Servant of God was unjustly arrested, interrogated and incarcerated in Wurzburg prison with an accusation of “hostile behaviour towards the State”. Being condemned as a political prisoner, Don Georg was deported by the Nazi authorities to the concentration camp of Dachau, on December 1941.  During his imprisonment, he never ceased to preach the truthful tenets of the Christian faith, while staunchly enduring all his physical and moral sufferings.  He carried the cross, accepting the will of God in every situation.  He died of neglect the 20 August 1942.

His Beatification ceremony took place in Wurzburg on 15 May 2011.