Hildegard Goss-Mayr
Encyclopedia
Hildegard Goss-Mayr is an Austria
n nonviolent activist and Christian theologian
.
, she studyed Philosophy in Vienna
and New Haven.
In 1958, she married Jean Goss
(1912-1991), a French
peace activist. They've got two children, Myriam and Etienne.
She worked, together with her husband, for the reconciliation between East and West parts of Europe in 50's. They were in Rome during the Council Vatican II lobbying for the recognition of the conscentious objection by the Roman Catholic Church. In the 60's and the 70s', they lived for sometimes and worked in South America, training groups in active nonviolence and helping for the creation of the SERPAJ, whose first coordinator was Adolfo Pérez Esquivel
.
They also trained a lot of others groups in active nonviolence
in many countries, in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. They participated in the preparation of the People Power
Revolution in Philippines
in 1986.
Jean Goss and Hildegard Goss-Mayr shared several Peace Prizes, included the Bruno Kreisky Award
in Austria in 1979 and the Pax Christi USA Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award
in 1986.
In 1991 Hildegard Goss-Mayr has also won the Niwano Peace Prize
, in Japan, and, in 2009, the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, from the Diocese of Davenport
, Iowa.
She is currently the honorary president of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation
.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n nonviolent activist and Christian theologian
Christian theology
- Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...
.
Life and commitment
Daughter of Kaspar Mayr, founder of the Austrian branch of the International Fellowship of ReconciliationInternational Fellowship of Reconciliation
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation is an international faith-based nonviolent movement created shortly after the First World War, in 1919, to draw together national Fellowships of Reconciliation that had been founded during the war....
, she studyed Philosophy in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and New Haven.
In 1958, she married Jean Goss
Jean Goss
Jean Goss was a French nonviolent activist.- Youth and conversion :Son of an Opera barytone, who lost his voice during the First World War, Jean Goss was forced to work since the age of de 12 in Paris, before to be hired in a French railway Company in 1937...
(1912-1991), a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
peace activist. They've got two children, Myriam and Etienne.
She worked, together with her husband, for the reconciliation between East and West parts of Europe in 50's. They were in Rome during the Council Vatican II lobbying for the recognition of the conscentious objection by the Roman Catholic Church. In the 60's and the 70s', they lived for sometimes and worked in South America, training groups in active nonviolence and helping for the creation of the SERPAJ, whose first coordinator was Adolfo Pérez Esquivel
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel is an Argentine sculptor, architect and pacifist. He was the recipient of the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize.-Biography:Pérez Esquivel was born in Buenos Aires to a Spanish fisherman who emigrated to Argentina...
.
They also trained a lot of others groups in active nonviolence
Nonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
in many countries, in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. They participated in the preparation of the People Power
People Power
People Power names:* the Philippine People Power Revolution* political parties in several countries, see People Power Party...
Revolution in Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1986.
Jean Goss and Hildegard Goss-Mayr shared several Peace Prizes, included the Bruno Kreisky Award
Bruno Kreisky Award
The Bruno Kreisky Award is a biennial award created in October 1976 on the occasion of the 65th birthday of Bruno Kreisky. The laureates are rewarded for their achievements in the field of human rights...
in Austria in 1979 and the Pax Christi USA Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award
Pax Christi USA Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award
The Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award is given out annually by the organization Pax Christi USA, a Catholic peace organization, to an individual who has exemplified Pope Paul VI's World Day for Peace message: "To reach peace, teach peace."...
in 1986.
In 1991 Hildegard Goss-Mayr has also won the Niwano Peace Prize
Niwano Peace Prize
Niwano Peace Prize is given to honor and encourage those who are devoting themselves to interreligious cooperation in the cause of peace,and to make their achievements known...
, in Japan, and, in 2009, the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, from the Diocese of Davenport
Davenport
-Places:In Australia*Electoral district of Davenport, in South AustraliaIn Canada*Davenport, Toronto, a neighbourhood and former village in Toronto*Davenport , a federal electoral district*Davenport...
, Iowa.
She is currently the honorary president of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation
International Fellowship of Reconciliation
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation is an international faith-based nonviolent movement created shortly after the First World War, in 1919, to draw together national Fellowships of Reconciliation that had been founded during the war....
.
Biography
- Richard Deats, Marked for life. The story of Hildegard Goss-Mayr, Hyde Park (NY), New City Press, 2009.
External links
- Catholic Peace Fellowship article on her and her husband
- Hildegard Goss-Mayr: The greatest living peacemaker by US pacifist John DearJohn DearJohn Dear is an American Catholic priest, Christian pacifist, author and lecturer. He has been arrested over 75 times in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience against war, injustice and nuclear weapons.-Studies:...
, SJ, in National Catholic Reporter, 3 Feb. 2009