Werenfried van Straaten
Encyclopedia
Father Werenfried van Straaten O.Praem. (January 17, 1913 - January 31, 2003) who came to be known as the "Bacon Priest", was a Premonstratensian
priest
known for his humanitarian work, particularly as founder of the international Catholic association Aid to the Church in Need
. Born in Mijdrecht
, Netherlands
in 1913, he originally intended to become a teacher and enrolled at the University of Utrecht in 1932. By 1934, he had entered an abbey of the Norbertine Order (taking the religious name Werenfried, in honour of an early Medieval Germanic saint
), where he became the abbot's secretary, after a bout of tuberculosis
that left him too weak for missionary work.
He first rose to public attention at Christmas, 1947, when he wrote an article entitled "Peace on Earth? No Room at the Inn," in which he appealed to all faithful to help the fourteen million German civilians displaced
from the east
at the end of World War II
, six million of whom were Roman Catholics. These refugees and expellees
resided in very primitive camps, mostly former Nazi concentration camps or Allied POW camps located in the western occupation zones of Germany
and - for a minority - in the Netherlands
and Belgium
, and suffered from malnutrition and lack of medical care.
The response to the article of Van Straaten was unexpectedly generous, proving charity still existed and hatred was lessening towards the former enemies
.
He earned his nickname, "Bacon Priest" due to his appeals to Flemish
farmers for contributions of food for the German refugees, appeals which met with considerable amounts of meat
being donated.
This initial work led to the formation of Aid to the Church in Need (Kirche in Not), centered in Königstein
, Germany
. From 1950, he was active in Catholic relief work worldwide, through church appeals, public speaking, and his newsletter, The Mirror, which he began publishing in 1953. He also wrote a number of books ("They Call Me The Bacon Priest", 1960).
In later years he was active in demonstrating and speaking out against abortion
in Western Europe
and the United States
.
He died on January 31, 2003 at Bad Soden
in Germany
at the age of 90 years old.
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
known for his humanitarian work, particularly as founder of the international Catholic association Aid to the Church in Need
Aid to the Church in Need
' describes itself as "an international pastoral aid organization of the Catholic Church, which yearly offers financial support to more than 5,000 projects worldwide...
. Born in Mijdrecht
Mijdrecht
Mijdrecht is a town in the municipality of De Ronde Venen, in the Netherlands.It is located west of the main A2 motorway, between Utrecht and Amsterdam.Its population is around 17,000. The football team Argon has its stadium here....
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1913, he originally intended to become a teacher and enrolled at the University of Utrecht in 1932. By 1934, he had entered an abbey of the Norbertine Order (taking the religious name Werenfried, in honour of an early Medieval Germanic saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
), where he became the abbot's secretary, after a bout of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
that left him too weak for missionary work.
He first rose to public attention at Christmas, 1947, when he wrote an article entitled "Peace on Earth? No Room at the Inn," in which he appealed to all faithful to help the fourteen million German civilians displaced
Expulsion of Germans after World War II
The later stages of World War II, and the period after the end of that war, saw the forced migration of millions of German nationals and ethnic Germans from various European states and territories, mostly into the areas which would become post-war Germany and post-war Austria...
from the east
Historical Eastern Germany
The former eastern territories of Germany are those provinces or regions east of the current eastern border of Germany which were lost by Germany during and after the two world wars. These territories include the Province of Posen and East Prussia, Farther Pomerania, East Brandenburg and Lower...
at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, six million of whom were Roman Catholics. These refugees and expellees
Federation of Expellees
The Federation of Expellees or Bund der Vertriebenen is a non-profit organization formed to represent the interests of Germans who either fled their homes in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, or were expelled following World War II....
resided in very primitive camps, mostly former Nazi concentration camps or Allied POW camps located in the western occupation zones of Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and - for a minority - in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and suffered from malnutrition and lack of medical care.
The response to the article of Van Straaten was unexpectedly generous, proving charity still existed and hatred was lessening towards the former enemies
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
.
He earned his nickname, "Bacon Priest" due to his appeals to Flemish
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
farmers for contributions of food for the German refugees, appeals which met with considerable amounts of meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
being donated.
This initial work led to the formation of Aid to the Church in Need (Kirche in Not), centered in Königstein
Königstein im Taunus
Königstein im Taunus is a climatic spa and lies on the thickly wooded slopes of the Taunus in Hesse, Germany. Owing to its advantageous location for both scenery and transport on the edge of the Frankfurt Rhine Main Region, Königstein is a favourite residential town...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. From 1950, he was active in Catholic relief work worldwide, through church appeals, public speaking, and his newsletter, The Mirror, which he began publishing in 1953. He also wrote a number of books ("They Call Me The Bacon Priest", 1960).
In later years he was active in demonstrating and speaking out against abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He died on January 31, 2003 at Bad Soden
Bad Soden
Bad Soden is a town and spa in the Main-Taunus-Kreis, Hesse, Germany. Population 21,412 .Bad Soden is a popular residential town for commuters working in Frankfurt am Main. It is known for its various springs, which contain carbonic acid gas and various iron oxides. The waters are used both...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at the age of 90 years old.
External links
- http://www.kirche-in-not.org/e_pw.htm
- Kerk in Nood/Oostpriesterhulp België
- Kerk in Nood/Oostpriesterhulp Nederland
- Aide à l'Église en Détresse Belgique
- Kirche in Not Belgien
- Aide à l'Église en Détresse Luxembourg
- Kirche in Not Luxemburg
- Aid to the Church in Need USA United States of America
Further reading
- "Obituary of Father Werenfried van Straaten", The Daily Telegraph (London, England), 2/1/2003.
- van Straaten, Werenfried. They Call Me The Bacon Priest, New City Press, Belgium, 1965.
- van Straaten, Werenfried. Where God Weeps, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1989.