December
2009 - Vol. 35
.
I
Must Take the Other Road
Father
Delp’s final letter to his fellow Jesuits, February 2, 1945
Dear Brethren, Here I am at the parting of the ways and I must take
the other road after all. The death sentence has been passed and the atmosphere
is so charged with enmity and hatred that no appeal has any hope of succeeding.
I thank the Order and my brethren for all their goodness and loyalty
and help, especially during these last weeks. I ask pardon for much that
was untrue and unjust; and I beg that a little help and care may be given
to my aged, sick parents.
The actual reason for my condemnation was that I happened to be, and
chose to remain, a Jesuit. There was nothing to show that I had any connection
with the attempt on Hitler's life so I was acquitted on that count. The
rest of the accusations were far less serious and more factual. There was
one underlying theme – a Jesuit is a priori an enemy and betrayer
of the Reich. So the whole proceedings turned into a sort of comedy
developing a theme. It was not justice – it was simply the carrying out
of the determination to destroy.
May God shield you all. I ask for your prayers. And I will do my best
to catch up, on the other side, with all that I have left undone here on
earth.
Towards noon I will celebrate Mass once more and then in God's name
take the road under his providence and guidance.
In God's blessing and protection,
Your grateful,
Alfred Delp, S.J.
Return to Joy
in the Face of Death - Alfred Delp S.J., by Jeanne Kun, with excerpts
from the book, Even Unto Death: Wisdom from Modern Martyrs, edited by
Jeanne Kun, The Word Among Us Press, © 2002. All rights reserved.
Used with permission. The book can be ordered from WAU
Press.
