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Bl. Joseph Freinademetz
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Blessed Joseph Freinademetz SVD, was born on April 15, 1852, to farmer parents in a valley high in the south Tyrolean Alps. His parents and neighbors were good Catholics who taught the little boy that God, his loving Father, had created the splendid mountains and everything that surrounded him. Because Joseph also saw the power and love of God clearly in the people around him, he was moved to study for the priesthood. This meant learning languages- seven before he was done. These were not burdens, but doors that would later open the minds and hearts of people to Fr. Joseph.
As his knowledge of the world broadened, Joseph began to see that the most deprived people on earth were those who did not know their creator. So he decided to become a missionary. As a young diocesan priest, he joined the Divine Word Society founded by Fr. Arnold Janssen, and after a period of formation he and Fr John Anzer, SVD were sent to China in 1879. Fr. Freinademetz found China a poor country with millions of people, meager stocks of food and trillions of fleas. The European nations (Russia, England, France and Germany) circled like sharks, waiting to divide up the great Chinese empire. The Chinese, whose civilization antedates Europe's by thousands of years, were resentful. Into this troubled land came the messengers of the poor Christ, preaching the love of the Lord of heaven for all his people. Understandably, they got a mixed reception!
Fr. Freinademetz and his companions were first sent to help the Franciscans, but in time they took a section of the diocese for Divine Word Society. The bishop of Hong Kong wanted to put Fr.Freinademetz in charge so he would eventually become the bishop. But the chagrined missionaryknelt in front of the bishop and said he would stay there until the bishop changed his mind and appointed Fr. Anzer instead. The petition was finally granted. For the rest of his life, Fr.Freinademetz would remain a simple priest familiarly known as "Fr. Joseph."
Many Chinese resented the missionaries and their converts because of what was done to them by the foreign soldiers and diplomats. Others saw a challenge to their own authority and their traditional religion. Others were simply opportunists who wanted to loot the property of the Christians. Vicious stealing, beating, and killing broke out, and many of the new Christians were martyred. Fr Joseph was attacked often enough. Once, at a place called Tsaohsien, he together with his companions was beaten most severely. As he lay bleeding and helpless on the ground, he began to tell his attackers about the beautiful religion he had come to offer to them. One by one they listened, quieted down and withdrew. As priest, catechist, and mule driver he stumbled to their feet, their first response was to laugh loudly, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer for Christ. Things like this impressed both the new Christians and their enemies.
Chinese resentment against foreigners boiled over toward the end of the nineteenth century. The secret "Big Knife Society" slaughtered Fathers Nies and Henle. Immediately, Germany, France and Russia seized large tracts of Chinese soil. The Chinese government scooped up all foreigners to deport them. As the missionaries were being taken from Tsingtao in mule carts, Fr. Joseph persuaded his driver to turn down a side lane and out among the sorghum fields where they could hide. There, they found a large group of Christians who prayed with them all night. In time, the deportation order was rescinded, and the courageous priest was able to return to hispastoral work.
Tuberculosis,
the inevitable result of years of neglect of his health, finally struck Fr.
Joseph down. He could, however, live in large
mission station and share his missionary zeal with younger
members. His chief convictions were that love is the one language everyone
understands, and that mission work is really done by
Christ who uses the missionary as a gardener uses a
trowel. It was the typhus germ, carried by the fleas of China, which eventually
brought the life of Fr. Joseph to a close. Given his
run-down condition, the medicine of the daywas useless. He knew he was dying and
welcomed death. But he wanted to be buried in the community
cemetery in Taikia. As usual, he asked no help but drove himself to the village
in a mule cart.
On the way he stopped off to give one last instruction to the young catechists. He asked them to remember the great examination God would give them at the end of their lives. Then he went on to Taikia. His old friend, Brother Ulrich, who met him there later recalled his words: "From here on, the way leads up." The missionary of Shantung lasted only days. The Christians and the missionaries mourned his death on January 28, 1908. Since that day, people have prayed to Fr. Joseph, and God has worked many miracles through his intercession.