The Martyrdom of Titus Brandsma

Resumen

Titus Brandsma (1881-1942) is the most well-known Dutch martyr and is admired throughout the world. First the historical-phenomenological contours of Titus Brandsma’s life and death are portrayed: his vocation as a martyr, the preparation for and  conscious acceptance of his martyrdom receive ample treatment. Then a hermeneutical-theological reflection on his martyrdom is  presented: his notion of the loving God, his ideas about the spiritual life as a common life, his imitation of the crucifies Christ, his  authentic membership of the church and his profound trust in the eschaton are elucidated. Thereafter a tentative mystagogical map  based on the experiences of Titus Brandsma is drawn up; this map that might provide us with some handles for a true Christian life in our times.