In his homily at the Thanksgiving Mass celebrating the Canonisation of St Titus Brandsma, Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) called Titus Brandsma, 'a gift to the world, the Church and the Carmelite Order'. "Throughout his life, whilst exercising and sharing his intellectual gifts through his studies and his teaching, preaching and writing, he was also down to earth, connected with people in their everyday struggles, and keen to assist them in whatever practical ways that he could," Fr Paul said. Read Fr Paul's homily below.

Carmelites, Lay Carmelites, parishioners, students, parents and staff from Whitefriars College, and those for whom Titus Brandsma holds a special place in their lives, gathered at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park (VIC), yesterday (31 July) for a Thanksgiving Mass celebrating his Canonisation. Students from Brandsma House at Whitefriars College joined the Entrance Procession carrying the relic of Titus Brandsma, the Brandsma House banner and a typewriter and camera. Joel Savy, House Vice Captain welcomed the assembly and gave a personal reflection on Titus Brandsma at the beginning of Mass. Students, staff and parishioners shared the readings and Prayers of the Faithful. Fr Paul Cahill (Prior Provincial) presided. In his homily, Fr Paul called Titus Brandsma, 'a gift to the world, the Church and the Carmelite Order'. "Throughout his life, whilst exercising and sharing his intellectual gifts through his studies and his teaching, preaching and writing, he was also down to earth, connected with people in their everyday struggles, and keen to assist them in whatever practical ways that he could," Fr Paul said.

80 years ago, on 26 July 1942, St Titus Brandsma was fatally injected with carbolic acid in the hospital of Dachau Concentration Camp. The hospital was notorious for medical experiments carried out on inmates.

The Carmelites warmly invite you to celebrate the Canonisation of St Titus Brandsma and mark the 80th anniversary of his martyrdom at Mass on 31 July 2022 in Sydney and Melbourne. Masses will be held at

10.00am Sunday 31 July at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 4 Bennett Street, Wentworthville, NSW 2145

10.30am Sunday 31 July at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 210 Richardson Street (cnr Wright St), Middle Park, VIC 3206

pdf Download the flyer for Wentworthville (706 KB)       |      pdf Download the flyer for Middle Park (928 KB)

Following his arrest in January 1942 Titus Brandsma was imprisoned at Scheveningen for 7 weeks. Later he would be taken to Amersfoort and Cleve before being transported to Dachau Concentration Camp in June 1942. In his next prisons, circumstances would not be so pleasant, but his days at Scheveningen may have been God’s blessing as a spiritual preparation for what was to come.

pdf Titus Brandsma: A Tale of Two Cells (4.91 MB)

Join Fr Roderick for this short video of highlights from the Canonisation Mass. Fr Roderick is the Parish Priest of one of the Titus Brandsma parishes in the Netherlands.

As a University Professor with a specialty in Philosophy, Titus Brandsma would have been acutely aware of the ideas and propaganda circulating in neighbouring Germany during the 1930’s. The Nazi party promoted a broad spectrum of basic principles which enshrined raw power and violence, especially at the expense of the weak. One can only rise to the top of a struggle by stepping on those inferior people below. In such a mindset, Christianity was ridiculed for its care and attention to the poor, sick, elderly, and handicapped.

pdf Titus Brandsma: Clash of Ideas (4.81 MB)

The 20th century was dominated by a series of crises, including 2 World Wars, the rise of National Socialism, wide-spread poverty and racial and religious discrimination. In this article, Sanny Bruijns, O.Carm., looks at how Titus Brandsma responded to the unfolding crises of his day, and how he faced his own personal crisis after his imprisonment in January 1942.

pdf Titus Brandsma: Responding to Crisis (151 KB)

As a philosopher, Titus was an ‘ideas man’. But truth for him was no mere idea. Truth was ultimately a reality, a person, Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6). Titus had been locked up, imprisoned, but the truth was setting him free. Truth was a person. It had a face which Titus had before him. The face of Christ. And, for Titus, the act of looking at the image of Jesus in his cell was not one-sided. It was based in friendship. It was a look that was returned, from the Beloved to the one loved, a gaze that travels back and forth in mutual understanding, support, and love.

Fr Simon Nolan, OCarm, unfolds 5 things about truth in the life and writings of St Titus Brandsma.

pdf Titus Brandsma teaches us about truth (276 KB)

During his homily at the Canonisation Mass, Pope Francis said, ‘We have turned holiness into an unattainable goal. We have separated it from everyday life, instead of looking for it and embracing it in our daily routines, in the dust of the streets, in the trials of real life and, in the words of Teresa of Avila to her Sisters, “among the pots and pans”.

Carmelite Communications has produced a limited edition set of 6 cards commemorating the Canonisation of St Titus Brandsma. You can order individual cards or the whole set. Suggested donation to help with costs: $2 per card or $10 per set, including postage. Order your cards today to avoid disappointment.

Our Lady held a special importance for Titus Brandsma throughout his life. As a young boy Titus became familiar with various Marian practices including the rosary which the Brandsma family prayed on a daily basis. This Marian devotion would last a lifetime for Titus who even in prison organised several rosaries for himself when his one was taken from him.

In addition, Titus became familiar with the idea that we find Jesus by going through Mary. With Mary as a mother and as a sister, he followed Jesus on his way to the heavenly father.

pdf Titus Brandsma: Mary, the Mother of God (6.42 MB)  

Join local celebrations in Australia and Timor-Leste for the Canonisation of Saint Titus Brandsma:

You can view and download our series of leaflets and prayer cards about Titus Brandsma by visiting our Titus Brandsma Resources page. When complete, the series of leaflets will cover 10 important aspects of St Titus' life and teaching. Our prayer cards and bookmarks celebrating the canonisation of St Titus will also be available to view and order.

Caroline Weijers, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Holy See, paid tribute to Titus Brandsma during an interview with Vatican News. The Ambassador spoke about the heroic witness of Fr Brandsma, whose example and legacy can continue to inspire people of all faiths. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Holy See has organized a conference looking at the role Titus Brandsma played in promoting human rights, freedom of the press, and giving the ultimate sacrifice of his life for these values. You can listen to the interview below (6:21 mins).

'The Cross for me is Joy' is the title of a letter by Carmelite Prior General, Fr Míċeál O’Neill, marking the Canonisation of Titus Brandsma. In the letter, Fr Míċeál draws attention to Brandsma's life and ministry as a witness to the truth, a Carmelite, a peace-maker, journalist, gentle person who shared with Jesus the journey to the Cross. 

pdf The Cross for me is Joy (15.08 MB)

Over two days, while in Scheveningen Prison, Titus Brandsma penned his moving prayer-poem, Before An Image of Jesus. In it Titus describes his loving friendship with Jesus, how his awareness of Jesus' love sparks a love deep inside himself and his desire to share everything with Jesus, even his suffering.

pdf Titus Brandsma: O Jesus, when I gaze on you (3.56 MB)

In this third lecture in the Titus Brandsma Series Fr Leopold Glueckert unfolds the social and political circumstances of Titus Brandsma's life, ministry, imprisonment and death. Brandsma was named 'the dangerous little friar' by the Gestapo for his lectures, articles and influence against the rise of National Socialism in Germany and Holland.

Watch the lecture here

Titus Brandsma was a truly contemplative person. During his life he remained deeply in touch with God and deeply in touch with his fellow human beings. Carmelites understand contemplation as an attitude of openness to God, whose presence we discover in all things. Contemplation can permeate every dimension of our lives.

pdf Titus Brandsma: Contemplative (4.17 MB)

Many of us experience God as hidden in ordinary things. This sense of the hidden God ran through Titus Brandsma's life. It helped sustain him especially in the brutality of the prisons and concentration camps. He felt God was always with him. He often sang the ancient hymn Adoro Te, Godhead here in hiding, partly to sustain his sense of God's presence and partly because of the joy he felt in knowing God was with him.

pdf Titus Brandsma: Adoro Te - Hidden God (4.40 MB)