Transcription
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Life of FatherRichard Henle, S. V. D.Missionary in ChinaASSASSINATED NOVEMBERFromREV.the1,1897German ofGEORGE M. STENZ,S. V. D.By Euzabeth Ruf1915Mission PressS.\'. D.,Techny,Illinois
5x:xidNIHIL OBSTATHugo Aubry, S.V.D,Libr. Cens.Techny,m. Februarii 191III., die 2.IMPRIMATURf Jacobus E. QuigleyArchiepiscopus ChicagtensisChicago, III., die6.m. Februarii 1915
LIFEOF FATHERRICHARD HENLE,S.V.D,
IntroductionOn the night of the 1st to the 2nd of November,1897, the Fathers Francis Nies and RichardHenle were murdered in a little hamlet of Chinaby heathen Chinese, The horrible massacre andespecially its cruelty called forth at that time theindignation of the entire Christian world. Notalone Catholic but also non-Catholic newspapersand journals reported the violent death of the twomissionaries.I was to share the same lot and only by analtogether special dispensation of Divine Providence I escaped. However, I had the happinessof receiving the last look of my never-to-be-forgotten friend Father Henle, a look which I shallalways remember, so full of heavenly joy and loveand so full of indescribable pain. Father Nies,who died in my place, was apparently dead, atleast I could not discover any flicker of life whenI came to him.It naturally devolved on me towrite the life of the two assassinated missionaries,in particular that of Father Henle, who was thenmy superior and at the same time my best friend.Together we shared for a number of years thejoys and sorrows of mission life and passed somehappy hours of cherished memory in the silentsolitude of a small Christian mission station; Iknew him better than any one else could knowhim. Even in this introduction I wish to acknowledge that I have always regarded, honored andloved Father Henle as a saintly man.To him,the friend. I dedicate this little book.
Life of Father Richard H&nle, S. 7. D.10also take this opportunity to thank all thoseassisted me in this work by furnishingme letters of the beloved dead, or other useful maBesides the letters to his parents andterial.relatives I have made use of the documents of thearchives of the mission house at Steyl, and different periodicals, especially those issued at Steyl.Iwho have
Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.Chapter11IFather Henle s ChildhoodALONELY little hamlet in the beautiful land ofHohenzollern is the home of Father Henle. Hewas born on the 21 of July, 1865, in Stetten, nearHaigerloch. His parents, still living, are honest,simple people, but they endeavored to give theironly child a conscientious and thorough educaHis father, a respected citizen of his hometion.town, formerly was a shoemaker, but later on wasemployed at the Stetten salt mines. His mother,"Mother of Mercy," as she was surnamed in theplace, is known throughout the entire neighborhood for her charitableness towards the sick andthe poor. The family was not poor, but neitherdid they possess great wealth.Father Henle's days of childhood in the midstof this small pious family, under the care ofhis good parents, were extremely happy and healways remembered them with great joy. In alittle sketch of his "life," necessary for the purpose of his entry into the mission house, he himself gives a description of the same in a fewshort words."At the age of five," he writes, "my mother sentme daily to assist at Mass, a practice which fromthen on I adhered to with great regularity, andnearly always attended the Rosary devotion onSaturdays. My teacher at school was fairly wellsatisfied with my studies, arithmetic excepted,which was somewhat difficult for me; therefore
12Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.again to grasp it, ISit one time being unablepromised to lay aside ten pennies every monthup to my fourteenth year, from my small salaryas Mass server, for the poor heathen children,and from then on I improved considerably in thisline of study. In my twelfth year I made my firstHoly Communion and promised then to receivethe sacraments every four or five weeks, a promAt confirmaise which I have faithfully kept.tion, which took place last summer, I earnestlyprayed to God for the gifts of the Holy Ghost,and again my prayers were heard, for the progress in my work, which at times cost me sometrouble, was remarkable. Companions I had butone; at last I left him also, making the promiseinstead, to pray a litany every Sunday in thechapel on the cemetery for the poor souls; thisI observed even on the coldest Sundays of thiswinter. I preferred to spend my time of recreationin the midst of little children. From my boyhoodcherished the desire to become a priest. AndI observed the students who spent theirvacation with us, at Mass, I always noticed thatthose whose studies were directed by ecclesiasticswere by far more devout and assisted at Masswith more reverence than those who studied atother colleges. I therefore urged my parents toAt lastplace me also somewhere with priests.I remembered that ''Uncle Ludwig," the publisherof the ''Guardian Angel," had written somethingabout a certain mission house and accordinglywrote him for information; and now it is certainly not without the direction of God, that Ihave come to you, Rev. Father, and thereforeearnestly pray, not to refuse to me the entry intoyour house. I will promise you. Rev. Father, toconscientiously all that thefulfill exactly andhouse will require of me, and so prove myself aIwhen
Life of Father Richard Heiile, S, V. D.13worthy pupil of the same." His pastor and histeacher of that time testify to the truth of thisbeautiful and childlike description of his innocent character manifested in these few lines.Father Henle had the great happiness ofpossessing a good mother. With the utmost careshe conducted the education of her only child.Stetten, near Haigerloch, Birthplace of Father HenleShe knew how to bring up her son in innocenceand purity and to plant into his pure heart a lovefor God and his neighbor. Having heard at onetime in a sermon given to the Christian Mothers'Society, how many a careless mother would beshocked at hearing what her child of only nineor ten years had to confess, and, 'Therefore," shesaid later on to a friend, " I put Richard, my onlychild, into a separate bedroom at an age of notquite three years. If at times he was inclined tobe afraid, I reassured him by simply saying:
14Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.*You are not alone, Richard, your guardian angelis watching over you,' at which he was at onceIt is self-evident that wesatisfied and quiet.also avoid everything else which could provedangerous to the purity of heart of our child.For the same reason I have tried to keep Richardwith me as much as possible that he might nothear, from so-called precocious children, thingswhich might prove destructive to the child's heart.And when I was compelled to permit Richard toplay with a companion now and then, it was onlywith the child of a friend, of whom I knew thatshe also had taken to heart the words of thepastor and reared her son with the same care,so that Richard was safe in his company."With what great care this simple woman raised her child is also made evident by the followingThe grandmother as well as she herself were inthe habit ofmaking adaily visit to the BlessedSacrament in the near-by church, taking the childwith them at nearly every visit, in order "to haveThey well knew that theit blessed by Jesus."Divine Friend of children dwelled within thetabernacle, the same who at one time gatheredthe children about Himself to bless them. Herein his earliest childhood, before the tabernacle,Richard learned to love and honor God so ardently; here his innocent heart was enkindled withthat glowing love for his neighbor which distinguished him later on, which led him to Chinaand a glorious martyrdom.Prayer therefore had become a habit withthe child in his earliest boyhood. Beginning withhis fifth year he attended Mass daily, certainlya most praiseworthy thing in a child so young.And Sunday afternoons, unlike other boys, whospent them in open air playing and rejoicing, hewas wont to go out to the quiet cemetery even in
Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.15the coldest weather to pray in the beautiful chapelfor the repose of the departed. His greatest pleasure was, which is also confirmed by his pastor,to spend his time of recreation in the company ofyounger children, conversing with them in a childlike, pious manner about Jesus, teaching themOften he wouldto pray or sing sacred songs.lead the little band into church before the altarand recite the little prayers with them which hehimself had learned from his mother and grand-mother.But with all this the boy was very much likeother children: he had a cheerful and lively disposition, and understood well to impart his gaycheerfulness also to others.As the only child, he was somewhat in dangerof being pampered and spoiled. But whoever isacquainted with the energetic character of hismother, knows well that this danger was notvery great for him. Her method was ratheralmost severe.Richard, for instance, was never given anysweets in his childhood, never sugar in his coffee.When his parents, for the purpose of giving somepleasure to the child, wished to bring somethinghome with them from an occasional business trip,it would be some fruit, or if this was wanting, asmall wheaten bread from the bakery. And tostrict,train him to moderation his mother would sometimes repeat these words to the child "Child, everypenny we possess is earned by the sweat of yourfather." His father worked in the boiling houseof the salt mines and therefore had to work hardfor his bread. These words always affected thechild deeply and he never complained about themeals.Only on one occasion, when his motherwas sick and his father had to take her place as"Father is a bettercook, Richard remarked::
Mother of Father Henle
Father of Father Henle
Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.18cook than mother." His father was more generousthan his mother in distributing the food.To avoid squandering his father's money, forwhich he had to toil so hard, ''needlessly," as hethought, he always preferred not to stop at aninn, even when they were outside of their village.He would assure his mother that he was not inneed of anything and could wait until their return home, where he could then refresh himselfwith bread and milk. We see, the lessons of hismother had taken root in the heart of the child.At the table at home Richard occupied a placefrom whence he might easily observe all that wasgoing on out on the street. But his parents having forbidden him to look out of the windowduring meal times for the purpose of traininghim to mortification Richard willingly obeyed——his parents.Itwas by no means avarice or a naturalin-clination for strictness which caused his parentsto treat their only child with such rigor."Good,charitable Mother Henle," sharing her dailybread with the poor, and so joyfully supportingthe sick, was not addicted to these faults. It wasrather to teach the child the practice of economyand mortification, two virtues helpful to everyone in daily life. For the future missionary theymissionary without a loveare indispensable.for sacrifices and privations, without love for thepoor, is not imaginable. Also in his later life Father Henle practiced these two virtues in a mostAheroic manner.Mother Henle had also heard in the ChristianMothers' Society that parents should distributetheir alms through the hands of their little onesto accustom them to compassion and charity.Richard therefore was charged to perform thisact of love towards the poor who came to the
Life of Father Richard Henle, S.V. D.19house or to others who were to be supported intheir homes.Moreover, his mother thereby satisfied one ofmost ardent desires. Often he would imploreher to give him some milk or the like to take itto the poor.In his letter he related of the tenpennies which he laid aside from his -small salaryas Mass server to bring to his pastor for theheathen children. Frequently he would help oldor weak people to push their cart or carry theirbags of grass and leaves and assist others wherever opportunity offered itself.hisFather Henle was also trained to work andlabor in his youth. He related to me that on hisreturn from school in the afternoon he alwaysfound a note, next to his piece of bread and cupof milk, stating where to find his mother or whatwork to perform until her return home. In thisway he learned to perform, through his mother,all house and farm work.He was able to cookand to bake, to dig and to plow, yes, even toknit and to sew. He also learned weaving whena student.This practical education stood themissionary in good stead.Butin spite of this great severity the childw ell that his parents loved him tenderly and that he was as dear to his mother as theapple of her eye. In return for all this he cherished until his death such a love and gratitudeknew verytowards his old parents as is rarely to be found.Again and again he would speak of his ''goodmother" and his "good father" he wrote to themwhenever time and circumstances would permit;him to do so, concealing from them all sad newsthat he might not grieve them and it always wasa day of joy when he received a few lines fromhis parents.
20Life of Father Richard Henle, S, V. D.Moreover, it was not alone strictness appliedby the mother in raising her child. Now andthen Richard, as a reward for his good behavior,was permitted to accompany her on a pilgrimageto Weggenthal near Rottenburg or to Mt. Calvaryat Hechingen, and great was his joy when thetrain arrived ''without horses" and when it seemed to him as if, while speeding along, they carriedeverything with them, houses and trees, fieldsand meadows, hills and valleys.The kind reader may think from all he hasheard so far: Father Henle was ''a born saint,"he was not like others, it therefore was not veryhard for him to practice virtue.But no. Father Henle was like the rest of us,and with his cheerful lively character was exposed to many dangers. But his parents guarded him well and this was indeed a great blessingfor him.One day being reprimanded by his mother, thespirit of youth was also aroused inhim, and boldly placing himself before his mother,rebellioushe asked"But, mother, are you always in theright?" But the answer came prompt, and in away to warn the lad not to repeat the questiona second time, and it had the effect that fromthenceforth her commands were observed even:more punctually.On another occasion he brought home a leatherstrap from a harness. But alas, his father triedthe strap on the back of the little rogue and thensent the boy away at once to place the "foundobject" where he had taken it. From that timeon Richard never touched anything anymore ofwhich he was not quite sure that it was his own.He also longed for a little sister to play with,but since God did not send him any he resolvedto help himself.One day playing out on the
22Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.street with other children,girl,amongst them alittlehe quickly induced her to come with himAt hometo be his little sister for the future.they played for a short time until the "little sister" became tired and sleepy, whereupon he tookher and laid her in his own little bed and watchedfaithfully at her side. At the return of his motherhe joyfully ran to meet her exclaiming "Mother,now I have a little sister, come and see her.''can imagine the surprise of the mother, but this:Wetime she could not be angry with Richard. Howsorry he was when his mother took his sleeping"little sister" and carried her back to her parents.
Life of Fattier Kicliard Henle, S. V.D.Chapter23IIAt CollegeRichard wishedbecome a priest.to study—At theand his desire wastorequest of his parentsand began toappeared as if his studieswould prove difficult to him, but his unrelentingdiligence and tenacious perseverance made up forthe seeming lack of talents, which later revealedthemselves more and more and made him one ofthe best students and most prominent missionaries and linguists of the mission.his pastor complied with his wishesinstruct him.Atfirst itIn the year 1879 Richard read a small articlein the "Guardian Angel" about the mission houseat Steyl. With this was an illustration representing a missionary preaching to the heathens. Inspeaking about this to me later on, he said: "Ifound myself peculiarly struck by this notice andsoon was determined to become a missionary also."A vocation in life is often indicated in earlychildhood by the wishes and inclination of thechildren.Asa child of three years Richard and hismother walked out on thefield one day and ascended a small elevation. For a long while thelittle lad gazed over the charming valleys and highmountains, when suddenly turning to his mother,he said:''Mother, when I am big I will erecta post on this place and then wander far, far out
:24Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.into the world." And when his mother, surprisedat the words of the little one, asked for the pur''Whenpose the post should serve, he answeredI come to this post again I know that I am athome." The longing desire to wander into distant lands even then manifested itself in the:—youthful heart of the future missionary.After having read the above mentioned noticethe ''Guardian Angel" Richard without theknowledge of his parents wrote to the editor ofthis children's magazine, "Uncle Ludwig," thefollowing letterin"I left school last fall, but now receive twohours special instruction daily of our dear Rev.Pastor. We hope to reach the fifth class by nextyear.But I cannot say how it will turn out;my good mother fears our means will be insufficient to defray the expenses.I earnestly beseech you, dear Uncle, to pray very much for methat God may give me grace to discern my vocation, and for my parents that they may notlose their trust in God concerning this matter.And if all should fail, dear Uncle, I will cometo you to Donauwoerth; you will then providefor my admission in the house, where boys areinstructed and educated who wish to become missionaries. Whatever I am lacking in talents, voloper diligentiam sarcire (I will make up by diligence).I always look forward to the "Guardian Angel" and never put it aside without reading it."This letter Uncle Ludwig sent to the superiorof the mission house in Steyl and shortly afterthis the little student received a letter fromthere, stating the conditions required of a mission pupil.
:Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.Now25Richard could not conceal his plan toany longer and after much reflectingand praying they decided to consecrate their onlyhis parentsHis father betookchild to the service of God.himself at once to the Rev. Pastor and askedhim to write to Steyl regarding Richard's admission.But not at once did the conscientious pastorconsent to the wishes of his pupil he rather puthim to a trial first and called his attention to thegreat sacrifices and hardships, of mission life.But finding Richard firm in his res- lution hewrote at last to the mission house for his admis;sion.The testimonials forwarded for Richard bythe zealous and conscientious pastor on this occasion and also later on at the time of his admission deserve to be recorded here."AsIn a letter dated May 10, 1880, we reada preliminary description of Richard Henle'scharacter I beg leave to report the following:July 21, the boy will complete his fifteenthTogether with another boy I have sinc last June given him instructions in Latin andHe will finish the Latin grammar byGreek.October, 1880. At present we are reading Cornelius Nepos.In Greek he is up to the VerbaContracta.Since it was contemplated and respectively taken in view to place him in a ''gymnasium" in Wuerttemberg he has not started withany lessons in French as yet, since this is not taken up until the fifth class. Regarding your courseof studies, I beg your Reverence to inform mewhether I should take up studies in French withhim this summer, so that he may enter the fourthRegarding his character, he is unselfishclass.ness personified and just as generous. With thegreatest conscientiousness his mother has guard-year.
Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V.26edDhim the last three years to keep him undeand she has succeeded. Richard loves to prayfiledand has a deeplyreligious, innocent disposition,almost too tender. He is very lively and his appearance is healthy. But the sentimental qualities of his soul are more fully developed than theintellectual. On the other hand, the results of theabove mentioned studies evidently show that hehas sufficient talents otherwise his is a practicalbend of mind. The following may seem peculiar.He has formed a resolution never to associatewith older companions to avoid every occasion ofbeing spoiled. One of his chief reasons why hewishes to enter the mission house, is, as he confided to some one, that he felt certain he wouldnot be spoiled in such an institution. One thingis clear to me now which for a long time seemedFrom his twelfth year on, wheninexplicable.busy around the house on week days, he gathersAlsoa number of smaller boys about himself.on Sunday afternoons he is always surroundedby a smaller or larger band which he then entertains or leads to the cemetery or some otherThis would seem to point to his laterplace.His mothactivity among the heathen children.er's sister, a nun, died in the year 1871, at Koesfeld, in the service of typhoid-stricken soldiers.May these few remarks. Rev. Father, dispose youfavorably towards the request of the boy andgrant his permission to join you.;MostOn Junewroterespectfully,1st of theKuno Schmid,Pastor."same year Father Schmid''Richard Henle, son of UlrichHenle, resident of this village, has as long ashe attended primary school, truly distinguishedhimself by his great purity of manners. He iseiitirely free of the rudeness to which boys atagain:
:Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.this age usually are addicted.stance, the so-called swearing,Some27sins, for in-him witha certain horror. The daily attendance at Massand the frequent reception of the sacraments isa matter of course with him. He conscientiouslyavoids the company of bad and rough boys. Hisdisposition, tender to a fault, is inclined to theBeing the only child, itgreatest compassion.might easily be supposed that Richard, after allwas spoiled to some extent, but I have no positivereasons to justify this opinion; on the contrary,I believe he is entirely free of pride, presumption, contempt of others, self-conceit and similarfaults usually found with mother's pet. Finally,I wish to remark that Richard was the only boyin school who for many years has paid h 10pennies regularly each month for the Holy Childhood."havefilledThese testimonials secured Richard's admission into the mission house and soon the newsreached Stetten. For his parents it was a greatsacrifice,but Richard was overjoyed and he wroteat once to the Father Rector in Steyl as follows''My heart urges me to write to you and toBut I cannot find words enough toYou have helped me toexpress my gratitude.obtain this great happiness. Almighty God, Whoarranges all things well, will reward you, Rev.Father, if not here then surely in heaven, for allthe kindness (he speaks of the tuition of whichthe missi' n house had almost completely relievedthem) extended to my parents and to me. I willpray daily that God may give you health and along life and eternal happiness in heaven. I havenothing to offer you. Rev. Father, but my goodwishes, but these come from the depth of mythank you.heart."
Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.28October 8, 1880, was the appointed timefor his arrival in Steyl and his father accompaniedhim thither. At the examination which took place the nextday Richard was placed in the fourth class andsucceeded by his diligence to advance a classevery year. Moreover, his talents developed verynicely so that at last Richard was considered oneof the best in the class.In the mission house the noble qualities of hisheart also developed in a most eminent manner.Whoever came in contact with him could nothelp loving and respecting him. Enemies he hadnone, and such with whom he could not agreewere unknown to him."One thing particularly striking and edifyingin the departed Father Henle as a pupil in Steyl,"says one of his fellow students, Father Giese, "washis exceedingly reverential demeanor at prayer.His head was slightly inclined, his body in a boltupright position and motionless during the wholetime of prayer." Others also bear witness to this.With his fine talents he combined perseveringdiligence, which urged him to use his years of studyto the best advantage.He was mild in judginghis fellow students, which was striking considering his own correctness. Great was his love fororder regarding his clothes, books and his room.In general his intercourse with others was modestand reserved in speech.The mission housein Steyl wasfounded in the yearby the first Superior General of the Society of theDivine Word, Father Arnold Janssen.The tiny seed de 1875veloped in the course of time into a mission society with twohouses in America:St. Mary's Mission House at Techny,Illinois,and the Sacred Heart]\IissionHouseatGirard,Pennsylvania, for the training and education of missionaries.
O V3 CO
Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.30During the last years of study his zeal forwork in the missions was very great. Despitehis delicate health and other seemingly existingimpediments regarding himself he trusted inDivine Providence that he would be sent to themissions without any special efforts on his part.His Prefect at that time, Father Wegener, inthespeaking of him, expresses himself thus:"Ifound in him at all times a good pupil, ever conscious of his high aim and earnestly striving tobecome a pious 'and zealous priest and missionary.The noble inclinations of his heart and mindenabled him to advance equally from day to dayin virtue and knowledge. As a student he distinguished himself especially by his piety it wasmost edifying to observe him at prayer by hiskind and obliging manners in his intercourse withhis fellow students, by his modest and respectfulbehavior towards his superiors to whom, in spiteof his lively disposition, he never gave cause for——any seriousreproof.''myself remember well what a favorable impression Father Henle as a novice made upon meat my entry into the mission house, by his friendly, cheerful, yet earnest and sedate manners, withhis ideal features, bespeaking kindness and meekness, and with his large, keen eyes, which madehim so popular later on amongst the Christiansand heathens of China. This was the ideal mission candidate as I had pictured him to myselfbefore my entry into the mission house.But the vocation of the zealous mission candidate was almost put to question shortly beforehis admission to Holy Orders by a malignant illness. He began to suffer daily several times fromviolent nose bleeding, which wasted his strengthHis face and hands were almost transentirely.parent and consumption seemed inevitable. ToI
:,Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V.D.31recover his health his superiors sent him home,but here he did not tarry long, for he realizedthere was no help for him there. And yet thegreat aim of his life was at stake. With the permission of his superiors he therefore went toCologne to be treated by a famous specialist inThe bridge of his noseSt. Vincent's Hospital.being deformed inwardly, pressed upon the bloodvessels, thereby causing the violent bleeding. Thismade an operation necessary, which was successfully performed by the physician by sawingaway the bony parts on the left side of the bridgeof his nose. The bleeding from this time on ceasedentirely.For Richard this time of suffering was a hardand serious trial. For his calling as a missionaryat stake.As long as he was sick he couldnot hope to have his most ardent desire fulfilled.He was therefore overcome by serious doubts ofhis vocation.Should he remain in the Society,even if the ideal which he had always aimed atcould not be attained, or should he serve God as asecular priest?Finally the doctor solved hisdoubts by declaring that mission life would evenbe favorable to his health.He always left a good impression in his homevillage during his sojourn there, at the time ofwashis vacation.Every two or three years (now every year)the mission candidates are permitted to visittheir relatives, and Richard, like perhaps no other,looked forward with the greatest joy to thia vacation.In Stetten and wherever he came, heedified allby his good example.His pastor, atthat time Rev. K. Schmid, wrote to Steyl in 1885"During his stay here at the time of his vacationhe edified all the faithful by his humility anddeep piety." On one occasion, on the feast of St.
32Life of Father Richard Henle, S. V. D.Ann,Richard,crowded, anddownfinding St. Ann'sbeingunabletoChurch overenter,kneltopen air close to the wall of thechurch and prayed with such wonderful recollection and fervor as to attract the attention ofmany. It was then that he inspired a boy within thethe idea to consecrate himself to the missions,who is now actually engaged in the field afar.In the meantime, during Richard's stay inCologne, his fellow students took their first vowsin Steyl. It grieved him deeply that he could notjoin them and he wrote to the Master of Novices,Father Eikenbrock: **It is no small matter tome to remain behind when seemingly so near thegoal, to miss my studies, to remain here aloneand to cause such great expenses for my parents.But my missionary vocation demands it, andtherefore I make the sacrifices, and the more Ihave to make, the high
LifeofFather RichardHenle,S.V.D. MissionaryinChina ASSASSINATEDNOVEMBER 1,1897 FromtheGermanof REV.GEORGEM.STENZ
