The new blog year starts surprisingly differently...

Avid readers of our blog already know him: Johannes Benedikt Köhler. The posts "Shalom, Johannes Benedikt!" and "Thank you, Johannes Benedikt!" are among the most read posts. They provide a little insight into the life of a young man seeking his way in the footsteps of Jesus. For those interested in details, there is a related link at the end of this blog post.

Before we finally get started with the actual guest post, here's an attempt to answer the question posed by the "blogozesen skeptics":

"Why do Christians continue blogging undauntedly in 2021?"

In his guest article, Johannes Benedikt Köhler quotes St. Francis of Assisi: proclaim the Gospel - „use words, if necessary“.

This mission of Francis of Assisi to his Friars Minor is a remarkable recommendation to all Christians. The Friends of Bethany also see themselves (in the spirit of this recommendation) above all as praying and working in the service of Infinite Love.

In the Internet age, however, this service also includes "digital witnessing".  Witnesses today cannot do without the usual digital formats (speech and image).

How to aptly use the word as an "emergency resource" in the digital environment is something you can now (finally!) learn from the first guest article by Johannes Benedikt Köhler.

"He came as a witness to bear witness to the light" (John 1:7) - A guest article by Johannes B. Köhler

When I was told for the first time - at that time as a seminarian in the seminary of Sankt Georgen - that I should give a "testimony of faith", the term was foreign to me. So far, I knew a testimony from school and witnesses from criminal proceedings, at best as witnesses to a marriage. In the meantime, I have learned that this is what English-speaking Christians often call a "testimonial". It is about standing up for a message with one’s whole person: To profess one’s faith publicly and to do so in a credible way, because you put yourself on the line for  what you proclaim. Pope St. Paul VI was probably right when he said: "The man of today  prefers to listen to witnesses rather than teachers." Proclamation only by word is not as
credible as that which is done by deed. St. Francis of Assisi already knew this when he  instructed his Friars Minor to proclaim the Gospel - "use words, if necessary".

The lives of certain priests also inspired me and probably made more of an impression on me  than their words, rather, it was their way of living the faith and their priesthood. I would like  to highlight and talk about two priests who have already passed away.

One is my home parish priest Artur Gläßer, who not only baptized me, but from whom I also  received the sacraments of Penance and the Most Holy Eucharist for the first time, and who  was also a good family friend. He was probably not the greatest preacher or academic  theologian, but an esteemed pastor. His quiet, dignified way of celebrating the Liturgy
appealed to everyone: children, young people, adults of all ages. His interaction with people  was humorous and respectful. He was able to enjoy life and fellowship because he was firm in  the faith that clearly sustained him throughout life: On the long road to the priesthood as a  priest called later in life, and also after his stroke, when he could hardly speak but could pray
the familiar prayers such as the Our Father or even the Magnificat. I believe that people  always felt that he was encountering them with the spirit of Jesus. At the same time, he lived a  deep, yet simple piety, which he did not put on display, but which was always perceptible and  was also shown in the fact that after his retirement he continued to take on priestly duties and  celebrated the Eucharist every day.

The second priestly figure who was impressive to me was the priest of my internship,  Franz-Josef Kremer. When at his Requiem Mass the president of the parish council quoted the  words of Psalm 69:10 "zeal for your house has consumed me" and emphasized with what  dedication Father Kremer lived for the people, he hit the nail on the head. He was a priest
who, for me, lived total dedication very convincingly, who really allowed himself to be taken into service - and who literally gave and offered himself for his pastoral work. I myself have  experienced how he still took care of unfinished administrative work at night - with coffee  and cigarettes at his desk - because he had taken time during the day for everyone who needed
something from him. At the same time, he was a culturally and theologically interested man  who obviously read a lot and for whom going to the theatre was a balance to his work.

Both priests were quite exemplary for me, because they lived decidedly differently - and at  the same time seemed happy and fulfilled. I believe they both really gave their service "for  God and the people". Both were convincing through their lifestyle, which was shaped by their priestly service. I think very much of the words of Paul Claudel: "Speak of Christ only when  you are asked. But live in such a way that you will be asked." I believe these priests lived in  such a way that they were asked, and they were "always ready to answer anyone who asks  you to give an account of the hope that fills you" (1 Pet 3:15). Many other priests, religious or  pastoral workers also live this way, unfortunately not all of them. What missionary power  would emanate from the Church if all the faithful, especially her priests, tried to be witnesses  with their whole life?

So much for the text of the guest contribution…

It closes with a sentence whose core statement corresponds exactly to what Claret de la  Touche formulates in a document from 1912. In the year 2021, this statement is obviously still  highly pertinent and would read as follows: "More than 2000 years ago, twelve men transformed the world; but they were not merely men, they were priests! Today, too, twelve priests could transform the world."

The Friends of Bethany say - as they have before - "Thank you, Johannes Benedikt!" Thank  you from the bottom of our hearts for this inspiring testimony.

And for all blog readers - as promised - here is the link to Johannes B. Köhler's website.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)