Editor's Note: The following letter and commentary are taken from Volume 1 of Letters of the Faith Through the Seasons, an anthology of letters written throughout the history of the church. Compiled, edited, abridged, and annotated by Jim Houston and organized according to the church calendar, the selections for December through May trace the unfolding of the Christian faith as it has been received, articulated, and handed down within the life of the church. 

Fränz Jägerstatter (1907–1943) was a devout Austrian Catholic who in personal isolation opposed the Nazis. He lived as "a relatively untutored man from a remote and isolated village," St. Radegund, 30 km from Hitler's own birthplace. But he mad it known that he would refuse to serve in the Nazi army, even when "religious friends" tried to dissuade him of his decision. Called to active duty in February 1943, he refused, was arrested, imprisoned, and after a military trial, was beheaded on August 9, 1943. He writes to his wife from prison on April 10, 1943.

Christ is risen—Alleluja! So the church rejoices today. And if we must also experience hard times today, we still should and can rejoice with the church regardless. For what is there more joyous than the fact that Christ has risen again and has gone before us as Victor over death and hell? What can give us, as Christians, greater comfort than the knowledge that we need never again fear death?

Dearest wife, you can easily imagine what these holy days have been like for me in prison, but with God it is possible to overcome everything. One should not always fix his thoughts on the things he cannot have at the moment. No matter how great our sufferings in this world might become, I believe the poor souls in purgatory would still change places with us in an instant. That is why we help them as much as we can. . . . 

I am, I think, always a child of luck. On Holy Thursday morning I asked again about going to church on Easter-but, again, it was not approved for me. Instead, however, I was promised a visit from a priest who arrived that same afternoon. And thus I was able to fulfill my Easter duty even here, for the priest had brought the Blessed Sacrament along. On Friday, then, others asked again for the priest and, as a result, I was able to receive Holy Communion once more on Saturday morning. . . .

One week passes after another; the important thing is that we do not let a single day go by in vain without putting it to good use for eternity . . . This Easter day is also slowly coming to an end. How many more will go by before another peaceful Easter Sunday will be ours? It is good that man cannot see into the future. This way we can take each day just as God sends it to us. 

Scripture Meditation

If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . . But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.
—1 Corinthians 15:14, 20

Thought for the Day

This day reinterprets human history and indeed my own life.

Prayer

Lord, you have passed over into new life, and you now invite us to Passover also. In these past days we have grieved at your sufferings and mourned at your death. . . . Now at Easter you reveal to us that we have died to sin, passing over to your risen life.
—Bernard of Clairvaux