Saint Alexander Schmorell is Glorified

Saint Alexander Schmorell was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia over the weekend. Born in Russia in 1917 and baptized in the Orthodox Church his family fled to Germany to escape the Bolshevik Revolution.  He remained deeply religious throughout his short life.  A gifted artist St. Alexander was a medical student when he was recalled to military service in support of the Nazi invasion of the USSR.  While serving as a combat medic on the Eastern Front he was horrified by the treatment of enemy prisoners of war and civilians.  In 1942 he returned to his medical studies in Munich where he helped organize the "White Rose" society dedicated to resisting Hitler and the Nazi regime.  In due course he and the other members of the resistance were arrested by the Gestapo.  Following a kangaroo court trial St. Alexander Schmorell was executed on July 23rd (NS) 1943 at the main prison in Munich.

Holy St. Alexander Schmorell pray for us!