DietrichBonhoeffer
BiographyTimeline: February4,1906,born,alongwithhistwinsister,Sabine,inBreslau,Germany,twooftheeight childrenofKarlBonhoefferandPaula(vonHase)Bonhoeffer; 1912,familymovestoBerlin,wherefatherteaches neurologyandpsychiatryandheadsUniversityHospital,beingGermany=sleadingempiricalpsychologist; 1919, announceshehasdecidedtobecomeatheologian; March15,1921,confirmedatGrunewaldChurch,Berlin;growsup incomfortablebourgeoiscircumstances; 1924-1927,writeshisdissertation, ASanctorumCommunio,@attheUniversity ofBerlin,andawardedhisdoctoratewithhonorsattheageof21; 1928,servesasvicarofaGermanLutheran congregationinBarcelona; July1930, AActandBeing,@hisqualifyingthesisallowinghimtoteachattheUniversityof Berlin,accepted; 1930-1931,spendspostgraduateyearatUnionTheologicalSeminaryinNewYork(includingregular workatAbyssinianBaptistChurchinHarlem); 1931,appointedyouthsecretaryoftheWorldAllianceforPromoting InternationalFriendshipthroughtheChurches; August1931,assumespostasalecturerintheologyattheUniversity ofBerlinin; November1931,ordainedatSt.MatthiasChurch,Berlin; 1931-1932,presentslectureslaterpublishedas CreationandFall; January30,1933,AdolfHitlerbecomesReichChancellor; February1,1933,Bonhoeffer=sradiotalk AChangesintheConceptoftheLeaderPrinciple@ iscutoffairbeforecompletion; 1933,givesfinallecturecoursesat Berlin--laterpublishedas ChristtheCenter; September7,1933,collaborateswithMartinNiemoellertoorganizethe Pastors= EmergencyLeague,agroupof2000LutheranpastorsopposedtothecontrolofthestatechurchbytheNazis, beforeassumingthepastorateoftheGermanEvangelicalChurch,Sydenham,andtheReformedChurchofSt.Paulin London; 1934,becomesmemberoftheUniversalChristianCouncilforLifeandWork; May1934, ConfessingChurch organizedatBarmen,Germany; 1935,assumesleadershipoftheConfessingChurch'sclandestineseminaryat ZingsthofbytheBalticSea--aschoolrelocatedlaterthatyeartoFinkenwaldeinPomerania; August1-5,1936,preaches atOlympicVillage,andthereafterauthorizationtoteachonUniversityofBerlinfacultyiswithdrawn; October,1937, FinckenwaldeSeminaryclosedbyGestapo; February1938,beginsparticipationinAbwehrresistancecirclewiththe taskofbeingacourieranddiplomattotheBritishgovernmentonbehalfoftheresistance; 1940-1943,inbetweenhis activitiesfortheresistance,staysatEttal(BenedictinemonasteryoutsideofMunich)asheworksonabook,whatwill becomeEthics; January17,1943,becomesengagedtoMariavonWedemeyer; spring1943,attemptstohelpgroup ofJewsescapetoSwitzerland; April5,1943,arrestedandimprisoned; July20,1944,assassinationattemptonHitler=s lifefails; October8,1944,transferredtocellarofGestapoprisoninPrinzAlbrechtStrasse;February5,1945, transferredtoBuchenwaldconcentrationcamp; April3,1945,movedtoRegensberg; April5,1945,movedto Schonborg; April8,1945,transportedtoFlossenburgandcourt-martialed; April9,1945,isexecutedbyhanging,on Himmler=sorders,inFlossenbürgconcentrationcamp;burialplaceultimatelyunknown; April30,1945,Hitler commitssuicideintheFührerbunker,beneaththeReichChancellerybuildingsinBerlin,effectivelyendingWorld WarIIontheEuropeanfront; July27,1945,memorialservicesforBonhoefferheldatHolyTrinityChurch,London, England,aftertheencouragementofBishopofChichester; April9,1946,memorialserviceheldinBerlin;memorial erectedinDorotheenstadtcemetery,Berlin; 1951, firstGermaneditionofprisonletterswrittenduringfinaltwoyears ofhislife,collected/editedbyhisstudentandfriend,EberhardBethge,publishedas WiderstandundErgebung (meaning ResistanceandSubmission); 1953,firstEnglisheditionofprisonletterspublishedas PrisonerforGod and lateras LettersandPapersfromPrison; 1973,InternationalBonhoefferSociety-EnglishLanguageSectionfounded; 2015,TheBonhoefferCenterwebsitebegins.
BornatwinonFebruary4,1906,inBreslau,Germany,thesecondofeight childrenofKarlBonhoefferandPaula(vonHase)Bonhoeffer,DietrichBonhoeffer wouldbecomeoneofthemostadmiredChristianstheworldhaseverseen.(1)Though hegrewupincomfortablebourgeoiscircumstances,andthoughhisprecociousintellect
mighthavepropelledhimtowardanenviableacademiccareer,Bonhoefferfoundthe greatestvocationalfulfillmentandthebroadestexpressionofhispersonalfaithinthe midstofresistingtheevilofNazism.
Afterattaininghisdoctorateintheologyattheageof21,Bonhoefferspentthree yearsasaLutheranvicarinBarcelona.Thenheenjoyedapostgraduateyearabroadat UnionTheologicalSeminaryinNewYork,includingworkattheAbyssinianBaptist ChurchinHarlem.Lateron,BonhoefferwasinvitedtobecomepartoftheUnionfaculty.
Thoughheappreciatedtheopportunity,hecouldnotforsakethecalltocomehomeas GermanydescendedintotheinsanityofAdolfHitler=sreign.
BackinGermany,thedayafterAdolfHitlerbecameReichChancellor, Bonhoeffer=sradiotalk AChangesintheConceptoftheLeaderPrinciple@wassilencedbefore itscompletion.WithMartinNiemoellerheorganizedthePastors'EmergencyLeague,a groupof2000LutheranpastorsopposedtothecontrolofthechurchbytheNazis.
BonhoefferthenhelpedtoorganizetheConfessingChurchatBarmen,Germany, andassumedleadershipoftheConfessingChurch=sclandestineseminary.Forthree years,hewasamemberofAbwehr,agroupofconspiratorswhichostensiblygathered intelligenceforGermanauthoritiesbutwhichalsoservedastheorganizingcenterof anti-HitlerplotsandplannedseveralassassinationattemptsonHitler.Becauseofhis involvementinAbwherandhisattempttohelpagroupofJewsescapetoSwitzerland, hewasarrestedandimprisonedbytheGestapo.Afterenduringtwoyearsinprison, includingseparationfromhisfiancéeandastintattheBuchenwaldconcentrationcamp, heawaitedhisdeathwithequanimityandpeace.Hewasexecutedamerethreeweeks beforeHitlercommittedsuicideandtheNazissurrendered.
Thoughhediedameretwomonthsandfourdaysbeyondhis39th birthday, DietrichBonhoefferbecameinhismartyrdomoneofmodernity=smostprofound theologiansandoneoftheworld=smostcourageouswitnessesforgood.
BecauseofBonhoeffer,certaincatchphrasesandwatchwordshavecomeinto immensepopularityinChristiancircles.
AAworldcomeofage@ ishowBonhoefferdescribedthecomplexitiesoftheworld, includingradicalevil,tobefacedbyoneandallin20thcentury.(2)
AWhenChristcallsaman,hebidshimcomeanddie@ ishowBonhoeffer describedthecalloffaithandtheriskofconversion,adeathtooldwaysoflivinglife whenwedidnothavetheneedsofourneighborsandtheexampleofJesusofNazareth aspremierguidanceforouractions.(3)
Inhisintellectualpursuits,inhispreaching,andinhispersonalactions, Bonhoefferwarnedagainst Acheapgrace,@ urginginsteadthatthereisalwaysa Acostly discipleship@ involvedinfollowingaftertheexampleofJesusofNazareth.(4)
Tothestudentsinhis Aundergroundseminary@ andtotheuntoldreadersofhis bookonthePsalms,heshowedclearlyandpersuasivelythat AThePsalmsareJesus= Prayerbook.@(5)
Forcountlessundergraduateandgraduatestudents,Bonhoeffer=sbooks, particularly Ethics and TheCostofDiscipleship,arerequiredreading.Fornumberless religiousseekersofallfaiths,otherofBonhoeffer=sbooks principally Lettersand PapersfromPrison, LifeTogether, ThePsalms continuetobefountsofinspirationand challenge.
Manyhavelamented Awhatmighthavebeen@ intheworldoftheology,in ecumenicalrelations,fortheChurchasawholeworldwide,andforinter-religious dialogue hadBonhoeffer=sexecutionbeendelayedbeyondthetimeofHitler=ssuicide andthusavoided.
Inadditiontobeingatheologian,aseminaryprofessor,acaringfiancé,adevoted friend,andapartnerintheconspiracytoassassinateHitler,Bonhoefferwasapersonof prayer.Heregardedprayerasultimatelypersonal,alwaystingedwithintimate connections,thewayachild=slifeisboundtoaparent.Prayer bothindividuallyon behalfofothersandtogetherwithotherbelievers wasultimatelywhatBonhoeffer believedconnectedhimwithinthehumancommunity: AY intercessionisthemost promisingwaytoreachourneighbours,andcorporateprayer,offeredinthenameof Christ,thepurestformoffellowship.@(6)
Bonhoefferheldthat,forChristians,prayerismadepossiblebyJesusChrist, whoseresurrectedlifeisamediationbetweentheChristianandGod.Jesus=sinstructions andexemplaryprayerforhisfirstdisciplesshowallsubsequentfollowershowto pray.(7)
InthethroesofhisimprisonmentbytheNazis,hewouldclingtoprayerasthe sourceforhisownenduring.(8)
Bonhoeffer=slastrecordedwords,rightafterpreachinghislastsermonandjustas theexecutionerscameforhimonApril8,1945,arethesubstanceoffaithitself: AThisis theend...formethebeginningoflife.@(9)Theycanalsobeunderstoodasasublime prayer.
Bonhoefferbelievedthatbysteepingoneselfinprayerandmeditationonemore fullybecomesabearerofGod=sWord.HebelievedinprayingthePsalmsspecificallyfor severalreasons:(a)ThePsalmsreflectlifeinallofitsfullnessandcomplexities,allofits exhilaratingjoysanddisappointingdefeats.(b)ThePsalmsareimportantbecauseJesus prayedthePsalms.(c)ThePsalmsaretobeprayedsowecanbegintounderstandhow toprayinthenameofJesusChrist.(10)
APetitionforOthers
Bonhoeffer=sPrayerforFellow-Prisoners (composedforChristmas1943,atsuggestionofTegelprisonchaplain,HaraldPoelchau)
OGod,earlyinthemorningIcrytothee. Helpmetopray Andtoconcentratemythoughtsonthee; Icannotdothisalone.
Inmethereisdarkness, Butwiththeethereislight; Iamlonely,butthouleavestmenot; Iamfeebleinheart,butwiththeethereishelp; Iamrestless,butwiththeethereispatience; Idonotunderstandthyways, Butthouknowestthewayforme.
LordJesusChrist, Thouwerestpoor andindistress,acaptiveandforsakenasIam. Thouknowestallman=stroubles; Thouabidestwithme whenallmenfailme; Thourememberestandseekestme; ItisthywillthatIshouldknowthee andturntothee.
Lord,Ihearthycallandfollow; Dothouhelpme.(11)
AQuestoftheSelf
AWHOAMI?@ ....WhoamI?Thisortheother?
AmIonepersontodayandtomorrowanother? AmIbothatonce?Ahypocritebeforeothers, andbeforemyselfacontemptiblywoebegoneweakling? Orissomethingwithinmestilllikeabeatenarmy, fleeingindisorderfromvictoryalreadyachieved?
WhoamI?Theymockme,theselonelyquestionsofmine? WhoeverIam,thouknowest,OGod,Iamthine. (12)
PrayingwithDietrichBonhoeffer:SuggestionsforUse
Day1Praytodayforwisdomandsteadfastnessasyoucarefullyandhonestlyconsider the Aworldcomeofage@ inwhichyoudwell.SeekGod=sguidanceabouthowyou willengagewiththeworld,especiallywithotherpersons,inwaysthatwill faithfullycontributetohealingandwholeness.
Day2Praytodayaschild,consideringGodasanultimateparentalinfluenceanda listeningear,someonewho,likeaparent,willneverforsakeyou.Reflectonyour deepdependencyonGodforyourverybreathandthegeophysicalforcesthat makelifeonearthevenpossible.GivethankstoGodforlovingyoudeepand eternally.
Day3Letyouprayerstodaybemeditative,asyoufocusonhowGodmaybecalling youto Adie@ toold,ineffectivewaysoflifeandfaith.Allowthethemesofyour meditationbetheneedsofyourneighborsandJesus= exemplarywaysofrelating withothers.
Day4Letyourprayersbeinfusedtodaywiththethemeofthanksgivingasyouoffer yourgratitudeforthe Acostlygrace@ ofGod=slove.
Day5PicktwoorthreeofpsalmsfromthebookofThePsalmsasprayersforrecitation today.RememberthatBonhoefferregardedThePsalmsas AThePrayerbookof Jesus.@
Day6PrayinhonorofDietrichBonhoeffertoday.Offerprayersofsolidarityforthose sufferingpersecution social,cultural,political.Prayparticularlyforthepoor andthosewithoutanysphereofinfluence.
Day7PraytodaybyrecitingBonhoeffer=s AAQuestoftheSelf.@PonderBonhoeffer=s plaintivequestion, AOrissomethingwithinmestilllikeabeatenarmy,/fleeingin disorderfromvictoryalreadyachieved?@ Thenofferyouraffirmationthat, whoeveryouare,you,liketherestofthefamilyofhumanity,areGod=s.
NOTES
(1)ForafulltellingofBonhoeffer=slifeseeEberhardBethge, DietrichBonhoeffer:ABiography (Minneapolis,Minnesota:Fortress,2000);seealsoFerdinandSchlingensiepen, DietrichBonhoeffer 1906-1945:Martyr,Thinker,ManofResistance (NewYork:T&TClark,2010) andCharlesMarsh, Strange Glory:ALifeofDietrichBonhoeffer (NewYork:VintageBooks,2014).
(2)DietrichBonhoeffer, LettersandPapersfromPrison (London:SCM,1971),p.326.
(3)DietrichBonhoeffer, TheCostofDiscipleship (NewYork:Touchstoneedition,1995),p.89.
(4)Ibid,p.43.
(5)SeeDietrichBonhoeffer, Psalms:ThePrayerBookoftheBible (Minneapolis:Augsburg,1970.)
(6)Bonhoeffer, CostofDiscipleship,p.98.
(7)Ibid.,pp.59and95.
(8)Bonhoeffer, LettersandPapersfromPrison,pp.379,392..
(9)Bethge, DietrichBonhoeffer:ABiography,p.927.
(10)Bonhoeffer, ThePsalms,p.13.
(11)Bonhoeffer, LettersandPapersfromPrison,pp.139-140;seealsoJ.MartinBaileyandDouglas Gilbert, TheStepsofBonhoeffer:APictorialAlbum (Philadelphia,Pennsylvania:UnitedChurchPress, 1969).
(12)Bonhoeffer, LettersandPapersfromPrison,p.348.
FORFURTHERREADING,STUDY,ANDREFLECTION
J.MartinBaileyandDouglasGilbert, TheStepsofBonhoeffer:APictorialAlbum (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:UnitedChurchPress,1969)
EberhardBethge, DietrichBonhoeffer:ManofVision,ManofCourage (NewYork:Harper&Row,1970)
EberhardBethge, DietrichBonhoeffer:ABiography (Minneapolis,Minnesota:Fortress,2000)
DietrichBonhoeffer, TheCostofDiscipleship (NewYork:Touchstoneedition,1995)
DietrichBonhoeffer, LettersandPapersfromPrison (London:SCM,1971)
DietrichBonhoeffer, Psalms:ThePrayerBookoftheBible (Minneapolis:Augsburg,1970)
CharlesMarsh, StrangeGlory:ALifeofDietrichBonhoeffer (NewYork:VintageBooks,2014)