GHDI logo


Engelbert Krebs, "On the Meaning of Sacrifice" ["Vom Opfersinn"] (1914-1915)

Engelbert Krebs (1881-1950) was a Catholic theologian who wrote this sermon during the war. Protestants and Catholics alike subscribed to a “war theology,” providing a powerful representation of the war, which it framed in the light of divine will and German destiny. As a religious and ideological justification for self-sacrifice, Krebs praised the subordination of the individual to the communal good of the German nation. A fierce critic of anti-Semitism, he was eventually banned from his university post by the Nazis.

print version     return to document list previous document      next document

page 1 of 2


Yes, we were living in an age of “living life to the fullest.” Then came the war! And with terrible gravity, it pulled all of us into the school of decay and decline. With merciless power, it forced us all to recognize that if we do not wish to go to ruin mentally and internally, we must be ready to die for something higher than the individual, for the Fatherland, for our German way of life and customs. Those who praised an individual’s “living life to the fullest” as the highest goal were shown to be wrong. The seed must die to bring forth fruit – this lesson was once again acknowledged by everyone. And had it not been acknowledged, Germany would be destroyed today.

The lesson does not apply, however, only in wars among nations; rather, it applies as well in the life of each and everyone at all times. Our life must always be the service of war (Job 7, 1). For the urge to sin, which stems from original sin, and the whisperings of Satan who begrudges our going to heaven, must ceaselessly be overcome if we want to enter heaven. Only when the seed dies, can it bring forth fruit. Only if our selfishness disappears into the love of good, into obedience to God, can our moral and physical powers bring forth fruit.

[ . . . ]

O pious ones, it is a time of war, a bloody, grave, most difficult time. The nations are waging terrible battles to achieve a great, decisive victory. But sadly, all too often this war takes on a raw, unchristian form in the hearts of many. Many are filled with hatred and an unchristian thirst for revenge toward the nations with who we are at war. Then the admonishment of this, the month of the Sacred Heart comes at just the right moment – the admonishment to reflect on the sacrifice of the Sacred Heart, from which love was born, including love of our enemies. “I say unto thee: love thine enemies” (Matthew 5, 44). These words remain true, dearly beloved, even in time of war. Had Jesus not loved his enemies, we would be lost. For because of our sins, we were his enemies. But he loved us as if we were his friends, and he sacrificed his life for us. – Let us become simple in our thoughts, dearly beloved, even in this bloody time, and let us in the simplicity of our hearts make the sacrifice of loving our enemies too, because God desires it. To be sure, with an iron fist our army is turning back our enemies from the borders that they wickedly attacked. And the army is doing the right thing. But the hatred that many wish to foment in us at this time—we must not allow it to prevail, even if doing so requires sacrifices of us. In the depths of our hearts we must also love our enemies, and we must “pray for those who persecute us.” (Matthew 5, 44)

first page < previous   |   next > last page