Josef Mayr-Nusser was born to a poor yet devout farm family in Italy in 1920. His older brother entered the seminary, and Josef helped work the farm. In his early 20s, Josef joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Catholic Action, leading his local chapters of both by the time he was 27. As Europe entered World War II, he joined an underground anti-Nazi group, but toward the end of the war, he was conscripted by the Nazi army and forced to leave his wife and newborn son. He refused to take an oath to Hitler, objecting because his faith wouldn’t allow it. He was jailed and found guilty of treason. He died of dysentery on the way to be executed at the concentration camp at Dachau.
CHALLENGE
Blessed Josef Mayr-Nusser was asked to violate the 1st Commandment, but he couldn’t reconcile his faith with ideologies of evil, choosing instead to face the consequences with bravery. Once again we are challenged by a martyr to stand strong in our faith, paying the price but not counting the cost. When you are challenged to abandon your Catholic ethics and values, how will you respond?
Have you ever wondered: “How did society get so messed up?” Recipient of a Catholic Writer’s Guild 2022 Seal of Approval, Rebellion answers that question using fast-paced storytelling style, telling you the riveting true story of the war between good and evil that started in the Garden of Eden.
