The Founder of the Missionary Brothers of St. Francis of Assisi

Born into a prominent Jewish family on 29th June 1869 in Konigsberg, East Prussia, he was named Heymann Hermann Moritz. He received his Jewish and primary education in Konigsberg. With regard to his conversion to Catholicism there is hardly any traceable record. It could have taken place around his 16th or 17th year of life. We do not find much evidence of his early life. We find him as a youth in the historic city of Cologne where he became a close associate of the veteran Jesuit missionary to British India, the late Fr. Antonius Maria Bodewig. This missionary had a great dream to establish congregation of priests, brothers and sisters for the evangelization of INDIA. Captured by this vision of being a missionary, we see Bro. Paulus joining the company of his mentor Fr. Antonius Maria Bodewig.

The great longing of Bro. Paulus to see the Indian missions was fulfilled when he came for the first time to India as one of Fr. Bodewig’s first group of mission’s volunteers to the Diocese of Lahore in 1895. The unfavorable circumstances thwarted the purpose of this group upon their arrival in India. In 1896 – 97 India was struck by a famine caused by an acute failure of monsoon which made people suffer to the extreme. Meanwhile Bro. Paulus went back to Germany hoping to bring more volunteers from there. In November 1900 Bro. Paulus himself arrived in India and reached Nagpur with a group of young men and joined the brothers already working there. In January 1901 from Nagpur Bro. Paulus proceed to Lahore where he was vested with the Franciscan Habit of penance by Bishop Pelkmans. Bishop Pelkmans gave the canonical approbation to the congregation of the Brothers which had been working in the Diocese of Lahore until then as a private one, and got it raise to the level of a Diocesan congregation.

Bro. Paulus took the leading part in founding a Congregation and having it canonically erected by Bishop Crochet of Nagpur in 1901. He was appointed as the first Superior General of the Congregation of the “Missionary Brothers of St. Francis of Assisi.” He had a specific mission to be accomplished especially in India. He left his comfortable life in Germany and came to India, to share the Gospel and care for the poor, the sick and the less fortunate people. Bro. Paulus faced many hardships in his life. He had to face the inclement weather of India, famine, two world wars that devastated the Congregation, as well as many of the younger members of his fledgling community, dying suddenly of sickness. He and his early brothers lived in great poverty, and Bro. Paulus constantly prayed for God’s providence and care of the brothers and the people with whom they worked. Despite these difficulties, Bro. Paulus’ faith remained constant and strong. He knew that he and his mission were held in God’s loving hands and providence.

He worked tirelessly for the welfare of the Brothers and the missions. His famous dictum was: “As long as we look after the poor, God will look after us!” Bro. Paulus was a man with deep spiritual conviction and a man of prayer. He knew that only a deeply religious person could become a great missionary. His formation of the Brothers was patterned accordingly. If he had a weakness it was his soft heart for the poor. He influenced all his companions with love for the mission. For him no sacrifice was too great, no effort too much and simplicity was his code word. He insisted that the Brothers preach by their example of a simple life, that they live in fraternal love. Having started missions all over India, guiding the Brothers through many vicissitudes and storms for more than four decades Bro. Paulus relinquished the office as Superior General in 1941.

On November 19, 1942, Bro. Paulus left for his heavenly reward at the Mother House at Mount Poinsur, Mumbai (Bombay), surrounded by his brothers and his Saviour. To the last he professed his love for his Divine Master and encouraged his brothers to remain faithful to the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to be ever faithful children of the Church.

Rev. Bro. PAULUS MORITZ Pray for us…

In Christ dearly beloved Brothers,

Our Lord Jesus Christ has given me the grace that He calls me to eternal life not by a sudden, unexpected death, but I had time by a long wearing sickness to prepare for eternity and the surgical operation which may end my earthly life, may be the gate for a better life with all the Angels and Saints whom we have venerated as our Heavenly Patrons and Friends. So let us hope God Almighty will pardon me, through the blood of Jesus Christ, all my sins and failings, and Jesus, our Savior, having cleansed my soul, will come to fulfill the promises. He has given to those who believe in Him and trust in His mercy.

Like a family – father bids farewell to his children, my helpers and co-laborers in the vineyard of God in the missions. I ask pardon from all and each, if I have wronged or offended you and have not given always a good example and I ask your prayers for my poor soul if kept in purgatory. I thank you for all the good works you have done with me and for our Holy Church, and I am sure many of you will have merited a higher place in heavenly glory than I have attained by your greater generosity and love of God with which you have served God in the Religious Community and in the Mission-work. All I have to do now is to recommend you to remain in fraternal love and charity until the end of your life. Whatever may happen after my death, consider that I wish you to live in unity and in submission to your new Superiors, and let not the devil triumph, when tempting you to give up your holy intentions and Vows and Vocation.

As we hope that Almighty God allows His Elect in eternal life to pray, to plead and protect those they have left on earth, so may I hope I can be also useful in eternity to get you more graces for the glorious work in the Mission-field. Up to now you have unselfishly sacrifice your health and your life for the spreading of the holy Catholic Faith among the poor ignorant people of other faith in our Millions and endeavor to extend your activity year by year to further villages and territories until all India is converted to our Holy Church.

May our dear Lord Jesus hear this my last prayer to make useful members of the militant Church on earth and bring us later altogether at His heavenly banquet. Good-bye to all of you.

Yours affectionately in Christ.

Bro. Paulus Moritz C.M.S.F.