February 04

Pierre de Bérulle (1575–1629) was a French priest and cardinal renowned for establishing the French school of spirituality, which emphasized interior devotion and the imitation of Christ. He founded the Oratory of Jesus, a congregation dedicated to priestly formation and pastoral care. A key figure in the Counter-Reformation, Bérulle engaged with French nobility and clergy to reform the Church. His writings, including 'Lives of the Saints' and numerous letters, shaped Catholic spirituality for centuries. Elevated to cardinal by Pope Urban VIII, he also served as France’s ambassador to the Holy See, blending religious leadership with diplomatic skill.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident. He taught theology at the University of Berlin and helped found an underground seminary at Finkenwalde. Bonhoeffer's writings, including 'The Cost of Discipleship' and 'Letters and Papers from Prison,' remain foundational texts in modern Christian ethics. He joined the German resistance and participated in plots to overthrow Hitler, demonstrating profound moral courage. Arrested in 1943, he was imprisoned in Tegel before being transferred to Flossenbürg concentration camp. In April 1945, he was executed weeks before the camp's liberation, leaving a powerful legacy of faith-driven social action.