Thread by @michael_tarui

Today let us learn about Servant of God, Fr. Lukas Etlin, whose story I feel is perfect for starting my “Modern Saints” series! ❤️

#ModernSaints [Thread]:

Fr. Lukas Etlin was born in 1864 in Switzerland as Alfred Etlin.

He was known to be an excellent student. He also had an interest in the arts, enjoyed fishing, and maintained membership with the Sodality of the BVM.

Photo depicts his dad (left).

When Alfred was attending university, Benedictine monks from the USA came asking young men to join them in the US which was just newly formed.

His parents were hesitant, but eventually gave their blessing upon realizing this was truly their son’s vocation in life.

After a 19 day voyage, he would enter the USA. There he would develop as a priest a deep love for the Mass & the Eucharist, cultivate his crafts in art & architecture, & do many other considerable goods soon-to-be-mentioned.

Photo depict him prior to his voyage to the USA.

Following his ordination he took the name Lukas.

Fr. Lukas wanted to increase devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the saints amongst the laity.

He would encourage the Benedictine sisters he resided with to begin an apostolate of printing.

The apostolate was a success! They began to then work on a magazine and even some pamphlets. This is one of the many ways, in his priesthood, he incorporated his artistic skill & creativity with the faith.

These are two of the most popular and can be found for purchase online.

Following WWI, Fr. Lukas knew of the starvation many were struggling with in Europe, especially amongst the religious. He would campaign asking for donations and collected $24,907.50 total which were used to support various institutions in Europe.

Furthermore, because of the extreme poverty many faced following WWI, Fr. Lukas knew vocations were in crisis.

He began a campaign saying: “You, too, can have a priest in your family.” With this campaign 2,800 men were *adopted* and financed in their studies for priesthood.

Of these men, from what I can find, 3 became cardinals, 5 became archbishops, 11 bishops, 9 auxiliary bishops, and 14 abbots of religious orders.

What a beautiful display of Catholic generosity and unity Fr. Lukas helped organize by the grace of God! 🥺

On December 16, 1927, Fr. Lukas said to a group of girls at St. Joseph Academy: “We must at all times be ready to die. We should not wish to live even a single day longer than God wills. Should death overtake us in an automobile, also then we should accept it with resignation...”

Approximately 8 hours later, Fr. Lukas would pass on the side of a highway, a victim of an automobile accident.

His beatification was opened on August 13, 1960, but the process since has been inactive (from what I can tell). Prayers are sough to discern God’s will in this cause!

Still, Fr. Lukas’ life is an admirable one. One that I think speaks to us in the modern times as we face a crisis in vocations today in many areas of the West, a deep spiritual hunger/poverty, and with the arts often being used for the profane rather than to give glory to God.

Servant of God, Fr. Lukas, we ask that you pray for us that we too can spread in our lives a deeper devotion to God and for all that is holy.

We ask the Spirit in the particular way to help those discern your cause, but that whatever the case, your life be a model for all! 🙏🏼❤️

If you know any interesting tidbits about Fr. Lukas or anywhere online which has more to say about his story, please feel welcome to reply to the thread here!

If you have a #ModernSaint to suggest, kindly send me a DM! Thanks for reading! Let us answer the call to be Saints! ❤️