A COURAGEOUS BISHOP

Nazis Forced To Return Banners
From Our German Correspondent
Bishop von Galen, of Munster, in Westphalia, is known as a courageous and energetic man. His conflict with Rosenberg became famous all over Germany. His eloquent gesture in tearing to pieces, in the pulpit, a newspaper of the Hitler Youth which had published blasphemous articles made more impression than a long sermon.
Several times he has been threatened with arrest, but the Nazi authorities -have feared to attack a figure so widely known and loved.
The following story about the bishop at first seemed to savour of legends; but it has now been confirmed by the Vatican radio station.
Kevelaer, near the Dutch frontier, is one of Germany's most famous pilgrimage centres. More than 700,000 pilgrims come every year from all over Germany and the neighbouring countries to pray before the miraculous image of the Holy Virgin, "Consolatrix Afflictorum." Mgr. von Galen was to pay an official visit to Kevelaer, which belongs to his diocese. Large „crowds, of Catholics, especially members of Catholic Youth associations, were waiting on the station for the arrival of their bishop. The banners of the youth associations were there, but according to police ordinances were rolled up and covered. Only at the church door they were to be unrolled and displayed.
Suddenly a detachment of Nazi Storm Troopers invaded the station, burst through the crowd and confiscated the banners. A few minutes later the bishop arrived. He was immediately informed about what had happened. He at once took his pen, and informed the Nazi mayor that, should the banners not be given back within twenty minutes, he would take the miraculous image of Kevelaer with him to his residence in Munster.
One can imagine the conflict in the heart of the mayor: on one side his Nazi fanaticism, on the other the fact that almost the whole population of the little town earn their living in connection with the pilgrimages. The result could not be doubtful. The 'banners were immediately given back, and the bishop's entrance into Kevelaer became a triumph.