A short biography

Werenfried van Straaten was born on January 17, 1913, in Mijdrecht, near Amsterdam, Holland. A teacher’s son, he began studying classical philology at the University of Utrecht, in 1932, before entering the Norbertine Abbey of Tongerlo in Belgium.

Following a bout of tuberculosis, it was feared that he might not be up to the rigours of pastoral or missionary work, but he was nevertheless allowed to remain at the abbey, working as the Abbot’s secretary. As such, he was also responsible for editing the abbey newsletter "Toren" (Tower).

It was at Christmas 1947 that Werenfried wrote an article entitled "Peace on Earth? No Room at the Inn". The article contained a vibrant appeal for help for the 14 million homeless Germans, expelled from the Eastern territories, 6 million of whom were Catholics. The response of the Flemish was beyond all expectations and marked the beginning of “Ostpriesterhilfe” (Help for Eastern Priests).

In those post-war years, the country folk in Flanders were more likely to have reserves of pork in the house than money. So Father Werenfried started collecting food to at least ease the hunger of the refugees. He collected so much that he was soon nicknamed the “Bacon Priest”.

The sickly young novice of 1934 had turned into a brilliant organizer, powerful public speaker and highly successful popular missionary, never tiring of begging to support his life’s work. To the point that since the end of the 1940s, his biography and the history of the charity are one and the same.

Let us recall a few highlights, such as the creation of The Mirror, which is now published in seven languages with a print run of 700,000, and the books “They Call Me the Bacon Priest” and “Where God Weeps”. Let us also mention his encounters with famous representatives of the suffering Church, Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary, Mother Teresa in “The House of the Dying” in Calcutta, and numerous other people in Africa, South America and Asia.

In line with his appeal for reconciliation with the “enemies of yesterday”, back in 1947, he undertook in 1992 an effort to aid the Orthodox sister Church and promote better relations with these estranged brethren. He has been preaching since to help overcome the schism in the Church that has lasted between East and West since 1054. Little wonder that, against the doctor’s advice, he made a point of accompanying the Holy Father to Ukraine a few months ago.

Father Werenfried handed over the helm of the charity to his collaborators when his health failed him, but he never left. To his very last days, he wrote in the Mirror whenever his declining forces allowed him.

Fr. Werenfried died January 31st, 2003.

Only two weeks before, friends, relatives and ACN representives had celebrated his 90th birthday. As presents, he was offered hats to highlight his constant begging for God with his old “hat of millions” and a piglet to remind everybody how it all started, more than 50 years ago.

Goodbye, dear Bacon Priest!

Photo: Andrzej Polec

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