Carmelite QuotesQuote of the day, 29 January: Saint Titus Brandsma
On Thursday morning, January 29, it was the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, gentle patron saint of journalists. I had cleaned my pipe and had lighted it for my morning walk when a German soldier entered with a new order. I had to hand over tobacco and cigars, pipe and matches. I was not allowed to smoke any more.
Luckily I happened to think of the mild Francis de Sales, otherwise, I might have said something unkind. I emptied my pipe and gave it up. The soldier said in pity that it was not his fault. I understood. To comfort me, he said that I could keep the other things—books, paper, and so on—which is very fortunate. They will profit me more, though I miss my pipe and cigar. I deleted “smoking” from the daily timetable and the day went on.
Saint Titus Brandsma
Letter from Scheveningen Prison
Saturday 31 January 1942
EWTN (n.d.) Last days of Titus Brandsma: Letters written in prison. Available at: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/last-days-of-titus–letters-written-in-prison-5607 (Accessed: 27 January 2026).
Featured image: “pijp en tabakszak van Titus Brandsma” (Titus Brandsma’s pipe and tobacco pouch) is a photo by the 23 dingen voor musea project. The saint’s pipe and tobacco pouch are from the collection of artifacts at the Dokkum Museum in Dokkum, Netherlands. Image credit: 23dingenvoormusea / Flickr (Some rights reserved)
