(This was the homily delivered during the Eucharist at St. Martin's Church in Berlare, Belgium, on August 10, 2025, in commemoration of the martyrdom of Father Amand Heirman, CICM. The homily was shared by Mr. Harry De Paepe, a historian and member of the liturgical team. Rev. Maarten Pijnakker presided over the Eucharist.)
Introduction to the Celebration of the Holy Mass
Our presence here gives us a sense of our connection with Father Amand Heirman, who died 125 years ago on August 13 at his mission post in Mongolia. It is important that we are here together to express our faith in the God of Life. By human standards, death has brutally triumphed, but Christians believe that death does not have the last word. In this faith, the burning Easter candle is a symbol, and we are here together in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Homily
Dear fellow parishioners,
Today, we commemorate the martyrdom of Father Amand Heirman from Berlare. He died on August 13, 1900, together with his confrere Father Jan Mallet. The liturgical working group of our parish has compiled a brochure that outlines the life and work of Father Heirman. It also tells about the context in which the priest was killed, together with a total of eight other priests of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Scheut. It briefly tells you about the Opium Wars and the Boxer Rebellion in the Chinese Empire. You can obtain this brochure today. We ask only for a voluntary contribution in return.
We took the initiative to commemorate the martyrdom of Father Heirman because he was a remarkable figure. And, of course, because he was one of us. One of 'us'. The many relatives in our Church today are testimony to that.
St. Paul addressed us in the first reading: 'Through faith Abraham obeyed God's call (...) He left without knowing where he was going (...) In faith they all died (...)'
Yesterday, a distant relative of Father Amandus Heirman brought a collection of personal letters to our Church, written by the priest to his family. They are on display at the altar of Mary. The family member spoke of the enthusiasm that shines through the letters. Father Heirman wrote that his family should not be sad about his departure to an unknown and distant land. He was filled with his calling, inspired by a fire that we, modern Christians in comfortable Berlare, may no longer know or recognize. His conviction may make us blush, not because of what he believed, but because of our own poverty of faith. The letters are currently being studied further by the family member, so I have not yet had the good fortune to discover their contents in full.
You will notice that Father Maarten and our sacristan Noël are dressed in red today. Red is a special color in Catholic liturgy. It adorns our churches on the feast of Pentecost, Palm Sunday, at Confirmation, and when martyrs of the Church are commemorated. Red does not represent shame, but the fire of the Holy Spirit, the fervent love of God, and the ultimate sacrifice that martyrs made out of enthusiasm for their faith.
Sixteen years ago, Cyriel De Bruyne, chairman of the Berlaarse Heemkundige Kring (Berlaarse Local History Society), translated the letters of a contemporary and confrere of Father Heirman: Father Frans Van Den Abbeele, also from Berlare. These letters paint a picture of the fervent conviction with which the missionaries of Scheut accepted their mission in the Far East. Father Van Den Abbeele wrote: 'It is enjoyable.' And that about a country with which Flemish farmers' sons had no connection whatsoever. Days of loneliness, temperatures as low as -35°C on the Mongolian plains, and sometimes forced to sleep outside in the open. Another contemporary and missionary, Monsignor Bermijn, testified to this in another text: 'That's no small thing. You wrap yourself tightly in your skin garment, tie a sheet around your feet, put a large cap on your head, and hum like music. In the morning, your beard is full of ice cones, like a thatched roof. Then you make a good fire from cow dung, which you have prepared the day before, you warm yourself, your beard thaws, you drink hot tea, and you are refreshed for the journey.'
In 1898, Father Heirman wrote in an official report to the Order of Scheut: 'A sudden rain shower forced me to take refuge in a pagan inn. No sooner had I sat down than a crowd of curious people poured in. Tired, I felt little desire to speak, but after a few cups of tea, I regained my strength. It would be a shame to let such a fine opportunity pass to send these poor people a few words of salvation. He mentions that Europeans were considered 'barbarians and fools'. But after a long conversation about faith, he wrote proudly: 'The good people agreed with me on everything (...) They declared themselves willing to build a church immediately if I promised to return soon to teach them further.' The reports of the Scheutists show how deeply the faith immediately took root among these new Eastern Christians. Amandus Heirman, a farmer's son from Berlare, must have been a man of fiery conviction.
On August 4, 1900, he wrote to his Order: "We are still alive, but every day we prepare ourselves for death, especially now that the civil administration has decided to expel all Europeans." The priests found themselves caught up in the violent resistance against the European presence in China during the infamous Boxer Rebellion. As mentioned, you can read more about this in the brochure we are offering today.
Not long after writing this, Father Heirman and his confrere Father Mallet received an invitation to visit the court of Ning-iuen, three hours' walk from Mallet's mission post. The most important government official in their region, the Grand Mandarin of the Blue City, wanted to speak to them. Some claim that they were told that a sick person needed to be ministered to. Under military escort, they left their post, seated on a simple wooden cart. On August 13, 1900, they arrived in the Blue City. Before they reached the palace of the Grand Mandarin, Boxers surrounded their cart. They were murdered in cold blood.
"They died in faith."
The Holy Gospel teaches us today: "Watch therefore, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Father Heirman and his confrere were surprised by death, but they were prepared for it, according to the letters of Father Van Den Abbeele. As Cyriel De Bruyne noted in his analysis of those texts: “These men certainly did not lack a sense of adventure, but they were undoubtedly driven by a firm belief in their reward after death. “
Thus, Berlare has its own martyr.
More than a hundred years ago, Rome opened a file for the beatification of Father Heirman, along with eight other Scheut missionaries who were brutally murdered during the Boxer Rebellion. For the time being, nothing further has been said about this.
The Holy Gospel says: "Keep your loins girded and your lamps burning. Be like men who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding, so that when he comes, he may open the door to them immediately."
For our parish, it is indisputable: the Lord has long since opened the door for Father Heirman.
Amen.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, full of goodness, show us your love.
Let your heart burn with love for Jesus and for us.
Lead us on the paths of goodness, and help us to follow your example.
Amen.
