He will return with his immense heart, with his heart of fire, his poor man's soul
and his smile. He will return! And the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph!

FATHER JOSEPH KRÉMER (2)

MISSIONARY OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

On 20 June 1939, Sister Lucy wrote to Fr. Aparicio in order to warn him about imminent danger: « Our Lady promised to delay the scourge of war, if this devotion was propagated and practised. We see that She will obtain remission of this chastisement to the extent that efforts are made to propagate this devotion; but I fear that we cannot do any more than we are doing and that God, being displeased, will pull back the arm of His mercy and let the world be ravaged by this chastisement which will be unlike any other in the past, horrible, horrible. » It suffices to read the life of Fr. Krémer (He is Risen special issue, August-September 2006) in order to assess to what extent the prophecy of Sister Lucy was fulfilled from 1939 to 1945. Joseph Krémer then became one of the victims of this chastisement. He submitted himself to it with the sole desire of doing only God’s will.

He was included among these souls whom God cherishes and about whom Sister Lucy wrote to Fr. Gonçalves on 18 August 1940: « In the state that the world is in now, what the Good God wants are souls who, united with Him, will pray and sacrifice themselves. » This is what Fr. Krémer did to perfection: « I kept my courage thanks to my Faith. The Good God was with me! I prayed much; I prayed all day. During my duty hours, I recited my Rosary endlessly. I was in great inner peace and joyful for being united unceasingly to Jesus and Mary. »

He thus endured the sufferings of this war in all its “horror”. The truthful account of the time in combat that this Alsatian who was conscripted into the German army withstood on the Russian front, bears witness to this. But Our Lady does not let Herself be outdone in generosity. After having described the hell of his captivity in Brest-Litovsk, he confesses:

« On the other hand, my soul remained in peace. I can say that I was living totally abandoned in the hands of God. I was never tempted to curse Him. I was very happy; I do not know how to explain it… It was a time of grace that I have never regretted, even if it was horrible. My heart was full of joy. Harassment, lashes, all that hardly touched me, so to speak. The body suffers, but the soul exults. My spiritual life, I believe, reached a very high level even though for a full year I did not have the opportunity of receiving the sacraments. I prayed ceaselessly; during that war I experienced how true the Gospel is when it says that, in each circumstance of life, God is present, and now I know that He is there even more in the time of trials. »

It is good for us to know this for the “trial” that is coming…

At least he escaped from the hell of the “liberation”. When he related to us the episode of his return from captivity, Fr. Krémer did not want to dwell on the “sorting” that the French police had carried out among his companions. His moments of silence revealed all too well what distinguished France during the period called the liberation. It is miraculous that, being an Alsatian conscripted into the German army, he had not been troubled. More than ever, he remains marked by a mysterious protection, like Daniel in the lions’ den.

All the while the prophecy of Our Lady of Fatima was in the process of being fulfilled: since the consecration of Russia had not been done, this nation continued to spread her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecutions against the Church. They would overtake Fr. Krémer… in Cameroon! And pursue him to Reunion Island. This is what remains for us to see after having observed how this holy priest sanctified his missions with the ordinary means of the Church, in Cameroon, on Mauritius and on Reunion Island, not without the assistance of his devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and his adherence to the work of the Catholic Counter-Reformation!

III. TOWARDS THE CROSS OF ROUGH-HEWN TRUNKS

THE ORATORY IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA

In September 1995, Fr. Krémer consecrated all his energies to building an oratory in honour of Our Lady of Fatima at Beaumont, in the “Heights” of the parish at an altitude of seven hundred metres. By dominating the north-east coast of the island, Fr. Krémer thus wanted the Blessed Virgin to protect the whole island and his parish in particular. The land, which the Burel family had donated, had to be prepared with concrete bases because the slope at this place is very steep. Mme Burel initiated the project, and Fr. Krémer took pleasure in nicknaming her “Maria Carreira”, the name of that heroic woman of great common sense who first believed in the apparitions of Our Lady, shortly after 13 Mai 1917.

He had purchased life-size statues of Our Lady of Fatima, the three seers and a few sheep during his last pilgrimage to Fatima.

« The solemn inauguration took place on 13 October 1995, relates Sr. Marie-Gertrude, on the 78^th anniversary of the miracle of the sun, in union with the pilgrims of Fatima who at the same time were attending High Mass at the Cova da Iria in Portugal. The parishioners came in large numbers: we were about two hundred persons. Given the narrowness of the esplanade, it was difficult for us all to find room there. We greatly overflowed out onto the small winding road!

« We struck up the Ave Maria of Fatima composed of verses that Fr. Krémer had adapted to La Ressource. He then delivered a little homily to persuade us that the presence of Our Lady of Fatima here would draw down on us great graces on the condition that we satisfy the demands that he made it his duty to recall. After reading Chapter 8 of the Book of Proverbs, he conducted the blessing of the sculpted group; we sang the glorious mysteries of the Rosary and we consecrated ourselves with him to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We ended with a rousing Magnificat in thanksgiving. Now, to our great surprise, at a time when the sky was a bright blue, rain started to fall for a good five minutes. Nevertheless, no one got wet, and a magnificent rainbow soon enveloped us. This little sign, which had been a notable feature of 13 October 1917 at the Cova da Iria, was renewed before our eyes. Fr. Krémer was deeply moved, seeing therein the response of our good Heavenly Mother to our humble consecration to Her Immaculate Heart. »

Immediatly, as in the past at the Cova da Iria, Hell broke loose.

« Five days later, Fr. Krémer relates, during the night of 18 to 19 October, the oratory was profaned and wrecked. The individual who did this, who was well known to all as a man who was truly possessed, was unable to throw the Virgin to the ground, even though he had climbed onto the pedestal, and merely contented himself with besmearing Her face. Then he descended from the pedestal and attacked the statue of Jacinta, tearing off her folded and innocent hands. He struck it with a stick and mutilated its face. After this criminal act, he stamped on the sheep and broke off their hooves. All the other statues were covered with mud. Mme Burel cried her eyes out. »

Consternation was great among the parishioners, who came in large numbers to make an act of reparation. The cost for restoring the statues was high. Mgr Aubry came himself to perform an exorcism, but in secret, for fear of being accused of superstition.

This oratory was the pride of Fr. Krémer. As soon as he had a serious concern weighing on him or an important decision to make, he went up there to pray to Our Lady at length. His poor health and, even more, the growing apostasy, whose ravages he could see even in his parish, overwhelmed him more and more.

The third part of the Secret of Fatima was not yet revealed in 1995, but Fr. Krémer entered from that time into the long procession that was climbing a steep mountain, following the « Bishop dressed in White », according to the vision of the “Third Secret”: « Several other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, were climbing a steep mountain at the top of which there was a large Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with its bark. »

Is not this abrupt height, protected by this oratory that was dominated itself by a large cross its perfect representation? Fr. Krémer had the intuition that he would have to climb Calvary and offer his life in sacrifice for the souls of La Ressource.

TRINITARIAN THEOPHANY

Still desiring to console even more our dearest Heavenly Father by strengthening in his parish devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, he wanted to represent in his church the vision of Tuy following the model of our Maison Saint-Joseph. This transformation would at the same time allow him to move his armchair, which was then placed in front of the Tabernacle – which he judged improper – and build an altar against the wall beneath the representation of the vision.

Our Father was unable to refuse Fr. Krémer the statue of the Eternal Father that he so greatly coveted: « I need that for La Ressource! » he said to him. Our Father even gave him good advice on how to present this sculpture to his parishioners. And Brother Henry went to work!

When this project was announced, a campaign of defamation was launched against the parish priest of La Ressource. The bishop of the island received an open letter in which Fr. Krémer was accused of being an integrist and hostile to the Second Vatican Council. This letter, which was full of calumnies (and spelling mistakes), was distributed in the form of tracts before being published in the island’s newspaper.

Fr. Krémer wrote to Brother Scubilion:

« Never would I have imagined that the enemy could have such hatred towards Our Lady of Fatima, Her message of Tuy, the Most Holy Trinity. You have no idea of the storm that my projects, although inoffensive and salutary, have raised not only in La Ressource, but on the whole island, thanks to the papers. As for the bishop, he laid the blame on me and simply abandoned me in the storm. I wrote to him three times, but he only telephoned me to condemn me.

« Humanly speaking, my situation is scarcely bright, but fortunately I know that God wants what I am doing. »

« God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart », Our Lady said to Lucy.

« On the other hand, what gives me great support is that the whole parish is behind me, apart from an exception whom you know. I have had numerous letters and especially very numerous phone calls, always to congratulate me and encourage me to realise my project. It is therefore no longer a question of backtracking and grovelling before the enemy. We will remain faithful to our Faith in the existence of the Most Holy Trinity and the authentic message of Fatima.

« Dear Brother Henry may therefore continue his work. We will do things as you have suggested recently. Here, we are joyful and we await the sculpture with impatience. We await it as a mother awaits her baby asking herself: how will he be? We all love it, and the church well be ready to welcome it. » (Letter of 8 January 1996)

The Devil, who was furious at being put in check, seemed to fly into a rage in the same way in La Ressource. A freemason from the parish then wanted to force Fr. Krémer to do away with ringing the bells. He first addressed his request by means of a polite letter, then used insults and death threats over the phone. The mayor got involved. Mgr Aubry did not support Fr. Krémer, since he ordered him to ring the bells at the hours that suited the freemason! Fr. Krémer refused to ring the bells only « for the glory of man ». He therefore silenced the bells…

He endured all these persecutions in union with the Crucified Jesus, pardoning all the insults, saying: “I prefer to take the blows rather than to upset anyone.” He only raised his voice when the honour of Our Lord and Our Lady was at stake.

In the month of May 1996, the work in the church was finished, and Fr. Krémer conducted the solemn blessing of the choir.

Of course, he carefully followed the evolution of the situation of our Father and the community, offering all his prayers and sacrifices for this intention. When he received the CRC that announced that the Bishop of Troyes had exiled our Father, his grief was very intense. On 20 September 1996, he wrote to Brother Scubilion:

« How can a bishop set himself in this way against so humble a priest, one who has never had anything else in view other than the glory of God and the good of the poor souls who are so abandoned today? I am perhaps not a great theologian, but I still have a little good sense and I must say that in all that I have read and heard from Father de Nantes, I have never been shocked. Instead, I always found so much truth, clarity, comfort, peace and joy that all my life has become serene and confident.

« As far as I am concerned, be assured that I am wholeheartedly with you all. Stand firm, for it is not possible that evil prevail definitively, even if, from now until the year 2000, we must still experience ever greater persecutions and sufferings. »

With great fervour, he united himself with our memorable pilgrimage to Fatima on 13 October 1996, which our Father had been barred from leading. He wrote to us that day:

« My good and dear friends,

« I am just back from Beaumont. What a marvellous ceremony we had! Two busloads of strangers were there besides the parishioners of La Ressource. It was teeming with people, and you could have heard a pin drop so recollected this crowd was. The sky was slightly overcast but very pleasant, neither hot nor cold. Hymns and prayers were executed with perfection. I could not stop myself from thinking of communicating vessels: you at Fatima (it must have been 11 o’clock) and we at Beaumont (3 o’clock in the afternoon). For it is undeniable that we form a complete communion. Our Lady of Fatima must have been very happy. Oh! may She triumph at last: may She bring the good Father de Nantes back to Saint-Parres; may She drive the devils from the Church; may She grant us to practice our Catholic religion. »

In 1998, he came to metropolitan France, at a time when was very weakened physically. He was frightened by the de-Christianisation of France. It was difficult to get a precise idea of its extent from La Ressource. Every journey back provoked a shock.

EUCHARISTIC TRIPTYCH

Back in La Ressource, Fr. Krémer thought of realising a project that he had nurtured for some time.

To the left of the vision of Tuy he had painted the loca of the Cabeço where the apparitions of the Angel to Lucy, Francisco and Jacinta took place, while to the right he had represented the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima.

The work was completed at the beginning of 1999. A good part of his homilies for the First Saturdays of the month were consecrated to explaining it.

Triptych in the church of La Ressource. On the right is a copy of the Gobelins works tapestry that decorated the reredos of the high altar of the old Jesuit church that was destroyed in 1962. It is presently kept in a museum in St. Denis.

The celebration of the First Saturdays of the month were his only consolation, for he could pour out his feelings on what he had most at heart: the reparatory devotion to the Immaculate Heart. He said that it was necessary to seek to console the Blessed Virgin rather than to obtain the reward promised by Her to those who would practice this devotion.

LAST YEARS AT LA RESSOURCE

As a shepherd full of solicitude for his flock, he untiringly continued his ordinary parish ministry, sustained by the hope of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: « Our conversion and that of the world can only be a gratuitous miracle of Divine Mercy. » (Letter of 14 September 1999)

On 13 October 1999 he experienced a bitter disappointment:

« I was expecting somewhat that Mary would appear a seventh time as She had announced in 1917. But She did not come… Is it because She awaits another date to do so? When? In any case, having promised to do so, She will keep her word. As for us, poor sinners of La Ressource, we did our best under continual rain. Hidden under our umbrellas, we meditated on the Rosary, sang with all our heart and listened to the account of 13 October. At the end, after a one-hour vigil, we distributed paper handkerchiefs for the farewell hymn: between three and four hundred approximately. It was moving and marvellous at the same time to see all these handkerchiefs raised up from the umbrellas at each refrain.

« In actual fact, no one was disappointed yet we had the impression that Mary was weeping with us. This day, which should have been triumphal, was not. It was as though Mary was at this moment unable to smile, undoubtedly because She was heartbroken, undoubtedly because She does not approve of what is happening everywhere in our times. Even here, on Reunion Island, we are in a maelstrom. We resemble the Hebrew people at the foot of Mount Sinai dancing and adoring the golden calf. Here, as elsewhere I think, they do not cease to persuade us that as the Jubilee approaches, all is going very well. The Church is on the move, and the Spirit (?) blows in all religions. When we see the gatherings of Catholics on television, either at Saint-Leu (Our Lady of La Salette), at Tampon or at Rivière-des-Pluies opposite the bishop and clergy, always dressed in fire-red, crying “alleluia” and “bravo, bravo, bravo” accompanied by clapping with guitars… one feels like crying.

« From morning to evening I must swim against the tide, and this is why I am hated by almost everyone. Even parishioners abandon me, finding me severe and of another age. Yes, we have wept. » (Letter of 18 October 1999)

His attachment to our Father and the community allowed him to hold out and to live totally abandoned in the hands of the Good God.

« Fortunately, we all have Father de Nantes to guide us, especially in these times of apostasy. It is frightening what can be heard today in churches (…). It seems that at this time they seek to demolish Christ’s resurrection. It would not have been “biological”, as they say now. For us, this hardly moves us, for our faith is solid. But let us think a little of the others, of those who did not go often to catechism and rarely to Mass. What are they going to absorb and retain? They are lost by the fault of these apostate priests. »

« Then we understand the reaction of some who say: why does the Good God permit all this evil? Why does He permit all these demolishers of our Faith to act freely? Therein lies a true mystery, but let the Good God act. No evil can befall those who love God; as for these criminals, their hour will come. We are perhaps closer to the end than we think. » (Letter of 13 November 1998)

One day, Fr. Krémer related to Brother Scubilion how he had attended a meeting of the priests of the sector in order to prepare the Jubilee of the year 2000. Voices were raised when the parish had to be chosen where would be said the unique Sunday Mass during which the jubilee would be celebrated. Each wanted to have his own way, and Fr. Krémer witnessed a real quarrel! Then, no longer able to contain himself, he interrupted them all and spoke: « You are always speaking about the Spirit who blows wherever He pleases, but I would like to know what spirit reigns between us at this moment! » Everyone stopped talking, petrified and ashamed. Then they left in silence.

Despite everything, Fr. Krémer continued as much as possible his regular life with the only aim of maintaining the Faith at La Ressource.

The Jubilee of the year 2000 was the occasion for new attacks from Hell, which chose Holy Week to unleash its hatred once again. Fr. Krémer then found himself without any support.

« The ceremony of Easter Vigil was marvellous, but what an awakening! Telephone calls, insults, threats, and then they tried to force their way in my gate! The freemason and the atheist wanted to devour me alive because I had dared to ring the bell. Anne-Marie, who came at 7 o’clock to make me some coffee, almost fought with the freemason. In short, it was hell. I informed a few confreres, but none of them could help me. Mgr Aubry retreated into silence. Besides, he gives the appearance of not wanting to see me because he avoids me. He who before used to come and talk with me in a friendly way almost every month [Fr. Krémer was his confessor at that time], shuns me for close to six months. So, there was no Mass on Easter day. Then the atheist came back again twice, and now it is silence. Is this the result of your prayers at each Angelus? [Our Father had decided that we would recite our Angelus for Fr. Krémer] Probably – no, certainly – the Good God is necessarily the strongest.

On 26 June 2000, Rome finally revealed the third part of the Secret of Fatima. Fr. Krémer immediately adhered to the interpretation of our Father and Brother Bruno: « I do not want to wait for the arrival of the CRC in order to thank you for your letter faxed yesterday, 13 July. It comforted me greatly, especially what concerns the Third Secret of Fatima. The announcement of this Third Secret that appeared in the newspaper troubled us and left us with uneasiness, since we know that in these days of disorientation we cannot trust the official Church. But thanks to your letter, all has become clear and luminous again. I reflected much, and I understood that this Secret is, in the end, marvellous. I have just made a three-page commentary for the two groups of legionaries. The whole message of Fatima is included:

– The woman who crushes the head of the serpent.

– The angel of paradise and the misery resulting from sin.

– The return to God through penance (the same words as at Lourdes) and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

– The apostasy of the hierarchy (the cadavers); the martyr of this holy Pope, who is not John Paul II.

– The final victory through the conversion of Russia (the two angels).

– The “divine gardener” (cf. the Baker of Bethlehem) who prepares flowers for the throne of God.

« Without you, I would not have understood these things. » (14 July 2000)

It is through this intimate communion with Maison Saint-Joseph that he drew the strength to remain at the head of his flock.

The summer of 2001 brought with it the fortunate time for a new holiday season during which he once again led numerous parishioners on pilgrimage according to a now well-established itinerary in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. He divided the rest of his vacation between his family, his friends and, of course, Maison Saint-Joseph. On the other hand, he found himself prevented from performing his functions as chaplain of Brother Gerard’s camps. He was denounced to his superiors and they threatened not to send him back to La Ressource if he continued to frequent the Abbé de Nantes. They went so far as to accuse him of being a disgrace to the congregation! Fr. Krémer submitted, but at the price of immense sorrow! Nevertheless, he did not hesitate to defend our Father when he had to confront his Reunion Island Provincial Superior.

Pilgrimage to Saint Anne d’Auray during the Summer Camp in 1995. On the right, Fr. Krémer is seated on the steps.

Upon his return, an Apostolic Visitor came to make an investigation to consider the dismissal of three priests whose departures were demanded by the Reunion Island clergy: it concerned a traditional Alsatian priest, the parish priest of Salazie, who was soon repatriated to Saverne where he died of grief; a Reunion Island priest; and finally Fr. Krémer himself. His dear “benefactors” went to the bishop to ask for his replacement by a young priest. But the Bishop defended him: « A young priest? But where do you want me to find one? Leave this priest in peace. »

In the end he was kept at his post; Fr. Krémer was reduced to seeing the growing ravages of apostasy even in his dear parish. He felt physically and morally powerless to cope: « The harm, alas! has been done. I find people more and more indifferent. Now, when some come to Mass, others take the bus in front of the church to go for a drive, to the beach, the mountains, to go dancing… Never has the Devil been so creative. In the past I took attendance. The Vicar General forbade it because I was infringing on sacrosanct liberty. Thus, three-quarters of the catechism children no longer come to Mass. To whom am I going to complain? Even the priests do not agree. (…)

« They would indeed dismiss me, but no one wants to take charge of La Ressource. The parish is too sprawling, and, to cap it all, it is poor. So, you understand that no one is interested, and that suits me. The Good God really does things in style. » (27 February 2002)

More than ever, the works of our Father and our brothers became his staple diet.

In August 2002, a new Phalangist family went to live on the island for almost a year. What joy and what consolation to speak with them about what he had most at heart: our Father and the CRC!

The death of our Brother Hugues of Christ the King on 13 September 2002 caused him great pain. His priestly heart knew how to find the words that moved and comforted our Father:

« If I did not write to you in the days that followed the death of your beloved son, Brother Hugues, it is not out of indifference or forgetfulness, you know well, but since I consider myself the last of your spiritual sons, I thought that I should wait until this day.

« Now, as I just received this morning No. 2 of the bulletin “He is Risen”, I immediately thought that the moment to write to you had now come. Forgive me for not making grand sentences but please believe, beloved Father, that the death of Brother Hugues deeply touched me. At the announcement of his death, I began to pray for the repose of his soul, and I included him in the Memento of Masses, and all the more so because they think that they can excommunicate him. I then prayed for you, very dear Father, for his family, for your communities, for all those who knew and loved him. Then, little by little, I understood that the departure of Brother Hugues is not a misfortune, for you were lacking something in Heaven: a powerful intercessor from out of your ranks, who is going to be before Jesus and Mary and take charge of your ever so numerous problems.

« I also made the connection between his death and 13 September, the day when Our Lady of Fatima said: “God is pleased with your sacrifices.” I think that you can apply that to yourself: God is pleased that you bear in silence persecutions, vexations, humiliations, injustices… The enemy, however, will not always triumph: it is written.

« If you make souvenir images, please do not forget me. I would like to put one in my breviary, not only not to forget him but also to place myself under his protection. In conclusion, let me recommend myself to your good prayers as you can be sure of mine.

« May the good Father bless us as well as our poor parish, which does not love Jesus and Mary enough. »

How can we not be convinced that this dear Father, now in Heaven, is in turn a powerful intercessor “who takes charge of the ever so numerous problems” of our beloved Father before Jesus and Mary alongside of our Brother Hugues!

Some time afterwards, this poor Father had to deal with jealousies that divided his most devoted parishioners. Some left La Ressource to attend Mass in a neighbouring parish. Fr. Krémer saw the congregation thin out in his church at the two Sunday Masses that he still celebrated and, in his humility, he accused himself of being the cause.

« Who will help me to save La Ressource? This parish is in the process of falling to pieces. Often I accuse myself of not knowing how to save souls for Jesus and Mary. Many no longer have any religious practice. Others go elsewhere, to “more vibrant” parishes, as they say. They are tired of being Catholic as in the past. (…) Am I right? Am I wrong? The fact remains that the church is becoming empty. It seems to me that in the thirty years that I have been here, the parish has regressed. This worries me; no, it frightens me. Would I have been a bad priest, then? » (8 June 2003)

No! He had not been a bad priest. But he was experiencing the agony of the saints. In his love for the Church and the souls that she had entrusted to him, Fr. Krémer was ready for the great sacrifice that was going to put the seal on all his counter-Reformation missionary work in La Ressource. He was approaching the summit of the steep mountain « where died one after another the Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people, men and women of different ranks and positions. »

IV. “MARTYR” THROUGH FIDELITY

« I am witness to the cruel sufferings of monks and nuns in the orders that are transforming themselves, that reform themselves. They suffer martyrdom in secret in order to remain faithful to their vocation in the institute in which they made their vows. They are contradicted by their superiors, and envied and detested by their brothers. It is terrible; it is a mystery of iniquity, but there is holiness there, and the Heart of God is touched by it. »

This witness of our Father dates from 1973. Thirty years later, Fr. Krémer, suffered this martyrdom because he wanted to remain faithful at all costs to his religious vows and to his dear Congregation of the Fathers of the Holy Spirit, from which he had received so many blessings since his entry into the Spiritan’s secondary school in 1935.

In September 2001, after three months of an invigorating holiday in metropolitan France, he returned to La Ressource knowing full well that it would be for the last time. His state of health was such that he was less and less able to remain alone at the rectory.

Tormented on all sides, he finally yielded to the entreaties of his superiors and his bishop, but above all to the advice of our Father, who considered that, at last, the time had come. He thus agreed to return to metropolitan France to live in a retirement home of his congregation. He informed his friends on Reunion Island and in metropolitan France by a circular letter dated Christmas 2003:

« (…) It has been decided that I will leave Reunion Island for good around Pentecost 2004. My age, my ever worsening deafness and many other health problems no longer allow me to assume fully my parish obligations. Several retirement homes have been offered to me, but they do not all conform to my needs. After having passed fifty years in hot countries it seems that Alsace has far too cold a climate and Brittany is too humid. Thus the French Riviera is all that remains, and what has finally been accepted.

« It is going to be difficult, above all because of my deafness. More and more I am losing all contact with my entourage. I do hear sound, but no longer discern its meaning. This is another reason for seriously beginning my preparation for the Beyond. What has my life been? I think that I am right to say that there have been ups and downs, failures and successes. But why judge myself? A good Mauritian confrere, who is now deceased, said to me one day: “Don’t wrack your brains; the Good God knows.” I therefore entirely abandon myself into His merciful arms (…). »

9 May 2004 : Mgr Aubry presiding over a Confirmation ceremony.

On 31 May 2004, the feast of Mary Queen of Heaven, Mediatrix of All Graces, he left for good this parish that he so loved and addressed to his children his fondest farewell. The most faithful among them understood that they were losing a unique Father and that at La Ressource things would no longer be the same as before.

Upon his arrival in France, he was eager to go find our Father and all the community at Maison Saint-Joseph. One of his great consolations was to be able to benefit regularly from the presence of our Father.

We were all edified by the tenderness and devotion of this good Father when he said Mass, in Latin, which he had not been able to do for so long. For him, Mass was “the height of beatitude here below”. Brother Gerard assisted him at the altar, for his great fear was to lose himself in the rubrics of the Canon. Our Father, who long since had no longer had the strength to say Mass, was comforted to see Fr. Krémer celebrate the holy mysteries. One day, finding him in the sacristy our Father said to him: « You are in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin »; and another time: « You made me see the Presence of God ».

It was during his short visits that we questioned him much about his life, even recording it during several chapters. As soon as he found himself in community, his fundamental joy, his youthful outlook, his ever enterprising temperament, his passionate interest for the Church and, even more, his affection for our Father did not let his inner suffering show. He felt so well with us that he would have willingly settled in. But in his desire to remain faithful to his religious vows and to end his life in a House of his congregation, he prepared to leave us and was haunted by a thought that made his heart bleed: “There, I will not be able to celebrate my Mass any longer!” Perhaps it was the little voice that he had heard in 1935 and several times since then, which murmured to him: « You must remain faithful to your order! »

At them moment of his departure, he encouraged us to stand firm:

« If Rome and Fatima falter, your Houses will remain standing if you are faithful to following your Rule. I am convinced of this! We must not let ourselves be dominated by the wicked! And since they no longer want to speak about the Blessed Virgin, we must speak about Her twice as much. »

He was driven to his retirement home on the French Riviera by two of his most faithful friends. There he was forced to abandon all ministry. His greatest trial was not to have the consolation of saying his Mass privately because he was forced to attend the concelebrated community Mass each day. But, deprived of hearing, how could he follow the words of Consecration? He thus retired each time with the sadness of thinking that he had not said his Mass…

Rapidly, his state required more appropriate care than what the staff of the retreat home was able to give. His superiors thus decided to transfer him in January 2005 to a nursing home in Alsace. He was happy to get closer to Maison Saint-Joseph, to his friends living in the region, and to his native village. He said to us:

« How good and captivating your House is! How spoiled your are by Providence, although you are not lacking in trials. As for me, it is always the same; humanly speaking, I am not happy here. I really think that the Good God took me at my word because for years now, I say a prayer that I must have found in the writings of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus: “Out of love for you, Jesus-Mary, may I be despised, forgotten, poorly considered, abandoned… provided that you take into account my great weakness and that the enemy have no real grip on me.” (…) Thus I am not unfortunate, for, you, my children with a few others, you are of great assistance to me. When I read today the letters of St. Thérèse, I am almost appalled to see the very great suffering of her who was called “little St. Thérèse” when she was a giant, but not in the manner that one speaks today about certain candidates for beatification. That is why I await with impatience the report that Brother Bruno is preparing for us. I hope that he succeeds in dissecting John Paul II well. Never has imposture reached such depths. » (Letter of 12 June 2005)

He received more and more alarming news from La Ressource. Divisions became more pronounced between those who desired to remain faithful to Fr. Krémer’s teaching and those who were seeking to introduce novelties. These disagreements took place under the eye of the new parish priest… who did not know which side to take.

During his vacations in July 2005, he spent a marvellous week in the company of his sister Lucie and then sojourned ten days at Maison Saint-Joseph.

Upon his return to the rest home, he got down to re-reading and correcting an account of the first years of his life that we had written and sent to him. He devoted himself with all his heart solely in order to please us.

He had scarcely finished this work when a pulmonary edema broke out. No longer able to breath, he was placed in an oxygen tent for some time. He offered it all to console Jesus and Mary and to make reparation for the offences committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. But he was distressed about no longer being able to pray!

« I had vowed that when I retired, I would say a full Rosary each day. What a disaster! I go to sleep as soon as I begin my first group of mysteries. Ah, truly age is playing a nasty trick on me! I think that the Blessed Virgin will pardon me. That’s a human promise for you! »

Our Father’s retreat on St. Margaret Mary gave him a final consolation. He admired this great saint, felt a certain affinity with her who suffered so much from her sisters. « I know no one who has suffered so much. Suffering does not frighten me, I feel very close to her. »

He continued to follow attentively all the doings of our community, thanks to our letters and He is Risen, which we sent him. He was outraged at learning the manner in which we had been excluded from Rue du Bac on 13 November 2005, when we intended to gain a plenary indulgence granted by Benedict XVI for the 105^th anniversary of the apparitions of the Immaculate Conception to St. Catherine Labouré.

« They can no longer tolerate that you do not recognise the Council. I really fear that you will have to wait for the next generation in order that at last they deal with your case. In all events, I cannot but remain on your side, whatever happens. » (Letter of 16 November 2005)

On 8 December, he attended the celebration of the patronal feast of the Spiritan sisters, who for the occasion had donned… the sari, the dress of Indian woman! Fr. Krémer was deeply shocked, particularly when he saw the mark of Shiva was applied to his forehead.

At the end of January 2006, he lost consciousness following a malaise and was taken to the emergency ward of a nearby clinic. The doctors did not operate; his general state probably left no hope. He received the last Sacraments and Communion for the last time. The religious nurses surrounded him with much devotion. One of them, Sr. Mary, saw him sob when he recited with her the Our Father.

He was taken back to his retirement home after three days. A Spiritan sister watched over him, recited each day a Rosary with him and cared for him with truly maternal tenderness.

	Fr. Joseph Krémer, in his bedroom at the retirement home, a week before his death.

A week before his death, he had the consolation of seeing for the last time his dear friends from Nancy. He had greatly deteriorated: he could no longer walk or even open his eyes. But to the slightest sign of affection, he manifested a most touching gratitude.

Three days later, on 13 February, the first anniversary of the death of Sr. Lucy of Fatima, he was transferred once again to the clinic. He fell into a coma shortly afterwards and never regained consciousness. He gently passed away on Friday, 17 February 2006 at 4:30. He was all alone; no one was there to seem him draw his last breath. Our Lady of Fatima came to fetch him as she had done in the past for Blessed Jacinta Marto. What a singular grace for this faithful lover of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: he imitated little Jacinta, who was his favourite, even in death! Furthermore, the month of February is traditionally consecrated to the Holy Spirit, whom he had served for almost sixty years in the Congregation of the Fathers of the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Krémer had always desired to die on a Friday in order to pass the least amount of time in Purgatory, he said. Since he had been clothed in the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, he knew that he would enjoy the Sabbatine Privilege that is attached to it: the Blessed Virgin had promised to St. Simon Stock to come on the Saturday following their death to deliver from Purgatory those who wear the Scapular.

He was buried on Monday, 20 February, on the feast of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta. Mass was said in thanksgiving for his missionary life in St. Étienne’s Church close to his retirement home. It was celebrated with great dignity by the Superior General of the Congregation and about twenty Spiritan fathers.

Fr. Krémer now rests in the Spiritan cemetery of the village, which is situated in a vineyard that is dominated by a large statue of the Sacred Heart.

Throughout this time, our CRC pilgrims, some of whom had been his close friends, were praying for him at Lourdes and Fatima :

« My very dear brother,

« Like you, we feel greatly orphaned after the return of our beloved Fr. Krémer to the Father. Thus we prayed well for you at Lourdes and Fatima. And also on 20 February during Mass at Loyola. What a grace it was to be buried on that day!

« I wanted to tell you that on Saturday, 11 February, when I was at St. Anne d’Auray, I was able to obtain for him the Plenary Indulgence granted by the Holy Father Benedict XVI. Then, I am convinced that he came to say a last farewell to us, for, during the night from Thursday to Friday, I was called by the on-duty doctor at 2 o’clock in the morning. Unable to go back to sleep, I prayed for him, since I knew that he was in agony and undoubtedly alone at the hospital. I prayed to his Patron Saint, the patron of a Good Death, and I learned that he had been found dead at 4:30!

« Finally, during our procession at the rock of Lourdes, Jeanne and I saw in the line for ten minutes a priest who was his double and who then disappeared into the crowd. We were overawed. »

Does Our Lady not promise to us who mourn him, that his sacrifice will bear much fruit, as She showed at the end of Her great Secret?

« Beneath the two arms of the Cross, there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God. »

The martyrs are the victims of love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, victims among whom Fr. Krémer ardently desired to be placed. And he promised to us with insistence, that once he had reached the aim of all his works, he would adopt this maxim of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus: « I shall spend my Heaven doing good on earth! » Pray to him with confidence so that he may hasten the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in order that the Church may recover her missionary vocation under the crosier of Benedict XVI!