DR MAX JOSEF METZGER (1887-1944)
80TH ANNIVERSARY OFMARTYRDOM APRIL 17TH 2024
he was a musician!
Max Josef Metzger was a musician! I didn’t know this! He was also a very good poet! My personal interest in Metzger was gained through both trying to understand the break-up in the churches caused by the Reformation and to see how ecumenism had developed in the 20th century to heal the wounds of this epochal time.
the search for christian unity.
My interest in Christian unity led me thus to examine Germany Church history and indeed to visit Wittenberg, the place of the 95 theses of Luther. As I understood how the Reformation divided Germany, I also saw how the effects of the two world wars had started to re-shape this inheritance. Germany was no longer split up into strictly Lutheran or Catholic States as it had been. In the midst of these times there were wonderful writers in Germany who had started to examine the circumstances of of the Reformation without partisan polemics or apologetics, to see what had been faults on both sides; they analyzed the deep misunderstandings and the exaggerations that often come when parties fall out with each other. The names of these writers included Adolf Herte (1887-1970), Joseph Lortz (1887-1975) and Karl Adam (1876–1966), and later Bishop Jaeger (1892-1975) of the Diocese of Paderborn and his Lutheran Colleague Bishop Wilhelm Stählin (1883-1975) of Oldenburg. It included leaders of the Confessing Church such as Hans Asmussen. Finally the debate found its way to the new institution of the Pontifical Secretariate and subsequent Council for Christian Unity and the Vatican Councils own work for Christian Unity with its founder Cardinal Auguste Bea (1881-1968).[1] They had all through their scholarly and pastoral work helped to make the possible greater understanding and reconciliation between Lutherans and Catholics.
[1] Notes of these are given in the Book by Jerome-Michael Vereb, C.P. ‘Because he was a German!’ Cardinal Bea and the origins of the Roman Catholic Engagement in the Ecumenical Movement. William E. Eerdmans Publishing Grand Rapids Michigan/Cambridge UK © 2006 The Chapter 2, the Germann Theater of Ecumenical activity .pp. 67-120
[1] Notes of these are given in the Book by Jerome-Michael Vereb, C.P. ‘Because he was a German!’ Cardinal Bea and the origins of the Roman Catholic Engagement in the Ecumenical Movement. William E. Eerdmans Publishing Grand Rapids Michigan/Cambridge UK © 2006 The Chapter 2, the Germann Theater of Ecumenical activity .pp. 67-120
the prophet of ecumenism ?
. In the midst of all these scholars and pastors, one name kept appearing time and time again of one which many described as a ‘prophetic’ voice; it was that of Fr Max Josef Metzger. What these and others seemed to see in him was a dynamism to turn their thinking into action. His own experiences in World War one had shown him the weakness of a divided Christianity. He had met and mingled with active Christians from all backgrounds in the search for peace after the War and longed to see a reconciliation between them all. Unlike any of the other ecumenical writers or leaders, he had been martyred for his beliefs. As a priest he wrote a letter from prison to the Holy Father Pius XII asking for a new work of Christian reconciliation:
“ Church history and world history alike will raise a memorial to that wearer of the triple crown who begins this work on a generous scale, and to the one who may perhaps finish it later[1].
[1] Lilian Stevenson ‘Max Josef Metzger’ London S.P.C.K 1952 p.54-5
“ Church history and world history alike will raise a memorial to that wearer of the triple crown who begins this work on a generous scale, and to the one who may perhaps finish it later[1].
[1] Lilian Stevenson ‘Max Josef Metzger’ London S.P.C.K 1952 p.54-5
christ the king institute meitingen
Who was this priest who so many had seen as the ‘prophet of the ecumenical movement? My interest in Metzger led me to try to make personal contact with the Christian Institute he founded in the small town of Meitingen near Augsburg in Germany. I discovered his ‘Christ the King Institute’ was soon to celebrate the centenary of its founding by Metzger in 1909. It was still involved in ecumenical dialogue and youth work, although many of its Sisters and Brothers were now advancing in years. Sister Gertraud was their archivist and sent reading materials to me in connection with their ‘Brother Paulus’ as they called Max Josef. When I received the package I found out that Max Josef was a talented musician, a composer and poet! Sister Gertraud had sent me a selection of his compositions.
freundeschaft .wenn zwei
One poem Sister Gertraud sent to me was called ‘Wenn Zwei’ or Freundschaft – meaning ‘When two’ or ‘Friendship’. As a composer myself I immediately took an interest in his writing which seemed to be so lyrical , and started to compose a suitable melody of my own for his words. Little by little, I discovered that he had written a whole series of poems whilst in prison, and that some indeed had been published in the UK in the 1950’s. These poems included some written in the prison at Brandenburg – Gordon , in the weeks and months before his execution on April 17th 1944. These ‘Gefangnisgedichte’ (Prison Poems) had been published in England by Irish Peace Activist and member of the International Fellowship for Reconciliation Lilian Stevenson. [1] My curiosity prompted me to order a copy of the book which came to me as an old green text – formerly from the Library of Manchester. As I read them, both in English and in German, I grew to love them and felt an urge to set several of them musically as a' song cycle'.
[1] Lilian Stevenson ‘ Max Josef Metzger. S.P.C.K London 1952
[1] Lilian Stevenson ‘ Max Josef Metzger. S.P.C.K London 1952
the meitingen concert november 3rd 2019
I knew Metzger was also a composer, but did not have any access to his melodies.
I knew from the literature sent by Sister Gertraud that the 100th anniversary of the founding of their community was due to take place in 2019.
I had the idea to set these poems as a song cycle and then see if I could find a choir or orchestra who would ‘secretly’ prepare a concert of these poems for the anniversary year and then present them to the Sisters of the Institute! It was a big challenge! I started to make contacts in Augsburg and then with the leader of the Men’s Choir in Meitingen itself and, all of a sudden, I found a groundswell in this enthusiastic notion. Although I had had a performance of my Requiem for Dresden in Dresden in 1985, this new work was unconnected. I was now setting poems of a German martyr in 1944 and preparing to present them to his community! We do know however that where God leads, he provides. The project was not kept a complete secret from the Sisters of the Institute, but on November 3rd 2019 an ecumenical Choir drawn from the Meitingen Catholic parish of St Wolfgangs and the Lutheran Church of St Johannes together formed a 90 member ‘Una Sancta’ ecumenical Choir. Together with a group of locally organized musicians and orchestral players they gave a first performance of these historical prison poems of Max Josef Metzger. The event was filmed and broadcast locally and blessed by the future Bishop of Augsburg, Bertram Meier. God works His wonders to perform!
I knew from the literature sent by Sister Gertraud that the 100th anniversary of the founding of their community was due to take place in 2019.
I had the idea to set these poems as a song cycle and then see if I could find a choir or orchestra who would ‘secretly’ prepare a concert of these poems for the anniversary year and then present them to the Sisters of the Institute! It was a big challenge! I started to make contacts in Augsburg and then with the leader of the Men’s Choir in Meitingen itself and, all of a sudden, I found a groundswell in this enthusiastic notion. Although I had had a performance of my Requiem for Dresden in Dresden in 1985, this new work was unconnected. I was now setting poems of a German martyr in 1944 and preparing to present them to his community! We do know however that where God leads, he provides. The project was not kept a complete secret from the Sisters of the Institute, but on November 3rd 2019 an ecumenical Choir drawn from the Meitingen Catholic parish of St Wolfgangs and the Lutheran Church of St Johannes together formed a 90 member ‘Una Sancta’ ecumenical Choir. Together with a group of locally organized musicians and orchestral players they gave a first performance of these historical prison poems of Max Josef Metzger. The event was filmed and broadcast locally and blessed by the future Bishop of Augsburg, Bertram Meier. God works His wonders to perform!
AMERICAN PREMIERE ST MATTHEW'S LUTHERAN CHURCH CHARLESTON FEB 2020
Subsequently the music has been performed in America by a professional choir – The first of these performances was with the Taylor Festival Choir with members of Charleston Symphony Orchestra in the Lutheran Church of St Matthew’s in Charleston. The church rang out 133 bells to celebrate the 133 years since the birth of Metzger in Schopfheim in 1877. These two events in Germany and the US created a deep bond of friendship between ourselves and the Sisters in Meitingen.
Fr Joe Tedesco, Superior Mepkin Trappist Monastery who gave thanks for the American performance of Gefangnisgedichte
the making of the 'metzger' oratorio
Subsequent to the German and American Premieres of Gefangnisgedichte, new texts were sent from Meitingen by Christ the King Institute Archivist, Sister Gertraud Roßmann. One of the first was a beautiful poem celebrating the New Year of 1944. The text was written on a letter from Brandenburg- Görden Prison near Berlin where Fr Max was awaiting his execution. This was one of the first text a whole new Song Cycle called 'Hymns and Songs' which became part one of the Oratorio 'Metzger'.
The text of the Poem 'Neu Jahr', written on New years Eve 1944 and sent on January 13th 1944 to the Christ the King Institute in Meitingen.
(Notice the text of Neu Jahr inked in on the second line of the Letter, beginning with 'So heb' ich's an in Gottes Namen'... )
(Notice the text of Neu Jahr inked in on the second line of the Letter, beginning with 'So heb' ich's an in Gottes Namen'... )
After the Catholic priest and martyr Dr. Max Josef Metzger was sentenced to death in Berlin on October 14, 1943, and was taken to Brandenburg-Görden prison to await execution. He wrote in a letter on January 13, 1944: "I study, read and write, I write poetry and compose, even if I can't put everything on paper." On New Year's Eve 1943 he wrote a poem to encourage his Christkoenig congregation in Meitingen. He called the poem "New Year". Three months later, on April 17, 1944, Dr Max Josef was executed. 'Nuejahr' was the first part of several 'Hymns and Songs' of Metzger which became Part one of the oratorio. Cormac O'Duffy received a copy of this poem and in December 2020 and set it to music. On New Year's Eve 2020, exactly 77 years after Brother Paulus (as he was known to his congregation) first wrote his lines, tenor Udo Scheuerpflug gave a special premiere of the song to the sisters of Dr. Max Josef Metzger's congregation in Meitingen. Local filmmaker Josef Gogl filmed this special event. This composition marked the beginning of what was later to be known as the 'Metzger' Oratorio.
FIRST PERFORMANCE OF NEU JAHR NEW YEARS EVE 2021
FURTHER TEXTS OF METZGER FROM SISTER GERTRAUD, CHRIST THE KING INSTITUTE
hymns and songs from the Community of the white cross 1924
New texts were sent to America by Sister Gertraud Roßmann, the Archivist from the Christ the King Institute, founded by Fr Max in 1919. They mostly represented the earlier part of Fr Max's life and his enjoyment of the seasons, birdsong, dancing and singing, friendship, love of country as well as his deep faith. They had been published as the Song Book of the White Cross - the name of Metzger's Community - in 1924. In setting these poems, Cormac sought to keep to the style of Metzger, and in two occasions used the original melodies written by Metzger for the composition.
Max Josef produced the Song Book of his Community - then called the Community of the White Cross - in 1924 . He called the book 'The Treasures in Song of the White Cross' and described the purpose of the songs in his Introduction:
'Love urges song. That is why the song is part of the essence of the White Cross. The Alleluia song of love for God, the kind Father, the merciful Son and the empowering Holy Spirit. The jubilant alleluia of enthusiasm for the wondrous works of God in nature and in human beings. The alleluia of joy in enjoying the delicious joy of God on a happy journey and in brotherly fellowship. The strong-hearted alleluia in the trial and need of body and soul. The alleluia of supplication for God's mercy on us and on all the brethren around us. Carefree Alleluia children's song and willingly serious Alleluia evening prayer of mature age. Whatever struggles in the rich soul of a man who lives in God and strives for God for a strong form, seeks its deepest expression in song, the simple children's song, the simple, artless way of the folk song, in special high times and times of need'.
'Love urges song. That is why the song is part of the essence of the White Cross. The Alleluia song of love for God, the kind Father, the merciful Son and the empowering Holy Spirit. The jubilant alleluia of enthusiasm for the wondrous works of God in nature and in human beings. The alleluia of joy in enjoying the delicious joy of God on a happy journey and in brotherly fellowship. The strong-hearted alleluia in the trial and need of body and soul. The alleluia of supplication for God's mercy on us and on all the brethren around us. Carefree Alleluia children's song and willingly serious Alleluia evening prayer of mature age. Whatever struggles in the rich soul of a man who lives in God and strives for God for a strong form, seeks its deepest expression in song, the simple children's song, the simple, artless way of the folk song, in special high times and times of need'.
the institute in meitingen and its members
ORATORIO STRUCTURE: PARTS ONE AND TWO
'The oratorio is thus divided into two parts: 'Hymns and Songs' followed by the 'Prison Poems'. The Hymns and Songs begin and end with words ' Ich habe mein Leben Gott angeboten, für den Frieden der Welt und für die Einheit der Kirche.' In English this translates I have given my life to God for peace in the world and for the Unity of Churches. These are the same words that are written on Metzger's grave in Meitingen. Coupled with these are two other sayings of Metzger: Keine Verkündigung wirkt so überzeugend wie das Leben und Lieben überzeugter Christen', which is heard at the opening. In English this translates as ' No preaching is more convincing than the lives and loves of convinced Christians' At the end of Part one, with the repeat of the words from the gravestone are the words,' 'Als ich am Abend in meine Zelle kam, habe ich mich hingekniet und habe Gott gedankt, daß er mich so in die Jüngerschaft Christi hineingezogen hat, und ihn gebeten, mir das starke Herz bis zuletzt zu bewahren. In English this reads: 'when I came to my cell in the evening I knelt down and thanked God for drawing me thus into the discipleship of Christ and asked him to help me keep my strong heart to the end.
the prison poems
The second part of the Oratorio was in fact written first and consists of the Prison poems written by Metzger during three times of imprisonment. Between Parts 1 and 2 there are altogether 27 texts of Metzger.
2024 the 80th anniversary of the martyrdom of max josef metzger
April 17th 2024 represents the 80th anniversary of the martyrdom of Fr Max Josef Metzger. To celebrate this occasion plans are being made to bring a Choir from the US to Berlin and Dresden followed by a special performance in the States. This will be the first time the complete Oratorio will be heard in both countries.
'METZGER' PENTECOST CELEBRATION MEPKIN ABBEY SOUTH CAROLINA JUNE 5 2022
Robert Taylor, Cormac and Fiona O'Duffy, Fr Joe Tedesco, OCSO Superior Mepkin Trappist Monastery, Ellen Dressler Morryl, Producer, Bishop Jacques Fabre, CS and Bishop Robert Guglielmone, Bishops of Charleston, Rev. Tory Liferidge, Grace Reformed Episcopal Church
Photo credits: Doug Deas, The Catholic Miscellany, Diocese of Charleston, USA
Photo credits: Doug Deas, The Catholic Miscellany, Diocese of Charleston, USA