Planegg: Still Known Little in Schoenstatt

Planegg’s hospital in the forest is witness to the special moment when Carl Leisner sealed his Blank Check. It is worthwhile to add this place to the itinerary on the pilgrimages to Dachau

Busto en la habitación en Planegg Bust in the room in Planegg Büste im Sterbezimmer
Peregrinos en Planegg Pilgrims in Planegg Pilger in Planegg
Registro médico Case report Krankendokument
Pedido de ingresar Letter asking for Karl Leisner to be accepted in the hospital Aufnahmegesuch
Letrero Sign Straßenschild Fotos: Pfr. Reinhold Nann © 2007

GERMANY, Fr. Oskar Buhler. When the Schoenstatt Family deepened the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother to the level of Blank Check – October, 1939 – Carl Leisner accompanied them in spirit. He was in the St. Blase Hospital where he was hoping to be totally healed from pulmonary tuberculosis. His group brothers were in Schoenstatt. Four years later, he wrote to Heinrich Tenhumberg, his group leader. He wrote from the Concentration Camp of Dachau using code language: "My dear Heini: on October 18^th, it will have been four years since you were at home and left everything radiant (play on words in German: they left everything white). At that time I was only able to be with you spiritually. In the meantime, each one has carried his cross throughout these four years. Tonius is already up above….."

This expression, "to leave everything radiant," (literally, to leave everything white [spotless]) refers to the Blank Check which the Schoenstatt Family sealed with the Blessed Mother on October 18, 1939 – 25 years since the founding of Schoenstatt – and which accompanied Carl Leisner during his incarceration at the Concentration Camp of Dachau. His "yes" was lived daily through the many sufferings which involved his life in Dachau and which was even more difficult due to his illness. Blessed Carl Leisner gave his final "yes" surrendering his life on August 12, 1945. This took place in the hospital in the forest at Planegg – near Munich – where he was hospitalized since May 4, 1945 shortly after his liberation from the concentration camp.

The house where a beatified person died

Room 76 – now Room 230 – where Carl Leisner spent the last few months of his life on his sickbed and where he eventually died, is today a memorial in his honor. The community of the Vincentian Sisters give it a lot of importance that a beatified person died in their house.

On the occasion of the restoration of the house which was done two years ago, the Sisters kept this room as it was originally and transformed it into a memorial. The artist, Alexander Henselmann, made a bust of Blessed Carl Leisner and placed it there.

When visitors stop at this room, they recall the last three months of the life of Carl Leisner. What moved him, what he had to suffer and fight for, how he remained faithful to his "yes" to the Covenant of Love: he wrote all of this in his diary, often with much effort. Here, in this place, his words are alive in a special way.

"I fell asleep with tears of gratitude and joy. How well I feel! How good God is! When necessity is great, His help appears. Before, He only wanted total surrender…..The darkest images of Dachau slowly fall from the soul. I am a free man. Alleluia! I returned to human dignity…..I am especially happy with this. The forest greets me through the window. A birch tree with new leaves….. I meditate, I nap, I dream, I am grateful, I free myself from Dachau. How precious! Here I can recuperate in body and soul. Once again I can pray well. God speaks in the silence even if I am weak!" He wrote this on the 5^th of May, after his first night of freedom…..full of joy, full of hope, full of confidence.

The notes in his diary show how attentive he was to living the religious feasts and the liturgical year. He places all of his attention to June, month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; he celebrates the Fridays of the Sacred Heart and the priestly Saturdays. "All for the priests and the new candidates" (June 2^nd), "All for the Sacred Heart, for the priests and the candidates of His Heart. Reparation." (June 6^th, feast day of the Sacred Heart).

Attached to the MTA

Since his health did not improve, Fr. Otto Pies, SJ, who cared for him lovingly during this time, administered Extreme Unction. He wrote about his fever and his coughing fits. "Mother, all for You. I do not want to be a complainer nor impatient, right?" (June 15^th). He never abandoned hope. "Lord, lead me again soon to the holy altar so that I can offer You, dear Eternal Father, your beloved Son. How I long for it! Once again I want to be healthy for love of Christ and His Kingdom. His dearest Mother will help me, the MTA (June 16^th).

He was joyful with each visit, with each greeting and sign of attachment. On June 20^th, he felt the desire to have the "Schoenstatt Office" (Heavenwards) which Father Kentenich had written in his last months in Dachau. He had had it in the concentration camp, but he had lost it there. In the afternoon he received a newsletter from his group brother, Fr. Hermann Richarz, with the Schoenstatt Office. The letter read: "I am convinced you will be healed if it is in God’s plans. And if it is not to be, then He has in mind another mission for you on earth, nothing small nor easy. In that case, through your illness, you must support the priests He has sent into everyday life. We cannot appreciate on earth how great this mission is….."

On June 29^th (feast of Sts. Peter and Paul), a great joy awaited him: "my mother and my father were next to my bed, they kissed me and greeted me…..a deep emotion. We are united. Deo gratias! (Thank God)

Going Home to the Father

In the last two weeks of July, all indications were that his state of health was worsening. It was a great joy that a Holy Mass could be celebrated in his room. "The first Holy Mass in seven months in which I can be physically present…..What a joy! A delicate silence among those present….." It was July 25^th, the feat day of St. James the Apostle. He described it in detail in his diary. They were his last notes. His last phrase shows his childlike devotion and a magnanimous surrender to Christ: "Now I am going to sleep. It is 9:20 P.M. Good night, Holy and Eternal God, dearest MTA, all of the saints, all beloved living and deceased who are far and near! Lord, also bless my enemies."

Carl felt that God had planned something different for him from what he would have naturally desired. He reclaimed his "yes" to his Blank Check. He pronounces it, neither for good or bad, but with a happy and ready heart. He revealed to his mother: "I know that I am going to die soon, but nevertheless, I am content." In the early morning hours of August 12^th, God accepted the offer of his life.

Room 76/230 in the Hospital of the forest in Planegg is a "witness" of this interior movement…..of the struggle and prayer and also of the quick and happy surrender of our dear Blessed Carl Leisner. On a pilgrimage to Dachau, it is a "plus" to visit this room in Planegg. Whoever comes and is there with an open and willing heart…..if he/she listens to his message…..when he/she leaves will be a "renewed" person: consoled, enriched, stronger.

Carl Leisner Memorial in Planegg

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 031407