News of the Catastrophe

 

The diary of the abbot in the Abbey of Scheyern, Rupert III Metzenleitner gives insight into the excitement over Father Peruschitz´s death.

 

22.IV. »Today, 17 years ago, Father Peruschitz was ordained to priesthood here, and today I receive a letter from Abbot Birkenwald from Ramsgate that expresses fear that Father Joseph sank with the »Titanic« on 15.IV. because his name was not mentioned in the list of survivors. The »Titanic« the biggest ship built so far, rammed an iceberg in the night of the 14th and sank after a few hours together with one thousand six hundred thirty five people.«
»On the 30th of March, Father Peruschitz trustingly submitted himself to the powerful protection from the Holy Joseph. May his and our trust be found reasonable. Today I read the holy mass and urgently advised the Fathers and Brothers to pray for him, though not revealing his name. In manibus tuis, bone Pastor, sortes nostrae (In your hands good shepherd our destinies lie.)«

 

The relatives of Father Joseph did not know anything about his travels to America. The more depressing was the news, when the abbot, together with the local priest, went to the family Peruschitz to prepare them for the new of their son and brother.

Finally the family Peruschitz was given compensation from the »Titanic Relief Fund« of sixty English pounds. After the death of Mathias Peruschitz on April 24th, 1923, a regional newspaper shortly described the agony of his son:

»... The death of his daughter Anna gave him (Mathias) deep grieve.

Deeper however was his pain when the news reached him

that his son Father Josephs' found a cold grave in the depth of the ocean.

At that time the agony grabbed his life´s nerve

and only a strong believe in God kept him straight.«

 

From the diary of the abbot Rupert Metzenleitner on May 4th:

04.V. »The American travel agency C. Bierschenk in Munich reports to the Scheyern college on May 2nd, 1912: Herewith the courteous message that, as I have seen in the New York Herald, the Priest Father Peruschitz is among the missing passengers, second class of the steamship »Titanic«.
»Today the same is said by Fanny Peruschitz (Father Josephs´ third sister), who on 2.V. went to the White Star Line office and asked. It was also said that Father Peruschitz was proven to be one of the last on board. Thus there is no doubt of his death left. In Gods´ name. R.I.P.«

 

The Abbey of Scheyern did not make a big fuss about the death of Father Joseph Peruschitz. There was the steadfast belief, that Father Joseph did his duty as priest fully, as any holy man would have done in his place.  

The obituary from convent (still in exist)

Many people from the Fathers' hometown had the opinion that a great monument should be erected in the abbey garden. However, nowadays only a small memorial tablet made of limestone, erected in the East Wing of the cloister commemorates, one that every member of the abbey until the year 1937, without any special historical background, was entered.

The English translation of the Latin inscription says:

»Father Joseph Peruschitz, OSB., who sacrificed himself piously on the famous »Titanic« on 15.4.1912 at t/re age of forty-two years in the 17th year of his priesthood and profession.«

 

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