by
Fred Schaeffer, SFO
1999-2006 © Frederick S. Schaeffer

Introduction

The Netherlands (Holland) is a small country that lies east of Great Britain and the North Sea, north of Belgium and west of Germany. Its population is between ten and fifteen million. Today, in the 21st Century, its rich Catholic history should be remembered.

In this web-booklet I have summarized the lives of about one hundred saints, blesseds and others, all people who have had a decided impact on the faith of the Dutch and many other people around the world.

Roman Catholicism has always been under siege in Holland. There were some blocks of years here and there when it progressed and things were going well, but, by and large, it has been a gigantic struggle. At present Roman Catholics are under siege again for there are dangerous splits in the unity of the Catholic Church in Holland.

As a Dutch, Nijmegen-born, former citizen of Holland, my life as a monk daily includes fervent prayer for the religious and spiritual welfare of my fatherland, the country of my birth, the country in which I have suffered (during World War II). I am drawn to prayer to the many holy people who gave their lives for God, for their Faith and for the cause of the conversion of Holland.

The fleet, the sea-faring capability of the Dutch is sometimes referred to as "Holland's Glory." But there is a hidden Holland's Glory—the people who contributed by their holy lives to the spiritual welfare of the Dutch people—those whose lives I have written about in this booklet. I was particularly moved by the deep faith of the Martyrs of Gorkum who met their eternal reward by steadfastly holding on to their belief, their faith, in the Real Presence.

The Real Presence, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ is the center of my faith, not only as a Monk of Adoration, whose charism is the adoration of and reparation to the Blessed Sacrament, but as a Roman Catholic. Jesus is central to our Faith!

I pray that Catholics and others in Holland and elsewhere may remember that blood has been shed for our Faith in Holland. Let this blood not have been shed in vain. I wish for you God's peace, and ultimately, His joy!

June 7, 2001
Brother Frederick of the Cross

"Holiness in Holland" © Fred Schaeffer 2001

Acknowledgements

I sincerely thank Brother Craig Driscoll, for his help and encouragement. It was at his suggestion that I wrote this volume. Also, Brother John Raymond, co-founder, made some helpful suggestions. I thank Brother Craig's father, Edward Driscoll for his assistance in proof-reading this work.

Maps

Figure 1 (Right>>>). This is a map of the Low Countries as it was approximately from the year 600-850. Frisia is the shaded area north of the Rhine/Waal rivers. Utrecht was the Bishopric seat in the Frisian territory. Maestricht (current spelling Maastricht) was the other diocesan seat (see text).

Figure 2. (<<<Left)This map shows the current boundaries of The Netherlands with a map as it was in 1559 to 1609. The thick black line (just below #8) signifies the current border between The Netherlands and Belgium. The area marked #11 denotes Flanders, a term no longer valid in today's geography. The Dutch Province of Zeeland (#13) has completely changed due to channelization and the effects, over time, of the North Sea (separating England and The Netherlands). In addition, the Ijsselmeer (central body of water between #1 and #6) was much smaller and narrower in olden days. A good portion of this inland sea has been reclaimed in the 20th Century and a connecting dyke supporting a connecting highway was also constructed. Area #9, 11 and 12 are now part of Belgium. The numbers identify portions of land at it was in 1559-1609, as follows: 1. County of Holland, 2. Duchy of Utrecht, 3. Duchy of Gelderland, 4. Lordship of Overijssel, 5. County of Drenthe, 6. Lordship of Friesland, 7. Lordship of Groningen, 8. Duchy of Brabant (this area extends below the heavy black line which currently separates The Netherlands from Belgium), 9. Bishopric of Liege, 10. Duchy of Limburg, 11. County of Flanders, 12. County of Hainaut, 13. County of Zeeland.

List of holy people mentioned–in alphabetical order.

1. Saint Acca, (lived around 660)
2. Saint Adalar (Adalher), d. 755
3. Saint Adalbert of Egmond (Adelbertus), d. 740
4. Blessed Adolfina (also called Anna Catharina Dierickx), d. 1900
5. Saint Adrian, d.688
6. Saint Adrian of Hilvarenbeek, d. 1572
7. Saint Agricola, d. 420
8. Saint Ailbertus, d. 1122
9. Blessed Alan de la Roche (also called Alan de Rupe), 1428-1479
10. Saint Alberic, d. 784
11. Saint Amandus, @ 584-679
12. Saint Amantius, (around 650)
13. Saint Amalberga, d. 770
14. Saint Amelberga van Susteren, (lived around 900)
15. Saint Amor, (9th Century)
16. Saint Andreas (Andrew) Wouters, d. 1572
17. Saint Ansfridus, d. 1010
18. Saint Antony of Hoornaer, d. 1572
19. Saint Antony of Weert, d. 1572
20. Saint Antony of Willehad, d. 1572
21. Blessed Arnold Janssen, 1837-1909
22. Saint Bavo, 589-654
23. Saint Bernulf (also called Bernold), d. 1054
24. Saint Boniface (also called Winfrid or Wynfrid), d. 755
25. Saint Bruno the Great, (lived around 950)
26. Saint Corbican, (8th Century)
27. Saint Cornelius of Dorstad (also called Cornelius van Wijck), d. 1572
28. Blessed Dodo, d. 1231
29. Saint Domitianus, d. 560
30. Saint Eligius (fr. Eloi), (lived around 720)
31. Saint Engelmund, d. 720
32. Saint Eoban, d. 755
33. Saint Falco, d. 512
34. Saint Ferdinand Hamer, d. 1900
35. Saint Franciscus de Roye, d. 1572
36. Saint Fredegand, d. 720
37. Saint Frederick of Utrecht, d. 838
38. Saint Frederik (Norbertine Abbot), d. 1175
39. Blessed Gerbrand, d. 1218
40. Saint Gerlac (Gerlacus), (12th Century)
41. Saint Gertrude (of Nivelles), 626-659
42. Blessed Gertrude of Delft (also called Gertrude van Oosten), d. 1358
43. Saint Godfried of Duynen, d. 1572
44. Saint Godvaerd of Mervel, d. 1572
45. Saint Gondulfus, d. 607 (or a few years later)
46. Saint Gozewijn van Deventer, 1375-1447
47. Saint Gregory of Utrecht, around 703-776
48. Saint Hadelin, d. around 690
49. Saint Hatebrand, d. 1198
50. Saint Hiero, d. 885
51. Saint Hubertus (Hubert), born 7th Century (year unknown) d. 727
52. Saint Hunger, d. 866
53. Saint Jacob Lacops, d. 1572
54. Blessed Itta, (6th Century)
55. Blessed Ivetta of Huy, 1158-1228
56. Blessed Jan van Oisterwijk (also called Johannes Lenartz), 1504-1572
57. Saint Jeroen of Noordwijk, d. 856
58. Saint Jerome of Weerden, 1572
59. Saint John Berchmans, 1599-1621
60. Blessed John Hewett, (around 1588)
61. Saint John of Gorkum (also called John of Cologne), d. 1572
62. Blessed John van Hoornaer, d. 1572
63. Saint John Roothaan, 1785-1853
64. Blessed Joseph Freinademetz, d. 1975
65. Saint Lambertus (Lambert of Maestricht), around 635-705
66. Saint Landoald, d. 668
67. Saint Lebuines (also called Liafwine), lived around 754
68. Saint Leonard van Wechel (Wegel), d. 1572
69. Saint Lidwina of Schiedam (Lydwina), 1380-1433
70. Saint Ludger, d. 775
71. Saint Marcellinus (Marchelm, Marculf), d. 762
72. Saint Monulfus, (6th Century)
73. Saint Nicholas Pieck, d. 1572
74. Saint Nicolas Janssen Poppel (van Heeze), about 1522-1572
75. Saint Oda, d. around 700
76. Saint Odilbald (also called Adalboldus), d. 899
77. Saint Odulf, d. around 855
78. Saint Otger, d. around 739
79. Blessed Peerke (Petrus) Donders, 1809-1929
80. Blessed Pepin of Landen, d. around 646
81. Saint Perpetuus, (first quarter of 7th Century)
82. Saint Peter Canisius, 1521-1597
83. Saint Peter of Asche, d. 1572
84. Saint Plechelmus of Twente (Plechelm), lived around 690
85. Saint Radbod, d. 838
86. Saint Reineldis, d. 680
87. Saint Remacles, d. 675
88. Saint Rumoldus, d. 775
89. Saint Servatus, d. around 384
90. Saint Suitbert (also called Swithbert), about 647 - d. 713
91. Saint Supplicius, (5th Century)
92. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (also called Edith Stein), 1891-1942
93. Saint Theodardus, d. 670
94. Saint Theodore van der Eem (Theodoric of Emden), d. 1572
95. Blessed Titus Brandsma, 1881-1942
96. Saint Turninus (lived around 690-700)
97. Saint Vindiciana, (lived mid-600's)
98. Saint Werenfrid of Elst, lived around 690
99. Saint Willehad, ordained 766 (birth/death year not known)
100. Saint Willibrord, around 658-d. 744
101. Saint Wiro, b. 739
102. Saint Wulfram (682?)-720

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