Blessed Joseph Kugler – 10 June – Story & Iconography
Blessed Joseph Kugler. German friar of Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God. Outspoken critic of of Adolf Hitler and Nazi regime. Interrogated by Gestapo for anti-euthanasia speeches. He cared for people with physical challenges
Eustachius Kugler (1867–1946) was born into the family of a blacksmith, the youngest of six children, in Oberpfalz (Bavaria, Germany) and was baptized Joseph. In Munich, he learned the craft of blacksmithing, but in 1884, after a disastrous fall from some scaffolding, he returned to his home region.
As a deeply religious young man, he came into contact with the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God that was setting up a Centre for people with physical challenges. The young Joseph Kugler entered the Order in 1893.. After serving in various centres in the Bavarian Province, in 1925 the Order elected him Provincial Superior, the post he was to retain until his death.
Blessed Joseph Kugler was acknowledged to possess a deep and intense spirituality which enabled him to act and govern his religious Province with wisdom and prudence, despite the difficulties of living under the Nazi regime that tried to discredit the Hospitaller Order.
He spent his whole life at the service of the sick, for the good of the Order and the Church.
“The fastest and the easiest way is the way of love” – Blessed Joseph Kugler
Iconography of Blessed Joseph Kugler – Friar’s attire of Do-Good-Brothers, wheelchair, book, crucifix
