Book Review: The Shadow of His Wings by Gereon Goldmann

The Shadow of His Wings by Gereon Goldmann, OFM

This almost unbelievable true story recounts the early life of Gereon Goldmann. As an altar boy, he dreamed of becoming a missionary to Japan. Growing up in 1920s and 1930s Germany was not too difficult until he was drafted in his early seminary years to fight in World War II. Since the seminarians were well-educated, they were recruited for the SS. With their natural reluctance to kill (they weren't just seminarians, they were also Franciscans), the seminarians were put in communications roles. The position enabled Goldmann, who knew how bad the ideology of the Nazis was, to safeguard anyone who would be a target of a secret raid, like churches with precious vessels and the Eucharist. Goldman did not stay in the heart of Germany for long. Assigned to go to the eastern front, his role switched to a medic. Through Providential circumstances, he did not go to the Stalingrad disaster but was reassigned to France. He spent the war tending to German soldiers and arguing with his leadership about Nazi ideology. He was disinvited from the SS but continued to serve, eventually being captured in Italy and sent to North African prison camps. All the while, he tried to get ordained so that he could provide more substantial spiritual service to the dying. Through the prayers of several friends and acquaintances back home, he survived many bad circumstances and was ordained with the permission of the pope.

The book ends with an overview of his post-war years when he went to Japan and served as a missionary with great zeal. He worked with the locals to build parishes and social service centers to help the poorest in Tokyo. 

The first part is compiled from various sermons and writings of Fr. Goldmann. The second, smaller part is compiled from shorter writings he made and eyewitness accounts of his activities. Both parts are very inspiring, full of drama and grace. His story is an interesting insight into a holy, humble, hard-working, and hard-headed man. He is a great role-model of integrity in the most dire of circumstances.

Highly recommended.