Fr. Richard Henkes, S.A.C., A Picture of His Life A Picture of His Life | Page 19

Frankenstein in June.
The last day in the school for Fr. Henkes was just before the start
of the summer holidays of 1938. Georg Reitor, at that time a student
in Frankenstein, reported that he compared the songs of the Christian
youth with those of the Hitler Youth and warned them of their con-
tent and consequences. Reitor writes: “He was silent; but then he said
very softly, “No good way to say farewell. I’ve tried to prepare you for
life. Whether my preparations were also”- he broke off, and only said,
‘Life is serious.’ End of school!”
Fr. Richard Henkes had indeed become an exciting and enthusi-
astic speaker from the pulpit ad lectern, but he was also a teacher of
body and soul. We do not know how difficult it was for him to leave
the classroom forever. If someone had told him so in Schönstatt, he
would not have believed it.
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