Blessed Eduard Profittlich’s spiritual heritage is an invaluable gift to the Estonian people and the Church, living on through his unwavering faith, deep devotion, and heroic love. His writings, sermons, and personal example are still for us today a relevant guide, teaching fidelity in daily small things and encouraging us to find strength in Christ.
Guided by his episcopal motto “Faith and Peace” (Fides et Pax), Blessed Eduard is a spiritual guide for us, whose life and martyrdom testify that love is stronger than hatred and faith overcomes the world. We invite you to delve into his thoughts and spirituality to find inspiration and keep alive this spiritual spring that he sowed in the Land of Mary (Maarjamaa) with the sacrifice of his life.
December 27, 1936, was an extraordinary and solemn day in the history of the Catholic Church in Estonia, when Pope Pius XI appointed Eduard Profittlich as archbishop. This historic event ended a nearly 500-year hiatus, being the first consecration of a Catholic bishop in Mary’s Land (Estonia) after the Reformation era. Profittlich became the first citizen of the Republic of Estonia to be consecrated as a Catholic bishop, symbolizing a new spiritual birth and independence for the local Church.
The solemn consecration ceremony was held in Tallinn’s Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul before a large crowd. The service was officiated by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonino Arata, assisted by Bishop Willem Cobben from Helsinki and Bishop Jāzeps Rancāns from Riga. This event was a significant confirmation of the restoration and consolidation of the ecclesiastical hierarchy in independent Estonia.
The historic moment brought together approximately 3,000 faithful and interested individuals, who filled Tallinn Cathedral to its capacity. Numerous Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians were present, eager to partake in a ceremony not witnessed in these lands for centuries. Informative booklets were distributed to all participants, allowing them to follow the three-hour solemn service with deep understanding and great reverence.
As a spiritual guide for his activities, Archbishop Profittlich chose the motto “Faith and Peace” (Latin: Fides et pax). With this motto, he called his flock to live worthily in faith and to preserve the inner peace bestowed by Christ, even amidst the political storms of the world. His episcopal coat of arms and motto continued to carry the message that God’s peace should reign within us, all the more as we follow His voice.
The episcopal consecration was a high recognition from the Holy See for Profittlich’s five years of fruitful work as Apostolic Administrator in Estonia. During this time, he had significantly developed the Church’s material base and deepened the spiritual life of the parishes, promoting Estonian-language Catholic culture. His appointment gave Estonian Catholics a new self-awareness and confirmed their belonging to the universal Church.
This ending of a 500-year hiatus symbolized the ‘rebirth’ or renaissance of the Catholic Church in Mary’s Land (Estonia). Profittlich remained faithful to his calling to the very end, willing to share the fate of his people and offer his life as a sacrifice out of love for Christ. His episcopal consecration laid the foundation for a legacy that lives on in the testimony of his faith, fidelity, and martyrdom.
Archbishop Eduard Profittlich was known as an excellent preacher, who spoke warmly and directly to people’s souls. His sermons and articles carry Christian optimism and invite us, even today, to find faithfulness and peace of mind in daily life.
The message written to his family in Germany on February 8, 1941, in Tallinn, is Blessed Eduard Profittlich’s spiritual testament and a testament to his faithfulness. In a situation where he, as a German, was strongly urged to return to his homeland during the resettlement and escape Soviet occupation, he consciously chose the cross and the path of sacrifice. This letter reflects heroic steadfastness and the principle “where the flock is, there is also the chief shepherd,” which meant remaining faithful to his believers even in the most tragic moments.
Profittlich described his difficult decision not with fear or anguish, but through “great joy,” praying the hymn of praise Te Deum as an act of thanksgiving after making his final choice. He was fully trusting in God, ready to sacrifice his freedom and life for Christ, affirming that such a destiny is “immeasurably beautiful.” This significant document, which the archbishop’s relatives handed over to the Diocese of Tallinn in May 2025, is today an official relic of Blessed Eduard Profittlich, symbolizing the triumph of love and faith over violence.
Archbishop Eduard Profittlich was a joyful, vibrant, and zealous chief shepherd, whose open nature and dignified demeanor earned him widespread favor and respect in Estonian society. He was characterized as a deeply educated and disciplined individual, whose most brilliant quality was an extraordinary “talent for pastoral care” and the ability to communicate directly and warmly with a wide variety of people.
In 1933, Archbishop Eduard Profittlich founded the Catholic publication Kiriku Elu, guided by the Jesuit principle of bringing God’s word to people through the living written word. At that time, there was a great shortage of spiritual literature in Estonia that would support people’s spiritual life and help them better understand the Church’s sacraments, and the new publication filled this void. The newspaper quickly became popular not only among Catholics, but also among non-Catholics and spiritual individuals, offering Estonian society a dignified and open view of the Catholic faith.
Archbishop Profittlich was one of the paper’s most prolific authors, writing numerous articles and sermons that embodied Christian optimism and a call to holiness. Although of German origin, he wrote his texts in Estonian, using an editor’s assistance when necessary to ensure linguistic accuracy and eloquence. His writings touched upon deep theological layers, such as the relationship between good and evil and the power of love, while remaining precise and academically sound.
To date, over a hundred of Profittlich’s articles and letters have been preserved, most of which appeared in the 1930s issues of Kiriku Elu. In 2023, this written legacy was compiled into a book titled „Usku ja rahu“ to keep alive his spiritual example and teachings, which still resonate with readers today. The newspaper Kiriku Elu will remain in history as a significant cornerstone in building and promoting Estonian-language Catholic culture in independent Estonia.
During the lifetime of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, only one book written by him was published, titled ‘On the Essence of Christianity’. This work was not originally conceived as a complete book, but first appeared as a series of articles in the Catholic publication Kiriku Elu already in the 1930s. Later, these texts were compiled into a single publication, becoming the only monograph completed and published by the Archbishop.
The work is essentially an in-depth commentary on the book ‘The Essence of Evangelical Christianity’ (Das Wesen des evangelischen Christentums, 1929) by the German theologian Professor Dr. Karl Heim. In his book, Profittlich analyzes the fundamental truths and nature of Christianity, highlighting and comparing both the Catholic and Lutheran perspectives. This written work reflects his academic thoroughness, extensive theological erudition, and desire to foster dialogue and understanding between different Christian denominations.
Although Archbishop Profittlich’s written legacy is rich thanks to his numerous articles and sermons, his potential as a book author largely remained unrealized due to his tragic fate. However, this single book is an important landmark in Estonian Catholic intellectual history, offering valuable reading even today to those who wish to delve into the fundamental questions of Christianity through the Archbishop’s clear and logical pen.
If Blessed Eduard Profittlich has helped you in your life, you have experienced help through his intercession in prayer, or you wish to share your personal testimony, then we ask you to contact us. Your story is a precious and important part of preserving the legacy of Archbishop Profittlich and documenting his path to sainthood.
