Josef Peruschitz

Josef (originally named Benedikt Peruschitz) was born to Mathias Peruschitz and Elisabeth Peruschitz, née Neudecker in Straßlach-Dingharting, district court Wolfratshausen in Bavaria.{{Cite web |title=» Peruschitz, Joseph |url=http://www.orden-online.de/wissen/p/peruschitz-joseph/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |language=de}} Josef and his family moved to Dorfen, administration district Erding. From 1882 until 1886 he was a student at Scheyern, and from 1886 until 1890 at the Royal High School in Freising, from which he graduated in August 1890.

File:Pater Joseph Peruschitz 3.JPG]]

Josef began to study philosophy at the Royal High School from 1890 to 1891. In July 1891, he was admitted to study theology and by 1894, when he submitted his resume to the Scheyern monastery, was in his sixth semester. On 16 April 1894 he requested admission to a monastery, and it was granted on 26 April; he officially entered on 14 August 1894 as Father Joseph. On 28 April 1895 he was ordained by the Archbishop of Munich-Freising, Antonious von Thoma, at the parish church of Scheyern and was professed as a monk on 24 August 1895; In the monastery he had several teaching and educational jobs, including mathematics, music, physical education, shorthand and prefect.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-07 |title=Leben vor der Berufung - Kloster Scheyern |url=http://www.kloster-scheyern.de/geschichte/schicksal-titanic/leben-vor-der-berufung.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507002419/http://www.kloster-scheyern.de/geschichte/schicksal-titanic/leben-vor-der-berufung.html |archive-date=7 May 2016 }}Lukas Wirth OSB (ed.): Scheyern Monastery: 900 Years of Benedictine Order at the Wittelsbach Family's Home , ISBN 978-3-7917-3037-0 , p. 703 In 1912, Josef spent Holy Week at the Benedictine cloister St. Augustine in Ramsgate, after which he was en route to St. Cloud, Minnesota where he was to be employed at the Swiss Congregation's Benedictine School. He was apparently to be principal of their high school.

File:Pater Joseph Peruschitz 4.JPG]]

File:Pater Joseph Peruschitz 1.JPG]]

Josef traveled to Southampton and boarded the RMS Titanic on April 10; a survivor named Lawrence Beesley said that Josef and two other priests, Fr. Montvila and Fr. Thomas Byles held daily mass aboard the ship and during the sinking, "When all the excitement became fearful all the Catholics on board desired the assistance of priests with the greatest fervour.{{Cite web |title=Facts About The RMS Titanic |url=https://titanic3.tripod.com/facts.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=titanic3.tripod.com}}{{Cite web |last=CNA |title=Sacrifice of Titanic's Catholic priests recalled on 100th anniversary |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/24746/sacrifice-of-titanics-catholic-priests-recalled-on-100th-anniversary |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-05-09 |title=Bayerischer Benediktiner starb beim Titanic-Unglück {{!}} domradio.de |url=http://www.domradio.de/nachrichten/2012-04-15/bayerischer-benediktiner-starb-beim-titanic-unglueck |access-date=2025-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509173808/http://www.domradio.de/nachrichten/2012-04-15/bayerischer-benediktiner-starb-beim-titanic-unglueck |archive-date=9 May 2016 }} Both priests aroused those condemned to die to say acts of contrition and prepare themselves to meet the face of God.Jens Ostrowski: Calling Titanic: The Journey of Benedictine Father Joseph Peruschitz . Füssen 2001, ISBN 978-3-8311-1466-5 .Joseph Peruschitz. In: Lukas Wirth OSB (ed.): Scheyern Monastery: 900 Years of Benedictine Order at the Wittelsbach Family's Headquarters , Pustet, Regensburg 2019, ISBN 978-3-7917-3037-0 , pp. 702–703 They led the rosary and others answered. The sound of the recitation irritated a few passengers, and some ridiculed those who prayed and started a ring dance around them. The two priests were engaged continuously giving general absolution to those who were about to die. Those entering the lifeboats were consoled with moving words. Some women refused to be separated from their husbands, preferring to die with them. Finally, when no more women were near, some men were allowed into the boats. Father Peruschitz was offered a place which he declined.{{Cite web |date=2015-01-21 |title=Der Untergang - Kloster Scheyern |url=http://www.kloster-scheyern.de/geschichte/schicksal-titanic/der-untergang.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121011721/http://www.kloster-scheyern.de/geschichte/schicksal-titanic/der-untergang.html |archive-date=21 January 2015 }}{{Cite book |last=Molony |first=Senan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A98GEQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Fr.+Josef+Peruschitz%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT211 |title=The Irish Aboard Titanic |date=2023-03-06 |publisher=Mercier Press Ltd |isbn=978-1-78117-054-0 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Beesley |first=Lawrence |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4jGIAwAAQBAJ&q=%22Fr.+Josef+Peruschitz%22+-wikipedia |title=The Loss of the Titanic: I Survived the Titanic |date=2011-11-15 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=978-1-4456-0785-6 |language=en}}" Josef's body was never identified and he is remembered with a plaque in the cloister at the Scheyern Monastery.{{Cite web |date=2018-08-15 |title=As it turns out, there's religious subtext to the Titanic too |url=https://cruxnow.com/johns-journal/2018/08/as-it-turns-out-theres-religious-subtext-to-the-titanic-too |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Crux |language=en}}Ostrowski, Jens (2001) Berufung Titanic: Die Reise des Benediktinerpaters Joseph Peruschitz . Füssen: ZölCom, BoD. 132 pages {{ISBN|978-3831114665}}

{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{improve categories|date=January 2025}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peruschitz, Josef}}

Category:1871 births

Category:1912 deaths

Category:People from Bavaria

Category:Deaths on the RMS Titanic