23. Anton Bauer

23.

Anton Bauer

The next day I am again up early and walking. I soon come to another “closed for the season” luxurious Bavarian-style hotel beside the country road.

Knowing how German tourists love to ramble, the hotel people have thoughtfully erected an outdoor signboard map showing the hiking trails in the vicinity.

I chose a path that goes in the general direction of Altotting and appears to pass through some woods skirting what will undoubtedly be a small, pleasant pond.

I soon cross some rolling grassy hills when I try walking the nicely maintained pedestrian path, and on top of one of these hills, under a picturesque tree, lies a low stone monument, which reads:

Remember in prayer
Anton Bauer

Killed by Lightning
Near Hemhof,
Germany

22 June 1874

Which accident took place about a hundred and fifty years ago.

How many people have passed this way, seen this stone and remembered Anton Bauer in prayer since 22 June 1874? And what sort of effect have the prayers of these passers-by had on Anton?

I once asked my brother, who is a minister of the Lutheran faith, exactly how he prayed for those people in his congregation who ask for his prayers and he said that he published their names in his church’s weekly bulletin.

Isn’t this request for the prayers of strangers walking through a field sort of like putting the request in the church bulletin—and engraving it on stone!

Does the passer-by’s prayer actually help the soul of the dead person who is prayed for in some way? Or does the prayer do more for the pray-er than for the pray-ee?

I don’t know, Anton, but here’s my memorial prayer, for what it is worth--perhaps somebody will do the same for me some day—though what good will it do me or them I don’t know.

And you, dear reader—now that you have read about Anton’s memorial request—what will you do about Herr Bauer?

Tomasito, 2009


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