Franz J?gerst?tter, an Austrian farmer, devoted husband and father, and devout Catholic, was executed in 1943 for refusing to serve in the Nazi army. Before taking this stand J?gerst?tter had consulted both his pastor and his local bishop, who instructed him to do his duty and to obey the law--an instruction that violated his conscience. For many years J?gerst?tter's solitary witness was honored by the Catholic peace movement, while viewed with discomfort by many of his fellow Austrians. Now, with his beatification in 2007, his example has been embraced by the universal church. He stands as one of the great martyrs of our time."