The Freytag - Good deeds change destiny – Wisdom from the heart of Europe

On the Timeless Power of Virtue and How It Transforms Life

For centuries, the great traditions of Europe—Christianity, ancient philosophy, and the folk wisdom of our ancestors—have taught that through our actions, we shape not only others but also ourselves. "As you sow, so shall you reap," says the Holy Scriptures, and this principle permeates the entire intellectual history of the Western world. Even though virtuous deeds should not be performed for personal gain, history repeatedly shows that those who do good will receive good in return. The following events from German and European history may bear witness to this.

The Farmer of Oberammergau and the Plague Vow

In 1633, the plague raged throughout Bavaria. The village of Oberammergau initially seemed to be spared, but then a day laborer secretly slipped into the quarantined village to see his family. He brought the disease with him, and within a few weeks, over 80 villagers had died.

In their despair, the survivors gathered and made a solemn vow: If God spared them from utter destruction, they would perform the Passion Play every ten years – as a sign of their gratitude and as a reminder to future generations.

From that day forward, not a single villager died of the plague.

The people of Oberammergau kept their promise. For almost 400 years, they have performed the Passion Play, and the small village has become a place of faith and reflection for people from all over the world. What began as an act of humility and trust has brought blessings, community, and prosperity to the village for generations to come.

Martin of Tours and the Divided Cloak

The story of Saint Martin has been alive in German-speaking countries for over 1,500 years. As a young Roman soldier, Martin rode through the city gate of Amiens in the winter of 334. There he encountered a poor man sitting half-naked in the cold, pleading for help.

Martin owned nothing but his weapons and his soldier's cloak. Without hesitation, he drew his sword, cut the cloak in two, and gave one half to the beggar. The other soldiers laughed at him, for now he himself looked like a fool in his half-cloak.

The following night, Christ himself appeared to Martin in a dream, clothed in that same half-cloak. He said, "Martin, not yet baptized, has clothed me with this cloak."

Martin was baptized, left the military, and later became Bishop of Tours. His fame as a man of mercy spread throughout Europe. Even today, we celebrate St. Martin's Day on November 11th, and children parade through the streets with lanterns to commemorate that night when a simple soldier, through a single act of kindness, forever changed his own destiny and the destinies of countless others.

The Merchant from Augsburg

In the 16th century, the merchant Jakob Fugger, one of the wealthiest men of his time, lived in Augsburg. But unlike many of his peers, he never forgot the source of his wealth and whom he was obligated to serve.

In 1521, he founded the "Fuggerei"—a settlement of 52 houses for impoverished citizens of the city. The rent was one Rhenish guilder per year, and it remains the same today, equivalent to 88 cents. The only requirement: The residents were to say three prayers daily for the founding family.

Many prophesied that the merchant would squander his fortune and that his descendants would end up in poverty. But the opposite happened: The Fugger family remained wealthy and respected for centuries. The Fuggerei itself survived wars, revolutions, and even the destruction of the Second World War. Even today, more than 500 years later, people still live there, and the foundation continues to exist.

Jakob Fugger once wrote: “Many in the business world wished for my downfall. But God sustained me and let others perish.” Those who do good to others lay a foundation that can withstand even the fiercest storms.

The Transformation of the Robber Dismas

One of the most moving stories in Christian tradition is that of the robber crucified at the right hand of Christ. His name, according to tradition, was Dismas.

All his life he had robbed, cheated, and committed acts of violence. Now he hung on the cross, and his end was near. When the other condemned men and even the onlookers mocked Jesus, Dismas did something unexpected: He rebuked the other robber, saying, “We are receiving what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he turned to Jesus and pleaded, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

In that single moment of genuine remorse and kindness, Dismas received the words: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

This story teaches us that it is never too late to turn to goodness. Even at the end of a life gone astray, a sincere confession of virtue can change one's fate.

The Physician Paracelsus and the Poor

Theophrastus von Hohenheim, known as Paracelsus (1493–1541), was one of the most important physicians and natural scientists of his time. He came from humble beginnings and never forgot this.

While other doctors treated only the wealthy and charged high fees, Paracelsus also healed the poor, often without payment. He wrote: "The highest principle of medicine is love." His colleagues ridiculed him, the medical profession persecuted him, and he had to travel from city to city.

Yet his knowledge and his healing successes were so extraordinary that his fame outlasted all hostility. His medical writings became the foundation of a new art of healing, and his name is still spoken with reverence today, almost 500 years later. The mockery of his contemporaries has long been forgotten; his compassion, however, has earned him enduring fame.

Nicholas of Myra and the Three Daughters

The story of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of so many countries and social classes, is familiar to every child in German-speaking countries. But are we also familiar with the event that established his reputation as a benefactor?

In the city of Myra lived an impoverished nobleman with his three daughters. He had lost all his fortune and saw no other way out than to sell his daughters into prostitution to save them from starvation.

When the young Nicholas, not yet a bishop, learned of this, he acted. On three consecutive nights, he secretly threw a bag of gold through the window of the house each night. In this way, the father was able to give each daughter a proper dowry, and all three married honorable men.

Nicholas sought neither thanks nor recognition; he acted in secret, solely for the sake of good. But his deed did not remain hidden, and his fame spread throughout the world. Even today, more than 1,700 years later, we remember him on December 6th and give each other gifts in his name.

The Shoemaker Böhme and Inner Enlightenment

Jakob Böhme (1575–1624) was a simple shoemaker from Görlitz in Upper Lusatia. He possessed neither scholarship nor wealth, yet he led a life of humility, honesty, and quiet piety.

One day, as he recounts, a ray of sunlight fell upon a pewter bowl, and in that moment, a glimpse into the innermost essence of all things opened before him. He began to write, despite his limited education, and his works on divine wisdom spread throughout Europe.

The authorities persecuted him, the Church banned his writings, and he died in poverty. Yet his thoughts influenced philosophers from Hegel to Schelling, and poets from Novalis to Goethe. The simple craftsman, who lived a life of modesty and kindness, became one of the most influential thinkers in German intellectual history.

"For whom time is like eternity and eternity like time," he wrote, "he is freed from all strife." Not outward success, but inner integrity brought him a fame that no power in the world could have bestowed.

The Knight of Bamberg

In the 12th century, a knight lived in Franconia who was known for his greed and ruthlessness. He exploited his peasants, cheated in trade and commerce, and shrank from no injustice. One night, an angel appeared to him in a dream, foretelling his imminent death and admonishing him to give an account of his life.

Shaken, the knight awoke and resolved to change his life completely. He forgave his peasants his debts, donated part of his fortune to a hospice, and made a barefoot pilgrimage to Rome to do penance.

Upon his return, he fell gravely ill. But unlike what the angel had prophesied, he recovered. He lived for many more years, surrounded by the respect of his neighbors and the love of his family. On his deathbed, he said: "I was destined for death, but repentance has given me new life."

What Remains

The ancient wisdom of our ancestors is not dusty relic of a bygone era. It serves as a guide for anyone seeking direction in a world of disorientation.

Those blessed with good fortune should maintain their humility and act according to the laws of justice. Those plagued by misfortune should pause and examine whether their own actions have contributed to their suffering.

Good deeds are never lost. They may not always be immediately rewarded, but they sow seeds that will sprout—in this life or for generations to come. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Those who hold fast to virtue in their hearts will be a light, even in the darkest of times—for themselves and for others.