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Basilea Schlink

Basilea Schlink (1904 - 2001). German religious leader, writer, and co-founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, born Klara Schlink in Darmstadt to a professor of mechanics. Raised Lutheran, she studied at Fröbelseminar in Kassel (1923) and Berlin’s Inner Mission girls’ school (1924), later earning a doctorate in psychology from Hamburg University in 1934 with a thesis on adolescent faith struggles. From 1933 to 1935, she led the Women’s Division of the German Student Christian Movement, resisting Nazi exclusion of Jewish Christians. In 1947, with Erika Madauss, she founded the Sisterhood in Darmstadt, taking the name Mother Basilea, growing it to 209 sisters across 11 global branches by 2001. Schlink authored over 60 books, including My All for Him, translated into 60 languages, and published tracts in 90. Her radio programs aired in 23 languages, emphasizing repentance and reconciliation, especially between Germans and Jews. Unmarried, she dedicated her life to prayer and ministry, shaping interdenominational Christian communities.
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In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of dissatisfaction in life and offers a solution found in the life of Jesus. The speaker shares their personal experience of feeling dissatisfied and trapped by unfulfilled demands. They emphasize that the way to true satisfaction is through letting go and giving up everything, as Jesus calls us to do. By relinquishing our desires for material possessions, power, and love, we can experience true joy and fulfillment. The speaker encourages listeners to try this approach and promises that by following in Jesus' footsteps, we will find happiness.
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God lives and works today, but maybe you don't feel that way. Are you dissatisfied with yourself? With your life? I was, until I discovered a secret in the life of Jesus. Today's meditation by Basilia Schlink can help you to find this secret too. Are you suffering from dissatisfaction which almost tears you apart on some days? You realize perhaps how intolerable you are, but you see no way out of this trap of the devil. Joy has disappeared from your life. Your unfulfilled demands on life have spoiled everything for you. The more you have, the more you want. Well, you're no exception. From my own experience, I can give you advice. There's only one way to satisfaction. It has been tried out. It's the way to which Jesus Christ calls us. And he also helps us to walk this way, because he has already walked it. It's called, whoever loses his life and everything that belongs to it, that is, whoever gives up everything, will gain true life. Sacrifice you came to offer, I give myself anew. Grant me the grace to surrender, that then in me may see you. Bind me to you, my dear Jesus, I then will give you all. Gladly my treasure surrender, even those I love most of all. Yes, this way to satisfaction is characterized by letting go, by losing. Strange, and yet understandable. The more you want to have for yourself, the more dissatisfied you become. The more time and money, power and rights, strength and love you give up, the more satisfied you will be. Try it and see. This tormenting dissatisfaction in your life will disappear. Joy will fill your life, because you're going the way of Jesus. No one makes so happy as Jesus does. Only those will experience this happiness who seek it and who go the way which will make us and others happy, the way in his footsteps, that is, to let go of everything in order to receive everything. Who makes us happy? Jesus, that's you. Therefore my heart rejoices in you. Jesus, how joy he turns. Jesus, you must bring of joy ever new. For heaven's joy to men comes for you. Jesus, how joy he turns. Jesus, my Lord, my God and my King, you fill my heart with praise to sing. Jesus, how joy he turns. God bless you.
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Basilea Schlink (1904 - 2001). German religious leader, writer, and co-founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, born Klara Schlink in Darmstadt to a professor of mechanics. Raised Lutheran, she studied at Fröbelseminar in Kassel (1923) and Berlin’s Inner Mission girls’ school (1924), later earning a doctorate in psychology from Hamburg University in 1934 with a thesis on adolescent faith struggles. From 1933 to 1935, she led the Women’s Division of the German Student Christian Movement, resisting Nazi exclusion of Jewish Christians. In 1947, with Erika Madauss, she founded the Sisterhood in Darmstadt, taking the name Mother Basilea, growing it to 209 sisters across 11 global branches by 2001. Schlink authored over 60 books, including My All for Him, translated into 60 languages, and published tracts in 90. Her radio programs aired in 23 languages, emphasizing repentance and reconciliation, especially between Germans and Jews. Unmarried, she dedicated her life to prayer and ministry, shaping interdenominational Christian communities.