Having studied philosophy and theology in Valkenburg, Profittlich moved to Poland in 1922, where he pursued doctoral studies in philosophy and theology. He then worked as a parish priest in Opole, Poland, and Hamburg, Germany. German Province of the Jesuit Order sent Profittlich to Estonia in 1930, and over the next ten years, he played a leading role in the building up of the local Catholic Church..

On May 11, 1931, Eduard Profittlich was appointed apostolic administrator by the decree of the Papal Commission for Russia. On November 27, 1936, Eduard Profittlich was named titular archbishop of Hadrianopolis di Haemimonto, and on December 27, 1936, he was consecrated as bishop in Tallinn at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, assisted by the auxiliary bishop of Riga, Jāzeps Rancāns (1886-1969), and the Finnish bishop Guillaume Cobben SCJ (1897-1985), by nuncio Antonino Arata..

Thanks to his dedicated efforts, the pastoral work of the Catholic Church in Estonia reached a new level. It can be said that his legacy still exists today in the Catholic Church. Without the bishop's great work and contribution, the Catholic Church would certainly not have endured the years of occupation.. 

Loe artikleid Profittlichi kohta

By the end of the 1930s, the political situation in all of Europe had become more tense, and there was also a noticeable weakening of democracy in Estonia's domestic politics. In 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed between the countries led by Stalin and Hitler, which divided Europe into their spheres of influence. In June 1940, the Soviet Union occupied Estonia; this was not only a change in the political situation but also began to affect the activities of religious organizations and churches here..

In the fall of 1940, the situation in Estonia became even more tense. In October, Archbishop Profittlich sends the first letter to Rome, asking for advice on what to do – whether to stay with his flock in Estonia or leave for Germany. Profittlich must inform the German embassy of his decision by November 15, 1940. However, no response has yet come from the Vatican. Subsequently, Archbishop Profittlich quickly sends a new letter to Cardinal Maglione in Rome, informing him about the situation of the church in Estonia..

Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, having privately decided to leave for Germany, nonetheless tries once more to contact Rome and sends a new letter in January 1941. A response arrives a month later in February through the Berlin nunciature, where Apostolic Nuncio Orsenigo (1873–1946) informs him of the Holy Father's decision. The servant of God has been given the freedom to do what he deems best in God's name, but the decision must take into account the well-being of the souls entrusted to the chief shepherd..

Profittlich realizes through prayer and introspection that he will stay with his flock. He faces his destiny with great confidence and firm conviction. Profittlich writes again to Rome to inform the Pope of his decision and asks for the Holy Father's blessing. At the same time, Profittlich informs his relatives in Germany that he has decided to remain in Estonia.:

„It is indeed right that the shepherd stays with his little lambs and shares joy and concern with them. And I must say that it took a few weeks of preparation to make this decision, but it did not come from fear and anxiety, but rather with great joy. [—]. 

I would have liked to tell everyone how good God is to us when we completely surrender to Him, how happy we can become when we are willing to sacrifice our entire life and freedom to Christ. I know that God is with me. And then everything goes well. And my life, and if necessary, my death is life and death in Christ. And it is so incredibly beautiful..”

On the night of June 27, 1941, the arrest took place along with a search of Profittlich's office, which was located near the Roman Catholic Church on Vene Street in Tallinn. According to various witness statements, it is known that Profittlich asked the arresting officers for the opportunity to briefly go to St. Peter and Paul Cathedral to pray for a moment. He was granted this request. After a short prayer in front of the altar, where Catholics still gather today to receive the Holy Communion, the path of God's servant Profittlich to Golgotha began.

He was taken to the Kirov prison. The Kirov settlement is located 800 km away from Moscow. The first interrogation of Profittlich took place in August 1941. All interrogations were conducted at night, and one can assume what moral and physical sufferings and hardships the chief shepherd endured far away in a Soviet Russian prison cell..

The interrogations took place until November, when a court ruling was issued against Profittlich. The court chamber of the Kirov region of the Russian SFSR found that the guilt of the accused was proven, and the court confirmed his guilt in assisting the prohibited emigration of Catholic Church personnel and in anti-revolutionary activities and agitation within the church.. 

The court sentenced Eduard Profittlich to death by shooting under Article 58, paragraph 12, and Article 58, paragraph 10, part II of the Criminal Code of the Russian SFSR. However, the wrongfully convicted Profittlich died in Kirov prison on February 22, 1942, before the sentence was carried out..