Michał Piaszczyński
| Blessed Michael Piaszczynski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Priest, martyr | |
| Born |
1 November 1885 Lomza, Poland |
| Died |
18 December 1940 (aged 55) Sachsenhausen concentration camp |
| Beatified | 13 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast |
20 December 12 June (group memorial) |
Michael Piaszczynski (1 November 1885 – 18 December 1940) was a Polish Catholic priest who was arrested by the Nazis and killed at Sachsenhausen concentration camp. He is considered a martyr, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 13 June 1999.
Life
Michael Piaszczynski was born in Lomza, Poland, the son of Ferdinand and Anna Zientara.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 June 1911.[1] He was parish priest in Mikaszówka, Poland for a year before moving to Fribourg to earn a doctorate in philosophy.[2] Father Piaszczynski served as a chaplain to a colony of Polish miners in France.[1] From 1919 to 1935, he served at the Theological Seminary in the Diocese of Lomza and as a faculty member of the Piotr Skarga Secondary School in Lomza.[2]
Arrest and Death
In September of 1939, Father Piaszczynski became director of St. Casimir Secondary School in Sejnach.[2] He was arrested on 7 April 1940 and was moved to Sachsenhausen on 3 May 1940.[2] During his detention, Father Piaszczynski was in the habit of giving up his own ration of bread to elderly Jewish inmates.[1] He died of physical exhaustion and related illness on 18 December 1940.[2]
Beatification
On 13 June 1999, Pope John Paul II beatified Michael Piaszczynski along with 108 Polish martyrs of World War II.[3]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Biography of Bl. Michael Piaszczynski". St. Zygmunt Roman Catholic Parish Website. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Martyrology of the Clergy of Poland". St. Zygmunt Catholic Parish Website. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ↑ "Catholic Saints Information". CatholicSaints.info. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
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