BL. MARCEL CALLO, MARTYR

BL. MARCEL CALLO, MARTYR - 19 APRIL

BLESSED MARCEL CALLO, MARTYR

His memorial is April 19 in Austria.

Marcel Callo was born in Rennes, France, on December 6,, 1921 as the second of nine children to Marcel Callo and Felicita Maria Giuseppina; one brother was Giovanni (who became a priest).

He began working on October 1, 1934 in a printing shop in Rennes. Bl. Marcel did not like to associate himself with fellow workers who swore or who told improper stories and aligned himself with fellow Christians instead.

HE JOINED THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN WORKERS

He joined the Young Christian Workers (also known as the Jocists in 1935 that Joseph Leo Cardijn had established). His mother asked her him if he had an inclination to become a priest like his brother but he responded: "I do not feel called to the priesthood; I think I do more good by remaining in the world".

He became engaged to Marguerite Derniaux (died 1997) at the age of 20 but due to the war the couple never married though were engaged when Bl. Marcel was 21; despite this Marguerite remained faithful to her fiancé. The two also enacted a strict spiritual rule of life that included going to Mass and the frequent reception of the Eucharist.

"A MISSIONARY IN THE SERVICE OF MY COMPANIONS"

He was conscripted to serve during the war and his original intention was to flee but remembered that if he did so those he left back home would be arrested to coerce him. He was reluctant but agreed to serve and when conscripted said: "I'm leaving not as a worker but as a missionary in the service of my companions". Bl. Marcel departed on March 19, 1943 for his service and brought with him - which he kept at all times - his badges as both a Scout and a member of the Jocists. The Gestapo arrested Callo on April 19, 1944 due to his membership with the Jocists which was perceived to be an outlawed and secret order.

HE WAS SENT TO DO FORCED LABOUR

He was sent to camps on October 7, 1944 in Gotha and then in Flossenburg; from there he was taken to the Gusen I and II parts of the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. It was there that Bl. Marcel had to endure forced labour for a total of twelve hours a day.

On March 19, 1945, at dawn, he died after contracting tuberculosis and a mix of other ailments such as dysentery. He was buried in a mass grave outside the walls of the camp and his remains never recovered.

On account of the fact that he died in harsh camp conditions in hatred of his faith Pope John Paul II presided over his beatification on October 4, 1987.

Source: Wikipedia -

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Callo

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Marcel may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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