BL. BENEDICT DASWA, MARTYR

BL. BENEDICT DASWA, MARTYR - 1 FEBRUARY

BLESSED BENEDICT DASWA, MARTYR

Blessed Benedict Daswa, born June 16, 1946, was a South African school teacher and principal. He took the name "Benedict" upon his conversion to the Catholic Faith; one of his patron saints was Saint Benedict of Nursia, whose motto "Ora et labora" [pray and work] was his motto, too. On February 2, 1990, a local mob martyred him after he refused to pay money to some villagers for collective witchcraft designed to ward off thunderstorms. He rejected these practices because they are incompatible with Catholic Christianity.

¹FROM A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO BL BENEDICT DASWA:

Sr. Angela Ruddy, a Missionary Sister of the Holy Rosary, who was the parish catechetical coordinator and worked closely with Benedict, said of him: "I would go so far as to say that everything about him was Christ-like. To me personally I felt in the presence of an exceptionally graced man, a virtuous man, a peaceful, joyful, contented person who not so much talked about his faith as lived it deeply and quietly. I would say he intensely loved Christ and the Church".

People remember Benedict as a man of strong faith. According to his sister, Thinavhuyo, "He was growing in his faith day by day. I believe this because although he was encountering many problems in his life, his faith did not waver". He used to tell youth groups, "I would die for my faith in Christianity". Michael Maliavusa, one of his youth leaders, related: "He believed strongly in Church doctrine which influenced and inspired him". Tshililo Mafenya, a relative, described him as, "a person full of love. He loved all people". Blessed Benedict was through and through Catholic with no compromise. He was a person who was committed to the Catholic way of life. He was not influenced by other churches, religions or practices.

Nourished by prayer, the Word of God and the regular reception of the Sacraments, he was deeply involved in the life of the parish. He was full of enthusiasm for the spread of the gospel through building up strong, local Catholic communities.

¹Source:

https://benedictdaswa.org.za/blessed-benedict-daswa/exemplary-christian/

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Benedict confessed the faith, may experience his goodness as he intercedes for us with you. 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.

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog