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 ...

JACQUES HAMEL, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 26 JULY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 26th of July WELCOME! SERVANT OF GOD JACQUES HAMEL, PRIEST AND MARTYR "Jacques Hamel (30 November 1930 - 26 July 2016) was a French Catholic priest who served in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray. On July 26, 2016, Hamel was murdered during the 2016 Normandy church attack by two Muslim men pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant while he celebrated Mass in his church." (From Wikipedia) Father Hamel, 85, still officiated regularly as auxiliary at the church in St Étienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, Normandy, France, and in neighbouring Elbeuf, local media reported, stepping in when the parish’s regular priest, Father Auguste Moanda-Phuati, was busy. Father Hamel was killed by two men armed with knives during Weekday Mass. They who took five people, Fr Hamel, two nuns and two other worshippers, hostage in the church. The two men were later shot by police. Three hostages were freed unharmed but one was in a cri...

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...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog