Priest and Martyr (1903-1940)
His life
+ Marian was born in Poznan, Poland. He entered the army at age 17, flighting in the Polish-Bolshevik War.
+ After leaving military service, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1928. After serving as associate pastor in Leszno, Poland, he became prefect of the seminary in Kozmin and Wolsztyn.
In 1933, Marian was assigned to serve the Polish community in Gdansk. The city, whose population were largely German, were sympathetic to the rise of the Nazis and the Polish minority was often subject to harassment and, at times, physical violence.
+ On September 1, 1939, the day the Nazis invaded Poland, Father Marian and other priests were arrested, beaten, and sent to various concentration camps.
+ Blessed Marian Górecki was shot to death in a field outside the Stutthof concentration camp on Good Friday, March 22, 1940. He was beatified with other martyrs in 1999.
For prayer and reflection
“I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 8:39
Spiritual bonus
On this day we also honor Saint Lea of Rome. A wealthy widow, she supported a community of consecrated virgins under the direction of Saint Marcella, and she later served as the leader of the community. Following her dead in 384, Saint Jerome praised her for her dedication to prayer and her simple way of life.
Prayer
Almighty and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Marian to overcome the torments of his passion, grant that we, who celebrate the day of his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. 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.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...