Conventual Franciscan Priest and Martyr (1913-1942)
His life
+ Piotr Zukowski was born in Rapaa-Baran, Lithuania. He became a Conventual Franciscan friar in Poland when he was 16 years old and was known as “Boniface” in religious life.
+ Following his solemn profession of vows in 1935, he worked as a printer, helping his community publish The Knight of the Immaculate, assisting in the mission of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
+ Father Boniface was arrested by the Gestapo on October 14, 1941, for the “crime” of his work in publishing and his efforts to protect his community’s printing apostolate.
+ Imprisoned in Warsaw, Poland, he spent time ministering to other prisoners before being shipped to the concentration camp at Dachau.
+ After months of abuse and mistreatment and being forced to work outdoors in all kinds of weather, he died on April 10, 1942. He was beatified in 1999.
Spiritual bonus
On this day the Church also remembers the Trinitarian friar Saint Michael of the Saints. He is especially remembered for his work in helping to reform the Trinitarian Order and for his devotion to the Eucharist. He died in 1625 and was canonized in 1862.
Quote
“This is the one who was not deserted by God on the day of struggle and now wears a crown of victory for faithfulness to the Lord’s commands, alleluia.”—Entrance Antiphon for the Mass of the Common of One Martyr during the Easter Season
Prayer
O God, who were pleased to give light to your Church by adorning blessed Boniface with the victory of martyrdom, graciously grant that, as he imitated the Lord’s Passion, so we may, by following in his footsteps, be worthy to attain eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For One Martyr)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
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