— Father Józef —
Blessed Józef Kowalski
The Auschwitz Memorial ( @AuschwitzMuseum ) sends out regular Tweets about specific individuals who were murdered in the concentration camp. Every death was a tragedy — never forget.
I often read the individual story — who they were and where they came from. This post caught my eye being about a Catholic priest. In particular, due to Father Józef’s sustained and remarkable devotion to the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
(Information below edited from Wikipedia.)
Blessed Józef Kowalski was sent to Auschwitz on 26 June 1941 and was prisoner number 17,350 (or possibly 17,950.) He ministered regularly to his fellow prisoners in Block 25, absolving many of them of their sins: he was known as ‘Father Józef.’
Blockführer Gerhard Palitzsch discovered Blessed Fr. Józef’s Rosary. The Nazi ordered Father Józef to trample the Rosary and when Father Józef refused to do so, he was assigned to a penal company.
On 3 July 1942 he was severely beaten by the guards. That night, he was gravely beaten again and possibly drowned. He was only 31 years old.
Saint Pope John Paul II knew Blessed Józef Kowalski personally before the war.
On 13 June 1999 the only Polish Pope beatified this amazing Polish hero in Warsaw.
Kevin Hay
(You can follow Kevin on Twitter @kevinhay77)