Vatican recognizes martyrdom of Romanian bishop, killed by Communists
October 31, 2013
The Vatican has recognized the martyrdom of a Romanian bishop who died under the country’s Communist regime.
Bishop Anton Durcovici (1888-1951), who became Bishop of Iasi in 1948, was arrested the following year, tortured, and died when he was left in the winter cold without clothing or food. On October 31 the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, with the approval of Pope Francis, issued a decree recognizing the Romanian prelate as a martyr, clearing the way for his beatification.
The Congregation also issued decrees recognizing the “heroic virtue” of three candidates, who now will be eligible for beatification if a miracle is attributed to their influence:
- Honoria “Nano” Nagle (1718- 1784), an Irish religious;
- Celestina Bottego (1895-1980), the American-born daughter of an Italian immigrant who returned to his native land; she became a religious founder there; and
- Olga della Madre di Dio (1910-1943), born Olga Maria Fortunata Gugelmo, an Italian religious.
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Posted by: jacquebquique5708 -
Oct. 31, 2013 7:44 PM ET USA
As someone who was very fortunate to have visited Romania as a proud member of the Sixth Fleet, I can attest to the wiping out of Christianity in that country. Churches were turned into museums after the horses were run out of the stables. Anyone interested needs to read Pacepa, the former intelligence head in Romania, about the current state of affairs in Romania and the world and the intelligence community.
