Józef Achilles Puchała
Encyclopedia
Józef Achilles Puchała (born 18 March 1911 in Kosina - died 19 July 1943 in Borowikowszczyzna) – Polish Franciscan
monk from the Iwieniec (Ivyanets
) monastery, tortured and killed
by the Nazis during World War II
and beatified
by Pope John Paul II
on June 13, 1999.
At the age of 16 he was admitted to the order of Franciscans. Between 1932 and 1937 he studied philosophy and theology in Kraków. He was ordained in 1936. After completing his studies he joined the Franciscan monastery in Grodno. In 1939 he became a second vicar in Iwieniec (Ivyanets
).
At the start of World War II he was moved to a nearby village as a provost of parish of St. Maria Magdalena. After the anti-Nazi uprising in Iwieniec, in June 1943 the local population was arrested by the Germans. Although Puchała had the opportunity, he did not choose to escape and instead remained with his parishioners.
"Operation Hermann" was an operation by the Nazi's targeted especially against the Catholic resistance, and in particular, Franciscan friars Józef Achilles Puchała and Karol Herman Stępień, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1999, were tortured to death by the Nazis.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monk from the Iwieniec (Ivyanets
Ivyanets
Ivyanets is a township in the Valozhyn Raion of the Minsk Voblast, Belarus. It is located in a hilly and woody area on the river Volma. It is known since mid-15th century as a privately owned settlement of Sollohub family. Originally known as Givenech, presumably derived from Lithuanian gyventi –...
) monastery, tortured and killed
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
by the Nazis during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on June 13, 1999.
At the age of 16 he was admitted to the order of Franciscans. Between 1932 and 1937 he studied philosophy and theology in Kraków. He was ordained in 1936. After completing his studies he joined the Franciscan monastery in Grodno. In 1939 he became a second vicar in Iwieniec (Ivyanets
Ivyanets
Ivyanets is a township in the Valozhyn Raion of the Minsk Voblast, Belarus. It is located in a hilly and woody area on the river Volma. It is known since mid-15th century as a privately owned settlement of Sollohub family. Originally known as Givenech, presumably derived from Lithuanian gyventi –...
).
At the start of World War II he was moved to a nearby village as a provost of parish of St. Maria Magdalena. After the anti-Nazi uprising in Iwieniec, in June 1943 the local population was arrested by the Germans. Although Puchała had the opportunity, he did not choose to escape and instead remained with his parishioners.
"Operation Hermann" was an operation by the Nazi's targeted especially against the Catholic resistance, and in particular, Franciscan friars Józef Achilles Puchała and Karol Herman Stępień, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1999, were tortured to death by the Nazis.