Blessed Michał Kozal

Life story

Michał Kozal was born on 27 September 1893 into a devout peasant family near Krotoszyn in Greater Poland. He was ordained a priest in 1918, taught in Catholic secondary schools, and taught at the seminary in Gniezno from 1927 and became its rector in 1929.

In June 1939 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Włocławek and was consecrated on 13 August 1939. A few weeks later Germany invaded Poland. On 7 November 1939 the Gestapo arrested him together with many other priests and seminarians of the Włocławek clergy. He was held in several places, among them Ląd.

On 25 April 1941 he was taken to Dachau concentration camp. There he secretly celebrated Mass when he could and ministered to fellow prisoners. He contracted typhus and was moved to the infirmary.

He died on 26 January 1943. Official reports named disease, but the sources record that he was killed by a lethal injection (phenol or carbolic acid). The Church recognised that he died for the faith. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 14 June 1987 in Warsaw. He has not been canonised.

Works and witness

• Priest from 1918, taught at the Gniezno seminary
• Auxiliary bishop of Włocławek, consecrated 13 August 1939
• Arrested by the Gestapo on 7 November 1939
• At Dachau from 25 April 1941, secretly celebrating Mass for fellow prisoners
• Died 26 January 1943; beatified 14 June 1987

Saints from the same country

Saint Stanislaus of Kraków, Saint John Paul II, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Faustina Kowalska

References

• Encyclopedia.com, Kozal, Michał, Bl.
• Catholic-Hierarchy, Bishop Michał Kozal (consecration 13 August 1939)
• Wikipedia, Michał Kozal (arrest 7 November 1939, Dachau 25 April 1941, death 26 January 1943, beatification 14 June 1987)
• Dachau memorial archive document (archiv.hdbg.de), seminary at Gniezno from 1927

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.