Dedë Maçaj
Dedë Maçaj (born October 21 or February 5, 1920 in Mal i Jushit near Shkodra ; † March 15 or March 28, 1947 in Përmet , Albania ) was a Roman Catholic priest. He was shot for his belief in the communist regime of Albania. He is one of the Thirty-Eight Martyrs of Albania .
Life
After his first studies at the Pontifical Seminary in Shkodra, he studied theology and philosophy in Rome . He was ordained a priest on March 19, 1944. He was given the job of deputy pastor of Shkodra. He was especially used in the military chaplaincy, where he gave himself with all his might. In 1947 he was arrested on charges of being a Vatican spy . A group of fanatical soldiers beat him bloody with their fists and legs; all of the torture he suffered is called "indescribable" in Albanian. He was shot on March 15, 1947.
memory
He is remembered by the people for whom he lived as a humble, committed, loving and willing priest.
beatification
On November 5, 2016, Dedë Macaj was beatified in Shkodra along with 37 other witnesses of the faith. The Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints , Cardinal Angelo Amato , presided over the celebrations on behalf of Pope Francis .
Web links
- Brief portrait of Meçajs (Albanian)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Maçaj, Dedë |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Roman Catholic priest and martyr |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 20, 1920 or October 21, 1920 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Mal i Jushit , Shkodra Qark , Albania |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 15, 1947 or March 28, 1947 |
| Place of death | Përmet , Albania |