Marin Shkurti

Marin Shkurti (born October 1, 1933 in Samrisht near Shkodra , † April 1, 1969 ) was a Roman Catholic priest who was arrested, tortured and shot for his faith in atheistic Albania under the Enver Hoxha regime .

Life

Marin Shkurti attended the elementary school in Dajç, where Dom Kolec Prennushi was pastor. He then studied with the priest Dedë Malaj and after his death (shot in May 1959) with the priest Pjetër Gruda . In December 1961 he was ordained a priest in the cathedral of Shkodra by Bishop Ernesto Çobes , on December 8th he celebrated his primacy in the cathedral . He worked in various village communities. After the churches were closed by the communists, he secretly celebrated Holy Mass in various places and donated the sacraments, as Bishop Frano Illia later reported about him. When his family was endangered by communism, he found refuge in Yugoslavia with many relatives . There they were betrayed and arrested on November 14, 1968. Three days later they were extradited to Albania, where they remained in custody; Marin Shkurti was severely tortured. At a trial staged by the Albanian communists in March 1969, many of his relatives were sentenced to long prison terms and forced labor. Dom Marin Shkurti was sentenced to death for alleged "hostility to the people and treason". He was shot dead on April 1, 1969 .

vocation

Marin Shkurti reported to his teacher Dom Dedë Malaj: “Before he died, Dom Kolec said to me: 'Marin, the villages are without a priest.'” The teacher's question is passed down: “But if you are arrested and tortured like Dom Kolec and the other priests? ”Marin Shkurti replied that he was not afraid and added:“ The power of Christ is greater than that of the devil. ”Later it was reported in Albania that Marin Shkurti then took over the“ iron will ”of his teacher Dom Dedë Malaj have.

last words

His words after the death sentence was pronounced are recorded: “I am condemned as a priest and I am glad to die for believing in Christ. … I'm not afraid. Dom Dedë taught me to die with his own death. You believe that with this 'revolution' you can defeat our Catholic faith, but do not forget that the Church draws new strength from the blood that is shed. The Church that you are about to destroy will be revived. "

His words shortly before the shooting were: “You shoot me just because I am a priest. I am innocent. Long live faith in Christ. Long live Albania. "

beatification

The beatification of Marin Shkurti and 37 other martyrs took place on November 5, 2016 in Shkodra. The Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints , Cardinal Angelo Amato , presided over the celebrations on behalf of Pope Francis .

literature

Pjetër Pepa: Tragjedia dhe Lavdia e Klerit Katolik në Shqipëri. Tiranë 2007, Vol. II, pp. 443-446.

Web links

• Portrait of Shkurtis on the website of the Archdiocese of Shkodra-Pult (Albanian)