Beatification in Poland: 15 religious martyrs killed by the Red Army are elevated to the altars

Poland celebrated this Saturday, May 31, the beatification of 15 religious of the Congregation of Santa Catalina Virgen and Mártir, killed by hate to faith during the Soviet invasion of 1945.

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicasterio for the causes of the saints, presided over Mass in Braniewo, north of Poland.

The new blessed, led by Mother Superior Maria Christophora Klomfass, were martyred between January and November 1945, in what was then Eastern Prussia. The religious, of German origin, were victims of the brutality of the Red Army. They remained next to the sick and orphans who attended, even in the midst of the horror of the war.

According to the website of the Dicasterio for the causes of the saints “the Soviets pounced on the sisters for their obvious status of religious, and the atrocious outrage to their chastity was the most obvious sign of it. It is also confirmed by the harassment of the soldiers to the religious symbols of the sisters: their veils, rosaries, prints and, above all, their habit, almost always cut and torn”.

“They remained faithful to their vocation, accepting the risk to remain close to the sick, children and orphans. They remained in their position, doing everything possible for the good of others,” he adds.

During his homily Shared by Vatican NewsCardinal Semeraro stressed that these religious are “voices of consciousness that cannot be silenced”, and described them as peace prophets, whose message still has echo in today’s world.

“Today, with their testimony, they remind us of the eternal value of God and good, while those who murdered them are remembered only by the brutality of the evil they committed,” he said.

The purple also highlighted the deep spirituality that characterized these consecrated women, stating that their holiness came from “prayer, the Eucharist and confession.” In a call to reconciliation, Cardinal Semeraro added: “They invite us to forgive, eliminate the sadness of resentment and hate, and to live in peace and fraternity.”

Beatification was also an occasion to reflect on martyrdom in the current era. “Today’s true martyrdom is to oppose this culture of hate, a commitment that has consequences for all those who promote an education faithful to the message of Christ and the promotion of a true humanity,” he said.

In his final words, Cardinal Semeraro stressed that the blessed were firm, close to the people they took care of, even in the face of extreme violence: “Despite the atrocities, they remained firm in their mission, showing that good always triumphs over evil.”

And he concluded with a call to follow the example of charity of the religious: “Charity, love selfless by Christ and the brothers, is the fulfillment of faith.”

On Sunday, June 1, Pope Leo XIV recalled the new blessed from the Vatican and highlighted his heroic testimony.

“Despite the hate and terror climate against the Catholic faith, they continued to serve the sick and orphans,” said the pontiff during the prayer of Regina Caeli. “To the intercession of the new blessed martyrs we entrust to the religious who throughout the world spend their life generously by the kingdom of God.”

The religious martyrs

1. Maria Christophora (Marta) Klomfass. Murdered on January 21, 1945. He was 41 years old.

2. María Liberia (María) Domnick. Killed on January 22, 1945, reached by a bullet while he was on the street looking for food for the hospital where he worked. I was 40 years old.

3. Maria Leonis (Käthe Elisabeth) Müller. Captured on January 22, 1945, it was repeatedly violated by eight soldiers. It was imprisoned on January 27. On February 9 she was transferred to the Zichenau field to be deported to Russia, where she died on June 5, 1945 for the violence suffered. I was 31 years old.

4. Maria Mauritia (Anna) Margenfeld. Captured and raped by soldiers, was taken to forced marches. She was deported to Tula, where she dealt with Typhus patients. He died for ill -treatment on April 7, 1945. He was going to turn 41.

5. Maria Tiburtia (Cäcilia) Mischke. Captured on January 21, 1945, she was raped and mistreated for a whole night. On January 23 they imprisoned her and on February 3 she was taken to forced marches to Praschnitz (PRZASNYSZ). They deported it to Tula (Russia). On August 7, 1945, after having attended the other sisters and the sick, he contracted the Tifus and died in the Osanowa field, in Russia. He was 56 years old.

6. Maria Sekundina (Barbara) Rautenberg. She was killed on January 27, 1945. She was 57 years old.

7. MARIA PEGARD (AGATHE EUPHEMIA) Bönigk. In Rastenburg, where he helped in the parish church and in the care of the sick, she was killed on January 27, 1945. He was going to turn 45.

8. Maria Aniceta (Clara Anna) Skibowski. On February 2, 1945 she was killed in Heilsberg, where she worked as a nurse. He was 62 years old.

9. Maria Gebharda (Maria) Schröter. She was killed in the Seilergasse of Heilsberg on February 2, 1945. She was 58 years old.

10. María Sabinella (Rosalía) Angrick. He died in the Heilsberg convent on February 2, 1945. He was 64 years old.

11. MARIA BONA (ANNA) PESTKA. Tuberculosis sick, entered the Andreasberg hospital in Wormditt, where on February 14, 1945 it was brutally hit by Red Army soldiers. He died on May 1, 1945 with about 40 years.

12. Maria Gunhild (Dorothea) Steffen. With tuberculosis he entered the Sanatorio of Wormditt, was raped, beaten and tortured by soldiers on February 14, 1945. He received three shots that caused death on May 30, 1945. He was 26 years old.

13. Maira Rolanda (María) Abraham. He contracted tuberculosis. She was raped and beaten by soldiers on February 14, 1945, died on July 2, 1945. He was 31 years old.

14. Maria Charitina (Hedwig) Fahl. He tried to protect a group of novices, but was beaten with the cylinder head of his rifle. He died on June 5, 1945. He was 58 years old.

15. Maria Xaveria (Maria) Rohwedder. She was beaten by a soldier who left her unable to eat food. He died on November 25, 1945 with 58 years.