Bienheureux Joseph Cebula
Prêtre et martyr en
Autriche (+1941)
Prêtre polonais de la
Congrégation des Missionnaires Oblats de Marie Immaculée et martyr. Déporté de
son pays en haine de la foi, il subit de cruelles tortures et mourut fusillé au
camp de concentration de Mauthausen en Autriche.
Béatifié le 13 juin 1999
par Jean-Paul II.
A lire: Lettre du
Supérieur général pour la béatification du Père Joseph Cebula, o.m.i. - (traduction
en français)
"Le père Cebula a
été un homme de paix au milieu du camp d'extermination. Il y a partagé la
douleur des autres et le peu de nourriture qu'il avait; il y a fait entendre sa
voix prophétique, il y a vaincu la méchanceté des hommes avec les mêmes moyens
que le Christ durant sa passion."
Au camp de concentration
de Mauthausen en Autriche, l'an 1941, le bienheureux Joseph Cebula, prêtre
polonais de la Congrégation des Missionnaires Oblats de Marie Immaculée et
martyr. Déporté de son pays en haine de la foi, il subit de cruelles tortures
et mourut fusillé.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/10867/Bienheureux-Joseph-Cebula.html
Bienheureux Jozéf Cebula,
(1902-1941)
Missionnaire Oblats de
Marie Immaculée. Martyr.
Fête : le 12 juin
Brève biographie
Le père JOZÉF
CEBULA est né dans une famille modeste d’origine polonaise, le 23 mars
1902, à Malnia, dans le sud de la Pologne. Jeune, il souffrait de tuberculeuse.
Après une guérison inattendue, il visita un sanctuaire oblat où il raconta son
histoire à un prêtre oblat, qui lui conseilla d’étudier au petit séminaire
oblat qui venait d’être fondé.
À l’âge de 19 ans, il
entra dans la Congrégation des Missionnaires Oblats de Marie Immaculée. Après
son ordination au sacerdoce oblat, en 1927, le père Cebula consacra une bonne
partie de son ministère à enseigner aux séminaristes oblats (1927-1937). À
partir de 1931, il fut directeur du petit séminaire de Lubliniec. En 1937, il
devint maître des novices à Markowice (1937-1941), où il se distingua par son
humilité et sa douceur. Au cours de cette période, il fut aussi actif dans le
ministère de la prédication et, par la suite, très recherché comme confesseur.
Quand la Pologne fut
occupée par les nazis pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, toutes les
associations ecclésiales furent interdites et de nombreux prêtres, qui avaient
déclaré leur fidélité à l’Église clandestine, furent arrêtés. Le 4 mai 1940,
les novices oblats à Markowice furent arrêtés par les nazis et envoyés dans le
camp de concentration à Dachau, en Allemagne. Le père Cebula, à qui il fut
interdit d’exercer son ministère sacerdotal, fut obligé de travailler dans les
champs, mais le soir, ce prêtre zélé célébrait l’Eucharistie et administrait
les sacrements dans les villages environnants. Puis, le 2 avril 1941, il fut
arrêté. Il fut déporté dans le camp de concentration de Mauthausen, en
Autriche.
Renommé pour son
humilité, le père Cebula était un homme d’oraison avec une vie spirituelle
profonde. Il irradiait la paix au milieu du camp d’extermination, même quand
les nazis le tourmentaient. À Mauthausen, il fut harcelé et forcé à travailler
durement, du simple fait que c’était un prêtre catholique romain. Le père
Cebula fut forcé à casser des pierres dans la carrière et à porter des blocs de
30 kilos jusqu’au camp en parcourant 3 kilomètres. Il devait monter 144
marches, appelées l’Escalier de la Mort, sous les coups et les insultes de ses bourreaux.
Les gardes l’humiliaient et le raillaient en l’obligeant à chanter les textes
de la Messe pendant qu’il travaillait. Trois semaines plus tard, le père Cebula
trouva brusquement la force de leur crier : « Ce n’est pas vous qui
commandez. Dieu vous jugera. » Les nazis lui ordonnèrent de courir vers
les barbelés du camp, puis un garde tira sur lui avec une mitraillette et
déclara que le père Cebula « a été tué lors d’une tentative de
fuite ». Il est mort en martyr, sous cette rafale de balles, le 9 mai
1941. Son corps fut incinéré dans un four crématoire.
Historique de la cause
Le bienheureux père Józef
Cebula fait partie du groupe des “108 bienheureux martyrs polonais”, tués
durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale par les nazis, de 1939 à 1945.
Le groupe compte trois
évêques : Antoni Julian Nowowiejski, (1858-1941), Leon Wetmański, (1886-1941)
et Władysław Goral, (1898-1945).
Parmi les 180 martyrs, le
groupe le plus nombreux est constitué de 150 prêtres: Adam Bargielski
(1903-1942), Aleksy Sobaszek (1895-1942), Alfons Maria Mazurek,OCD (1891-1944),
Alojzy Liguda, SVD (1898-1942), Anastazy Jakub Pankiewicz, OFM (1882-1942),
Anicet Kopliński, OFM Cap (1875-1941), Antoni Beszta-Borowski (1880-1943),
Antoni Leszczewic, MIC (1890-1943), Antoni Rewera (1869-1942), Antoni Świadek
(1909-1945), Antoni Zawistowski (1882-1942), Bolesław Strzelecki (1896-1941),
Bronisław Komorowski (1889-1940), Dominik Jędrzejewski (1886-1942),Edward
Detkens (1885-1942), Edward Grzymała (1906-1942), Emil Szramek (1887-1942),
Fidelis Chojnacki, OFM Cap (1906-1942), Florian Stępniak, OFM Cap (1912-1942),
Franciszek Dachtera (1910–1942), Franciszek Drzewiecki, FDP (1908-1942),
Franciszek Rogaczewski (1892–1940), Franciszek Rosłaniec (1889-1942), Henryk
Hlebowicz (1904-1941), Henryk Kaczorowski (1888-1942), Henryk Krzysztofik, OFM
Cap (1908-1942), Hilary Paweł Januszewski, OCarm (1907–1945), Jan Antonin
Bajewski, OFM Conv (1915-1941), Jan Franciszek Czartoryski, OP (1897-1944), Jan
Nepomucen Chrzan (1885-1942), Jerzy Kaszyra, MIC (1910-1943),Józef Achilles
Puchała, OFM Conv (1911-1943), Józef Czempiel (1883-1942), Józef Innocenty Guz,
OFM Conv (1890-1940), Józef Jankowski, SAC (1910-1941), Józef Kowalski
(1911-1942), Józef Kurzawa (1910-1940), Józef Kut (1905-1942), Józef Pawłowski
(1890-1942), Józef Stanek, SAC (1916-1944), Józef Straszewski (1885-1942),
Karol Herman Stępień, OFM Conv (1910-1943), Kazimierz Gostyński (1884–1942),
Kazimierz Grelewski (1907-1942), Kazimierz Sykulski (1882-1942), Krystyn
Gondek, OFM (1909-1942), Leon Nowakowski (1913-1939), Ludwik Mzyk, SVD
(1905-1940), Ludwik Pius Bartosik, OFM Conv (1909-1941), Ludwik Roch Gietyngier
(1904-1941), Maksymilian Binkiewicz (1913-1942), Marian Gorecki (1903-1940),
Marian Konopiński, OFM Cap (1907-1943), Marian Skrzypczak (1909-1939), Michał
Oziębłowski (1900-1942), Michał Piaszczyński (1885-1940), Michał Woźniak
(1875-1942), Mieczysław Bohatkiewicz (1904-1942), Narcyz Putz (1877-1942),
Narcyz Turchan (1879-1942), Piotr Edward Dankowski (1908-1942), Roman
Archutowski (1882-1943), Roman Sitko (1880-1942), Stanisław Kubista, SVD
(1898-1940), Stanisław Kubski (1876-1942), Stanisław Mysakowski (1896-1942),
Stanisław Pyrtek (1913-1942), Stefan Grelewski (1899-1941), Wincenty
Matuszewski (1869-1940), Władysław Błądziński, CSMA (1908-1944), Władysław
Demski, (1884-1940), Władysław Maćkowiak (1910-1942), Władysław Mączkowski
(1911-1942), Władysław Miegoń (1892-1942), Włodzimierz Laskowski (1886-1940),
Wojciech Nierychlewski, CSMA (1903-1942), Zygmunt Pisarski (1902-1943) et
Zygmunt Sajna (1897-1940).
Il y avait parmi eux
aussi sept frères religieux qui ont été tués : Brunon Zembol, OFM (1905-1942),
Grzegorz Bolesław Frąckowiak, SVD (1911-1943), Józef Zapłata, CFCI (1904-1945),
Marcin Oprządek, OFM (1884-1942), Piotr Bonifacy Żukowski, OFM Conv (1913-1942),
Stanisław Tymoteusz Trojanowski, OFM Conv (1908-1942), Symforian Ducki, OFM Cap
(1888-1942)
À ce groupe appartiennent
également huit moniales et religieuses : Alicja Jadwiga Kotowska, CR
(1899-1939), Ewa Noiszewska, CSIC (1885-1942), Julia Rodzińska, OP (1899-1945),
Katarzyna Celestyna Faron, NMP (1913-1944), Maria Antonina Kratochwil, SSND (1881-1942),
Maria Klemensa Staszewska, OSU (1890-1943), Marta Wołowska des Sœurs de
l’Immaculée Conception (1879-1942), Mieczysława Kowalska, OSC Cap (1902-1941).
Enfin, le groupe compte
aussi onze laïcs, hommes et femmes, catholiques romains: le séminariste Bronisław
Kostkowski (1915-1942), Czesław Jóźwiak (1919-1942), Edward Kaźmierski
(1919-1942), Edward Klinik (1919-1942), Franciszek Kęsy (1920-1942), Franciszek
Stryjas (1882-1944), Jarogniew Wojciechowski (1922-1942), Marianna Biernacka
(1888-1943), Natalia Tułasiewicz (1906-1945), le séminariste Stanisław
Starowieyski (1895-1941) et le séminariste Tadeusz Dulny (1914-1942).
L’enquête diocésaine pour
la cause du bienheureux Józef Cebula, dans le cadre des 108 bienheureux
martyrs polonais, fut entamée à Varsovie, en Pologne, le 26 janvier 1992. Un
bureau de postulation indépendant fut établi par la Conférence des évêques
polonais. En 1994, l’enquête diocésaine fut achevée. Le procès romain de la
cause commença la même année. La “Positio super martirio” des 108 martyrs a été
présentée en 1998. Le décret de la reconnaissance ecclésiastique de leur
martyre fut promulgué en mars 1999. La béatification par le pape Jean Paul II
eut lieu à Varsovie, le 13 juin 1999. – Pour la canonisation du bienheureux
Józef Cebula un miracle est requis.
Prière
Béni sois-tu, ô Christ,
Bon Pasteur, crucifié et
glorieux !
Ta force s’est manifestée
dans la faiblesse du bienheureux Józef Cebula
qui, par son dévouement à
la formation au sacerdoce des jeunes hommes
et à la pastorale de ton
peuple,
a mérité de se sacrifier
au Père, en union avec Toi.
Nous demandons
humblement :
accorde-nous par son
intercession la grâce de …
Toi qui vis et qui règnes
pour les siècles des siècles.
Amen.
Notre Père –
Je vous salue, Marie –
Gloire au Père
Bienheureux Józef Cebula,
prie pour nous.
Pour toute grâce reçue,
nous vous prions de bien vouloir en informer un Oblat à proximité de chez vous,
ou contacter le Postulateur général oblat. Si vous avez des remarques ou des
suggestions, nous serons ravis de les recevoir. Veuillez envoyer vos messages
à: Postulazione Generale O.M.I., Via Aurelia 290, 00165 Roma, ITALIA, ou un
courriel à: postulatore.generale@omigen.org
Bibliographie sélective
LUBOWICKI, K., Po
prostu kapłan, Szkic do portretu o. Józef Cebuli OMI, Poznan 1999, 136 pp.
PIELORZ, J., Męczennik
za wiarę, Bł. Józef Cebula OMI, Poznan 1999, 154 pp.
PIELORZ, J., Blessed
Józef Cebula O.M.I., 1902-1941, Youth educator and martyr because of his
priesthood, Biography, Writings, Testimonies, Rome, 2001, 228 pp.
Also
known as
Joseph Cebula
12 June as
one of the 108
Martyrs of World War II
Profile
Member of the Missionary
Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Priest. Martyred in
the Nazi anti–Catholic persecutions.
Born
23 March 1902 in
Malni, Opolskie, Poland
tortured
to death on 28 April 1941 at
the Nazi prison camp
at Mauthausen, Upper Austria, Austria
26 March 1999 by Pope John
Paul II (decree of martyrdom)
13 June 1999 by Pope John
Paul II
Additional
Information
other
sites in english
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
MLA
Citation
“Blessed Józef
Cebula“. CatholicSaints.Info. 6 July 2021. Web. 28 February 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jozef-cebula/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-jozef-cebula/
Blessed Jozef Cebula,
O.M.I.
Born: March 23, 1902,
Malnia, Poland
Ordination: June 5, 1927
Ministry: Taught in Minor
Seminary, Lubliniec, 1923-1931, where he was Superior, 1931-1937; Superior
& Novice Master, Markowice 1937-1941.
Death: Arrested by Nazi
SS April 2, 1941; shot “while trying to escape” May 9, 1941
Beatification: June 13,
1999, Warsaw, Poland
Unconditional love for
God was demonstrated by the life – and death – of Blessed Jozef Cebula, a
Polish Oblate killed in the Mauthausen concentration camp near Austria during
World War II.
His priestly ministry was
his life’s work, even if his final 21 days on Earth were lived in misery. On
April 18, 1941, he was taken by the Nazis to the Mauthausen concentration camp,
where he was harassed simply because he was a priest.
Fr. Cebula was forced to
carry 60-pound rocks from a quarry to a camp two miles away. He had to climb a
144-step staircase called the Death Stairs, while being beaten and insulted by
his tormentors. Two arduous trips were all he could make.
Summoning his remaining
strength, Fr. Cebula suddenly raised his voice and said: “It is not you who are
in charge. God will judge you.” He was ordered to run with the rock on his
back, towards the camp’s barbed wire fence. A guard fired with his submachine
gun and declared that Jozef “was shot while attempting to escape.” His body was
taken to the crematorium and burnt. It was Friday, May 9, 1941.
Blessed Cebula was born
into a modest family on March 23, 1902. As a youth, he suffered from
tuberculosis and was in fact declared incurable. After an unexpected recovery,
he visited an Oblate shrine where he shared his story with Fr. Jan Pawolik,
O.M.I., who later died in Auschwitz. Fr. Pawolek advised Jozef to study with
the Oblates at a newly established Oblate seminary.
Following ordination to
the Oblate priesthood in 1927, Fr. Cebula spent much of his ministry teaching
Oblate seminarians. In 1937, he became novice master at Markowice where his
humility and gentleness were noteworthy. When the Nazis occupied Poland, they
declared loyalty to the Church illegal. All Church associations were forbidden,
and many priests were arrested.
On May 4, 1940, the
Oblate novices at Markowice were arrested by the Nazis and sent to the
concentration camp at Dachau, Bavaria. Fr. Cebula was able to continue his
priestly ministries in secrecy, despite the ban on it, for nearly a year before
being arrested and detained at the Mauthausen camp.
Known for his humility,
Fr. Jozef was a man of quiet prayer with a deep spiritual life. He radiated
peace in the very middle of the death camp, even when tormented by the Nazis.
In recognition of his heroic life and death, Fr. Cebula was beatified by Pope
John Paul II during a ceremony held in Poland on June 13, 1999.
Today, Fr. Cebula’s
Oblate Cross and a stone from the quarry at Mauthausen, a testament to his
forced labor, rest in the church at Markowice. It is the same church where,
near the end of his life, Cebula celebrated the sacraments in secret. It is
also the site of the novitiate where he spent the last four years of his life
as novice master. We know his spirit rests there, in the place he once called
home.
Chapelle
Josef-Cebula de Malnia (anciennement Mallnie)
Blessed
Józef Cebula chapel in Malnia
Kirche
in Malnia (deutsch Mallnie).
Koscioł
w Malnie.
Blessed Józef Cebula
Missionary Oblates of
Mary Immaculate Martyr
Biography
Father Józef
Cebula was born into a modest family of Polish origin on March 23, 1902,
at Malnia in southern Poland. He suffered tuberculosis as a youth. After an
unexpected recovery, he visited an Oblate shrine where he shared his story with
an Oblate priest. The priest advised Józef to study with the Oblates at
the newly-established Oblate minor seminary.
At the age of 19 he
entered the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Following ordination to the Oblate priesthood in 1927, Fr. Cebula spent much of
his ministry teaching Oblate seminarians (1927-1937). From 1931 on, he was the
director of the minor seminary in Lubliniec. In 1937, he became novice master
at Markowice (1937-1941), where his humility and gentleness were
noteworthy. During this time he was also active in the preaching ministry
and was much sought after as a confessor.
When the Nazis occupied
Poland during the Second World War, they declared loyalty to the Church
illegal. All Church associations were forbidden, and many priests were
arrested. On May 4, 1940, the Oblate novices at Markowice were arrested by the
Nazis and sent to the concentration camp at Dachau, Germany. Fr. Cebula was
forbidden to exercise his priestly ministry and obliged to work in the fields.
But at night, the zealous priest celebrated the Eucharist and administered the
sacraments in the surrounding villages, until he was arrested on April 2,
1941. He was taken to a concentration camp at Mauthausen in Austria.
Known for his humility,
Fr. Cebula was a man of quiet prayer with a deep spiritual life. He radiated
peace in the very middle of the death camp, even when tormented by the Nazis.
In Mauthausen he was harassed and forced to work hard, to break rocks in the
quarry, simply because he was a Roman Catholic priest. Father Cebula was forced
to carry 60-pound rocks from the quarry to a camp two miles away. He had to climb
a 144-step staircase called the Death Stairs, while being beaten and insulted
by his tormentors. The guards humiliated and mocked him by ordering him to sing
the texts of the Mass while he worked. Three weeks later, Fr. Cebula suddenly
summoned up his strength and said, “It is not you who are in charge. God will
judge you.” The Nazis ordered him to run, with a rock on his back, towards the
camp’s barbed wire fence, where a guard shot him with a submachine gun and
declared that Fr. Cebula “was shot while trying to escape”. He died a martyr on
May 9, 1941, in this volley of bullets. His body was taken to a
crematorium and burned.
History of the Cause
Blessed Fr. Józef Cebula
belongs to the group of “The 108 Blessed Polish Martyrs”, killed during World
War II by the Nazis between 1939 and 1945.
The group consists of
three Bishops: Antoni Julian Nowowiejski, (1858-1941), Leon Wetmański,
(1886-1941) and Władysław Goral, (1898-1945).
The biggest group among
the 180 martyrs are the 150 priests: Adam Bargielski (1903-1942), Aleksy
Sobaszek (1895-1942), Alfons Maria Mazurek, OCD (1891-1944), Alojzy Liguda, SVD
(1898-1942), Anastazy Jakub Pankiewicz, OFM (1882-1942), Anicet Kopliński, OFM Cap
(1875-1941), Antoni Beszta-Borowski (1880-1943), Antoni Leszczewic, MIC
(1890-1943), Antoni Rewera (1869-1942), Antoni Świadek (1909-1945), Antoni
Zawistowski (1882-1942), Bolesław Strzelecki (1896-1941), Bronisław Komorowski
(1889-1940), Dominik Jędrzejewski (1886-1942), Edward Detkens (1885-1942),
Edward Grzymała (1906-1942), Emil Szramek (1887-1942), Fidelis Chojnacki, OFM
Cap (1906-1942), Florian Stępniak, OFM Cap (1912-1942), Franciszek Dachtera
(1910–1942), Franciszek Drzewiecki, FDP (1908-1942), Franciszek Rogaczewski
(1892–1940), Franciszek Rosłaniec (1889-1942), Henryk Hlebowicz (1904-1941),
Henryk Kaczorowski (1888-1942), Henryk Krzysztofik, OFM Cap (1908-1942), Hilary
Paweł Januszewski, OCarm (1907–1945), Jan Antonin Bajewski, OFM Conv (1915-1941),
Jan Franciszek Czartoryski, OP (1897-1944), Jan Nepomucen Chrzan (1885-1942),
Jerzy Kaszyra, MIC (1910-1943), Józef Achilles Puchała, OFM Conv (1911-1943),
Józef Czempiel (1883-1942), Józef Innocenty Guz, OFM Conv (1890-1940), Józef
Jankowski, SAC (1910-1941), Józef Kowalski (1911-1942), Józef Kurzawa
(1910-1940), Józef Kut (1905-1942), Józef Pawłowski (1890-1942), Józef Stanek,
SAC (1916-1944), Józef Straszewski (1885-1942), Karol Herman Stępień, OFM Conv
(1910-1943), Kazimierz Gostyński (1884–1942), Kazimierz Grelewski (1907-1942),
Kazimierz Sykulski (1882-1942), Krystyn Gondek, OFM (1909-1942), Leon
Nowakowski (1913-1939), Ludwik Mzyk, SVD (1905-1940), Ludwik Pius Bartosik, OFM
Conv (1909-1941), Ludwik Roch Gietyngier (1904-1941), Maksymilian Binkiewicz
(1913-1942), Marian Gorecki (1903-1940), Marian Konopiński, OFM Cap
(1907-1943), Marian Skrzypczak (1909-1939), Michał Oziębłowski (1900-1942),
Michał Piaszczyński (1885-1940), Michał Woźniak (1875-1942), Mieczysław
Bohatkiewicz (1904-1942), Narcyz Putz (1877-1942), Narcyz Turchan (1879-1942),
Piotr Edward Dankowski (1908-1942), Roman Archutowski (1882-1943), Roman Sitko
(1880-1942), Stanisław Kubista, SVD (1898-1940), Stanisław Kubski (1876-1942),
Stanisław Mysakowski (1896-1942), Stanisław Pyrtek (1913-1942), Stefan
Grelewski (1899-1941), Wincenty Matuszewski (1869-1940), Władysław Błądziński,
CSMA (1908-1944), Władysław Demski, (1884-1940), Władysław Maćkowiak
(1910-1942), Władysław Mączkowski (1911-1942), Władysław Miegoń (1892-1942),
Włodzimierz Laskowski (1886-1940), Wojciech Nierychlewski, CSMA (1903-1942),
Zygmunt Pisarski (1902-1943) and Zygmunt Sajna (1897-1940).
There were also seven
Religious Brothers killed: Brunon Zembol, OFM (1905-1942), Grzegorz Bolesław
Frąckowiak, SVD (1911-1943), Józef Zapłata, CFCI (1904-1945), Marcin Oprządek,
OFM (1884-1942), Piotr Bonifacy Żukowski, OFM Conv (1913-1942), Stanisław
Tymoteusz Trojanowski, OFM Conv (1908-1942), Symforian Ducki, OFM Cap
(1888-1942)
The following eight Nuns
and Religious Sisters also belong to this group: Alicja Jadwiga Kotowska, CR
(1899-1939), Ewa Noiszewska, CSIC (1885-1942), Julia Rodzińska, OP (1899-1945),
Katarzyna Celestyna Faron, NMP (1913-1944), Maria Antonina Kratochwil, SSND
(1881-1942), Maria Klemensa Staszewska, OSU (1890-1943), Marta Wołowska of the
Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (1879-1942), Mieczysława Kowalska, OSC Cap
(1902-1941).
Finally there are eleven
Roman Catholic lay men and women in the group: Seminarian Bronisław
Kostkowski (1915-1942), Czesław Jóźwiak (1919-1942), Edward Kaźmierski
(1919-1942), Edward Klinik (1919-1942), Franciszek Kęsy (1920-1942), Franciszek
Stryjas (1882-1944), Jarogniew Wojciechowski (1922-1942), Marianna Biernacka
(1888-1943), Natalia Tułasiewicz (1906-1945), Seminarien Stanisław Starowieyski
(1895-1941) and Seminarien Tadeusz Dulny (1914-1942).
The diocesan inquiry for
the cause of Blessed Józef Cebula, as part of the 108 Blessed Polish Martyrs,
began in Warsaw, Poland, on January 26, 1992. An independent Postulation Office
was established by the Polish Bishops’ Conference. In 1994, the diocesan inquiry
came to an end. The Roman process of the cause started the same year. The
“Positio super martirio” of the 108 Martyrs was presented in 1998. The decree
of the ecclesiastical recognition of their Martyrdom was promulgated in March
1999. The Beatification by Pope John Paul II took place in Warsaw on June
13, 1999. – For Blessed Jósef Cebula´s canonization, a miracle is required.
Prayer
Blessed be you, O Christ,
crucified and glorious
Good Shepherd!
Your strength was made
known in the weakness of Blessed Józef Cebula
Who, by his dedication to
the formation of young men for the priesthood
and the pastoral care of
your people,
merited to sacrifice
himself to the Father in union with You.
We humbly request,
grant us by his
intercession the grace of …
You who live and reign
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father – Hail Mary –
Glory be
Blessed Jozef Cebula,
pray for us.
Kindly notify an Oblate
in your vicinity, or contact the Postulator General, of any favour obtained. We
will be pleased to receive any observation or suggestion. Please, send your
messages to: Postulazione Generale O.M.I., Via Aurelia 290, 00165 Roma,
ITALIA. Or e-mail to: postulatore.generale@omigen.org
Selected Bibliography
LUBOWICKI, K., Po
prostu kapłan, Szkic do portretu o. Józef Cebuli OMI, Poznan 1999, 136 pp.
PIELORZ, J., Męczennik
za wiarę, Bł. Józef Cebula OMI, Poznan 1999, 154 pp.
PIELORZ, J., Blessed
Józef Cebula O.M.I., 1902-1941, Youth educator and martyr because of his
priesthood, Biography, Writings, Testimonies, Rome, 2001, 228 pp.
Fr Joseph Cebula O.M.I. was
beatified on Sunday June 13th 1999 by Pope John Paul during his pastoral visit
to Poland. Joseph Cebula was born in Poland on March the 23rd 1902. He entered
the Oblate Junior Seminary in 1920 and was ordained a priest on June 25th 1927.
In 1937 he was made
Novice Master ad Markowice and was recognised by his fellow religious as a man
of great kindness and prayer. These were years of great turmoil for Poland, and
in October 1939 the 100 strong community at Markowice were placed under house
arrest. In October 1940 the community were evicted and the noviciate made into
a centre for the Hitler Youth.
Fr. Joseph was called
before the authorities on several occasions for refusing to stop saying Mass
and hearing confessions. Eventually he was arrested and sent to the
concentration camp at Mauthausen. Here he continued his priestly ministry, and
as a result was constantly beaten and ridiculed. As a priest he was given the
heaviest work and was forced to sing the preface of the Mass out loud. During
all this Fr. Joseph was killed on April 28th 1941 by a volley of shots that
tore into his head and shoulders. His body was then thrown into the
crematorium. Out of 277 Oblates in Poland in 1939, 35 were sent to
concentration camps.
SOURCE : http://omiap.org/?page_id=225
Beato Giuseppe
Cebula Sacerdote e martire
>>>
Visualizza la Scheda del Gruppo cui appartiene
Malnia, Polonia, 23 marzo
1902 – Mauthausen, Germania, 28 aprile 1941
Il beato Jozef Cebula,
sacerdote della Congregazione dei Missionari Oblati di Maria Immacolata, nacque
a Malnia (Opole) il 23 marzo 1902 e morì a Mauthausen, Germania, il 28 aprile
1941. Fu beatificato da Giovanni Paolo II a Varsavia (Polonia) il 13 giugno
1999 con altri 107 martiri polacchi.
Martirologio
Romano: Nel campo di prigionia di Mauthausen in Austria, beato Giuseppe
Cebula, sacerdote della Congregazione dei Missionari Oblati della Vergine
Immacolata e martire, che, di origine polacca, portato dalla sua patria in
carcere in odio alla fede, patì crudeli supplizi fino alla morte.
Nacque a Malnia, regione
meridionale della Polonia il 23 marzo 1902. Riceve l’Eucaristia per la
prima volta all’età di 12 anni, il 14 maggio 1914. Nel 1916 si iscrive
nell’Istituto di Magistero (Königliche Kaholische Präparanden Anstalt) di Opol.
Comincia a rivelarsi la sua vocazione di educatore. Due anni dipo, nel dicembre
del 1918 a causa forse dello sforzo intellettuale (studia in una lingua che non
è la sua), cade gravemente infermo e si vede obbligato a interrompere gli
studi. Il medico gli diagnosticò una pleuresia. Forse era tubercolosi. Ritorna
in Polonia dove viene operato con successo
Si incammina verso la
vita religiosa e il sacerdozio
Nel settembre del 1920 va
in pallegrinaggio al santuario mariano di Piekary, dove ha un colloquio con il
P. Pawolek che lo orienta verlo gli Oblati. Una volta conseguito il cerdificato
di maturità, il 14 agosto 1921 comincia il noviziato a Markowice. Fa la prima
professione il 15 agosto, festa dell’Assunzione della Santissima Vergine,
l’anno seguente si reca Liegi per proseguire la preparazione al saceerdozio. La
sua permanenza nel Belgio dura solo un anno. Terminerà gli studi nel suo paese
natale e sarà ordinato sacerdote a Markowice il 5 giugno 1927.
Superiore e animatore del
seminario minore
A 29 anni è nominato
superiore del Giuniorato di Lublino. Durante sei anno animerà quella scuola
postolica e lo fa tanto bene che nel 1936 viene proposto come Superiore
Provinciale di Polonia. Proposta inquietante, che la sua timidità e umiltà
lo spingono a rifiutare.
Maestro dei novizi
Il primo agosto 1937
viene nominato superiore e maestro dei novizi a Markowice e l’anno seguente
viene eletto dai suoi fratelli oblati come delegato per partecipare al
Capitolo generale, al quale tuttavia non potrà assistere per infermità. Il
1 settembre 1939 l’esercito tedesco invade la Polonia. Gli scolastici oblati di
Obra e Krobia fuggono dai nazisti. Si rifugiano verso l’est e riparano
eventualmente a Markowice, accolti dal P. Cebula. Proseguono la fuga verso
Koden e se ne vanno con loro 25 oblati della comunità del noviziato.
Entrano in scena i
nazisti
L’otto settembre 1939 un
gruppo di paracadutisti tedeschi è stato decimato dalle truppe polacche nella
regione di Markowice. Viene la polizia di sicurezza e poco dopo la Gestapo che
sequestra il convento, pone sotto arresto nella propria casa tutti gli Oblati e
li obbliga a prender parte nei lavori forzati nelle fattorie tedesche della
regione. Per aver tentato una fuga, tre padri furono ritenuti in ostaggio. Tra
di loro c’era il P. Cebula. Il 1 ottobre 1940 si insediano nel convento i
coloni tedeschi e il 1 novembre la gioventù hitleriana occupa tutta la casa.
Gli Oblati credevano di essere accolti dalle famiglie dei dintorni. Un mese più
tardi viene accordato al P. Cebula, solo a lui, di risiedere nel convento e gli
riservano un abitacolo ridotto.
Martire del suo
sacerdozio
Da allora, malgrado la
proibizione espressa e perentoria, questo apostolo imperturbabile continua a
esercitare il ministero sacerdotale nella clandestinità. Una denuncia lo tradisce
e sarà la causa formale per inviarlo, il 18 aprile 1941, nel campo di sterminio
di Mauthausen. Lo indeboliscono fisicamente e soprattutto moralmente,
obbligandolo a trasportare pietre pesanti. I suoi carnefici si burlano di lui,
obbligandolo a cantare testi sacri della Messa. Un giorno li fronteggia e dice
loro che Dio chiederà loro conto di questi scherni. Furibondi gli dicono di
correre (era la strategia seguita per sparare ai prigionieri alle spalle e
giusfificarsi inventando una fuga) e lo crivellano con raffiche di
mitraglia. Cade bocconi in un lago di sangue. Ma, secondo alcuni testimoni
oculari, il P. Cebula era ancora vivo quando lo misero nel forno crematorio.
Così culmina la testimonianza di fede di questo martire del sacerdozio.
Processo di
beatificazione
Si apre il 26 gennaio
1992 e si conclude il 13 giugno 1999 con la sua beatificazione insieme ad altri
107 martiri della fede, in una solenne cerimonia presieduta a Varsavia da
Giovanni Paolo II.
Fonte : www.santioblati.weebly.com
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/93065
~ Martyrs Killed in
Odium Fidei by the Nazis [1] ~ (†1939-45) : http://newsaints.faithweb.com/martyrs/Nazis1.htm#Cebula
