Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky is the subject of our reading today in the book In Caelo et in Terra. He was Catholic in Ukraine when it was illegal to be Catholic. He was arrested by the Nazis and sentenced to death, but just before he was executed, his sentence was changed to hard labor in the coal mines of northern Russia. He ministered to the other prisoners there. After the war, he came back to Ukraine and continued to practice the Catholic faith in secret, as it was still illegal. He was eventually caught and tortured mentally, physically, and even chemically. He was released, but died as a result of his torture a few years later. You can watch a very interesting video about him here.
What a great example of acting as the church militant, isn't he? We can learn from him how to persevere under harsh and painful circumstances to minister to those who need to hear from Jesus.
God, thanks for this powerful witness of serving You in suffering. Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky, pray for us.
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