Today is the feast day of Blessed Ghèbre-Michael of Ethiopia. An intense hatred for the Catholic Church prevailed in Ethiopia during his lifetime. A typical declaration from the authorities, referring to some statement that would be heretical in the eyes of the Catholic Church, would be something like: “If this formula is not accepted I will break the necks of the offenders and cut off their feet.”

But people like St. Justin de Jacobis and Bl. Ghèbre-Michael would not subscribe to heretical formulas no matter what the threat. Both were imprisoned because of their rejection of heresies. St. Justin was treated better than Bl. Ghèbre-Michael… there was a very special hatred of Ghèbre-Michael and the schismatics felt that if they could get a renunciation of the Catholic faith from him, they would score a great victory.

He was persecuted and escaped many traps, was imprisoned and ultimately died of exhaustion after daily increasing tortures. He never gave in to his torturers.

Learn more in this presentation:

Source:

Blessed Ghèbre-Michael
“The truth will make you free”
by James Cahalan

COLLOQUE No. 10, Journal of the Irish Province of the Congregation of the Mission