Ghebre-Michael was a disciple of Justin de Jacobis for many years, and eventually decided, with Justin’s consent, to become a Vincentian. A date was fixed for him to begin his internal seminary but when the fixed day arrived he was under arrest, and he died before he could carry out his intention. In a letter to the Superior General, Jean-Baptiste Etienne, Justin explained all this but said that he called Ghebre-Michael a Vincentian “because in his heart he already belonged to the Congregation”. So he differs in three ways from the other canonized and beatified members of the Congregation of the Mission: First, he was African, not European; second, he was not a born Catholic, but an adult convert; and third, he was not actually a confrere. In a certain sense, too, he was not, strictly speaking, a martyr. He was not actually put to death for the faith. He died as a result of the long harsh treatment he had received. Ghebre-Michael was beatified as a martyr in 1926. Further resources
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