MIKULSKI CATALOGUE NO: 87 098A - WARSZAWA 1 POST OFFICE -
DATE: 14 JUNE 1987
POSTAL STATIONERY CARD USED: 1987 Fi CP 0958
POPE JOHN PAUL II 3RD PILGRIMMAGE PC9 BEATIFIED FATHER MICHAL KOZAL
MARTYR DACHAU DEATH CAMP WW2
Michael Kozal was born in Ligota (Nowy Folwark) in Poland in
September 1893. His parents were John Kozal and Marianna Placzek.
Young Michael grew up with a love for the church and was a good
student. On the advice of a teacher in 1905 he began attending the
gymnasium Krotoszyn which was better suited for his talents. Upon
graduating from there in 1914, Michael enrolled in the Leonium
Poznan seminary. His studies were delayed with the outbreak of
World War I. He was finally ordained as a priest in February 1918.
Michael worked in various jobs for the church over the next two
decades and was held in high regard. In June of 1939 Pope Pius XII
appointed him auxiliary bishop of Wloclawek with the title of
bishop holds Lappa. His consececration came on 13 August 1939, once
again followed by the outbreak of a world war when Hitler’s
forces invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Bishop Michael was a
prime target for the Nazi forces but declined opportunities from
Polish authorities to flee the city, choosing instead to stay and
administer the diocese to the people of Wloclawek.
On the 14th of September, the Nazis arrived in his city. They
seized Catholic property, suppressed writings and arrested members
of the clergy. On November 7th, Michael along with other priests
was arrested and sent to the local jail which the Nazis used for
torture. In January of 1940, Michael was placed under house arrest
and was able to continue some of his work in secret.
On the 3rd of April of 1941, Bishop Michael was sent to the forced
labour camp at Inowroclaw where he was tortured and reported
injuries to his legs and left ear. On April 25th Bishop Kozal was
sent to the concentration camp at Dachau where he was given the
number 24544. To the more than 2,000 priests imprisoned with him,
the Bishop is reported to have said "I am only a number here, too,
and I am determined to carry my cross along with the rest of you."
Eventually the Bishop contracted typhus and was then killed by
lethal injection on 26 January 1943. His body was later burned in
the crematorium at Dachau.
A cathedral in Wloclawek erected a monument to Michael and the
other 220 priests who died at Dachau in 1954. Bishop Michael Kozal
was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 14 June 1987 and now is
forever known as Blessed. January 26th is now a day of liturgical
celebration for this martyr of the faith.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A UNIQUE PIECE OF HISTORY. IT IS A
MUST FOR EVERY SERIOUS HISTORIAN AND COLLECTOR OF THIS PERIOD AND
WILL MAKE AN INTERESTING ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION.
THIS ITEM IS IN EXCELLENT CLEAN CONDITION AND IS A MUST FOR EVERY
SERIOUS HISTORIAN AND COLLECTOR OF RELIGION, POLAND, CHRISTIANITY,
GERMANY OR WORLD WAR II (WWII) AND WILL MAKE AN INTERESTING
ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION.
