Blessed Kolë Shllaku - Catholic Blessed

Blessed Kolë Shllaku

Also known as: Brother Gjon

Blessed

Post-Congregation

Feast Day

4-Mar

Born

27 July 1907 in Shkodrë, Albania

Died

Shot by a machine-gun squad at 6am on 4 March 1946 at the cemetery in Shkodrë, Albania; the body was left laying outside for a day to show the locals what would happen to those who opposed the Communists; buried with other martyrs in a mass grave near the nearby river bed on the night of 5 March; rubbish bins were stacked on the grave to conceal it

Beatified

5 November 2016 by Pope Francis; beatification celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shën Shtjefnit, Shkodër, Albania, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

Venerated

26 April 2016 by Pope Francis (decree of martyrdom)

Biography

Blessed Kolë Shllaku was born to Loros and Marë Ashtës. He studied at Franciscan schools and entered the Franciscan Friars Minor as a novice on October 4, 1922, making his perpetual vows on September 13, 1928 and taking the name Gjon. He pursued theological studies in the Netherlands and was ordained a priest on March 15, 1931. A man of wide intellectual interests, he studied science, history, and philosophy. When the Communist regime seized power in Albania and launched its brutal persecution of the Catholic Church, Father Kolë was arrested along with many other clergy. He endured imprisonment and torture before being executed for his faith. He is honored among the Martyrs of Albania who witnessed to Christ under one of the most repressive atheist regimes of the twentieth century.

Cause for Canonization

Beatified

Beatified2016-11-05 by 5 November 2016 by Pope Francis; beatification celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shën Shtjefnit, Shkodër, Albania, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato