We ask you, urgently: don't scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
Martyred priest declared 'Blessed' by Pope Francis
FREE Catholic Classes
Father Engelmar Unzeitig was interred in the Nazi concentration camp Dachau. He was recognized as a martyr and, on Sunday, was beatified by Pope Francis.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
9/27/2016 (8 years ago)
Published in Living Faith
Keywords: Father Engelmar Unzeitig, concentration camp, martyr, beatified
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Fr. Unzeitig was arrested by Nazis in 1941, at only 30-years-old. He had only been a priest for two years, serving in Germany and Austria.
His crime was preaching against the Third Reich and their treatment of the Jewish community.
He continually encouraged the congregation to resist the Nazi regime and to keep their sights on the Lord, resulting in his incarceration in the concentration camp Dachaeu, known as the "largest monastery in the world" for its roughly 2,700 clergy residents.
The majority, 95 percent, of the men housed at Dachaeu were Catholic priests from Poland.
While at the camp, Fr. Unzeitig learned Russian to help the prisoners coming from Eastern Europe, leading to a reputation as a holy man.
He remained in the camp for several years, where he stayed relatively healthy, until typhoid fever made its way through the camp in 1945.
Twenty priests volunteered to sick for those who were struck down by the often fatal disease. Fr. Unzeitig and his fellow priests worked for days to care for the sick, pray with them and offer last rites.
Fr. Unzeitig cared for the sick until March 2, 1945, when he succumbed to the same fever he saved others from. Three weeks later, Dachau was liberated by American soldiers.
Fr. Unzeitig's heroic virtue was recognized by Benedict XVI in 2009, when Father Unzeitig was declared "Venerable."
In January, 2016, Pope Francis acknowledged Fr. Unzeitig as a martyr, and on Saturday, September 25, Pope Francis proclaimed Fr. Unzeitig "Blessed."
According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis stated: "Engelmar Unzeitig, priest of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, was proclaimed Blessed.
"Killed in hatred of the faith in the extermination camp of Dachau, he opposed hatred with love, and answered ferocity answered with meekness: may his example help us to be witnesses of charity and hope even in the midst of trials."
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

Nearly Half of American Children Now Struggle with Chronic Health Issues — Anxiety and Depression Lead the Surge

Vatican Approves Devotion to Marian Apparitions in Slovakia—Without Declaring Them Supernatural

Pope Leo XIV: AI Must Uphold Human Dignity and Build a More Fraternal World
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Friday, July 11, 2025
St. Benedict of Nursia: Saint of the Day for Friday, July 11, 2025
Infant Jesus of Prague Novena Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Friday, July 11, 2025
Daily Readings for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Bl. Emmanuel Ruiz: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.