Bl. Jozef Ulma could be the next patron of photographers

The father of the Ulma family, whose members were martyred by the Nazis, was an expert at the camera during the first half of the 20th century.

Recently more details have been coming to light regarding the humble Polish family who were killed for harboring a Jewish family during World War II.

The Ulma family, whose feast day is July 7, were a typical farming family in Poland. They had farm chores that they had to complete each day, but like any family, had their own hobbies and interests.

Early photographer

In particular, Jozef Ulma, the father of the family, was an expert photographer at a time when photography was still a new technology.

The Italian website Famiglia Christiana notes that Cardinal Marcello Semeraro said, “I don’t know if there are other saints or blessed whose life is so well documented photographically, and this thanks to Blessed Jozef Ulma. Could the patron saint of photographers be declared?”

The writer of the article explains, “Semeraro alluded to the fact that Jozef, a farmer, was a passionate photographer: for years he documented the life of his family and the village where he lived.”

Many of these photos were put together into a book published in Polish, Błogosławieni męczennicy z Markowej (Blessed Martyrs from Markowa).

The author of the book claims, “Jozef Ulma is the first photographer beatified by the Church.“

This statement would need to be verified, as hundreds of people have been beatified in the last 100 years and it is possible some of them were photographers.

Jozef possessed many books on the topic at the beginning of the 20th century and studied the art of photography as it was just beginning to be introduced to the world.

Regardless, as people are able to study the life of Jozef Ulma, he may become a favorite among photographers who are trying to glorify God with their work and turn to him for intercession.