Martyr (1906-1941)
His life:
+ Volodymyr was born in Stradch, Ukraine.
+ A member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, he was a husband and father who served as cantor and choir director for the parish church in Stradch.
+ He was captured by Communist agents as he was returning from a sick call with his parish priest, Father Mykola Konrad.
+ Volodymyr and Father Mykola were tortured and murdered in the forest outside of Stradch on June 26, 1941. They were beatified with other martyrs of the Communist era in 2001.
For prayer and reflection:
“In Baptism, every Christian is called to holiness. Unlike the newly beatified martyrs, not all are called to undergo the supreme trial of shedding their blood. But everyone is entrusted with the task of following Christ with daily and faithful generosity.”—Pope Saint John Paul II at the beatification of Blessed Volodymyr and the Martyrs of Ukraine
Prayer
Almighty and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Volodymyr to overcome the torments of his passion, grant that we, who celebrate the day of his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For One Martyr)
Saint profiles prepared by Fr. Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...