Melchior Grodziecki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintMelchior Grodziecki S.J. |
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17th-century drawing
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| Martyr and Saint | |
| Born | c. 1582 Cieszyn |
| Died | 7 September 1619 Kassa, Kingdom of Hungary (today Košice, Slovakia) |
| Venerated in | Slovakia, Roman Catholic Church, Society of Jesus |
| Beatified | 15 January 1905, Vatican City by Pope Pius X |
| Canonized | 2 July 1995, Košice by Pope John Paul II |
| Major shrine | Premonstratensian Church (Košice) |
| Feast | 19 January |
| Patronage | Archdiocese of Katowice, Diocese of Bielsko–Żywiec |
Melchior Grodziecki (born around 1582, died September 7, 1619) was a Jesuit priest from a region called Silesia. The Catholic Church honors him as a martyr (someone who dies for their faith) and a saint. He became a saint in 1995. People remember him in church services on January 19.
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About Melchior Grodziecki
Melchior Grodziecki was born in Těšín. His family, the Grodzieckis, were nobles. He went to school at a Jesuit college in Vienna.
Becoming a Jesuit Priest
In 1603, Melchior joined the Jesuits in Brno. This was the start of his training period, called a novitiate. After two years, in 1605, he made his first promises to the order.
He then studied at the Jesuit College in Kłodzko from 1606 to 1607. To become a high school teacher, he spent a year at a seminary in České Budějovice. In 1608, he went back to Kłodzko to study music.
Later, he studied philosophy and theology (the study of religious faith) at the Clementinum in Prague. In 1614, he became a priest. From 1616, he managed a place in Prague for students who didn't have much money.
Events During the Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) was a big conflict in Europe. During this time, Melchior was sent to Kassa, which is now Košice in Slovakia. He went with another Jesuit, István Pongrácz.
When the army of George I Rákóczi, a prince from Transylvania, took over Kassa, Melchior stayed in the castle. He was with István Pongrácz and a church leader named Marko Krizin.
On September 7, 1619, the Transylvanian army attacked the castle. They arrested the priests. The priests were accused of inviting the Polish army to Kassa, which was seen as an act of treason. They were tortured and then beheaded that same day.
The people living in Kassa, both Catholics and Protestants, were very shocked. They knew the priests were kind and polite.
After some talks with Gabriel Bethlen, the bodies of the martyrs were found. They were buried near Kassa. In 1636, their bodies were moved to Nagyszombat, which is now Trnava in Slovakia.
Becoming a Saint
The process to make the Kassa (Košice) martyrs saints started in 1628. They were first declared "blessed" (a step before sainthood) on January 15, 1905, by Pope Pius X.
They officially became saints on July 2, 1995. This special ceremony, called canonization, happened in Košice itself. Pope John Paul II led the ceremony. The Jesuits celebrate a special day for these martyrs on January 19.
See also
- List of Jesuits
