Blessed Marcel Callo (1921-45)

Feast day: March 19th
Beatified: October 4, 1987
Patron of Sufferers of Depression, Prisoners, Youth

Arrested by the German Gestapo in 1944 for being “too Catholic” and sent to a concentration camp, Blessed Marcel Callo remains an exemplar for his faith devotion.

Born in France, young Marcel was active in scouting, and as a teenager was apprenticed to a printer. He joined the Young Christian Worker Movement, and was elected its president. Distressed by vulgar conversations of co-workers, he turned to the Blessed Mother in prayer: “Mother, remember I am Thine own. Keep me and guard me as Thy property and possession.”

Marcel was a natural leader, and impressed others by his commitment to his Catholic faith and his life of virtue. He wrote, “Every day, I must become, little by little, more like Christ.”

The Holy Eucharist was central to Marcel’s life. A friend noted that the Host was not “something” to him, but “Someone,” Jesus Christ.

He was engaged to Marguerite Derniaux at age 20, but World War II brought tragedy. He was forced to work in a German airplane factory, where he suffered under harsh working conditions and struggled with depression. He recovered Christian joy through his faith.

He died in a German concentration camp in 1945, just weeks before the Allies arrived.