Michael Del Greco, a shepherd from L’Aquila, Italy, was murdered by the Nazis about 80 years ago. He was killed for helping some American, Canadian and British prisoners of war who escaped after the armistice.
(Vatican News Network) Michele Del Greco, a shepherd from Abruzzo, Italy, was murdered by the Nazis in 1943. The only crime for which he was killed was mourning: giving food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty, not to mention those who were fleeing and whose lives were in danger. Del Greco spent his life among the mountains and sheep. He was less than 50 years old when he was sentenced to death. He was executed on the night of December 21st and 22nd, 1943.
Del Greco’s story has already attracted the attention of the New Martyrs Commission, established by John Paul II on the occasion of the Great Jubilee of 2000, to study the deeds of Christian martyrs of the 20th century. In view of the Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis established a similar commission this year. Father Angelo Romano, director of the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island in Rome, is a member of this committee. He said, “The story of Michael is similar to the story of the recently beatified Ulma family in Poland. This family was also killed during the Second World War for sheltering some Jews. This family was farmers. , and Michael was the shepherd: they were ordinary people who did not hesitate to risk their lives to help those in danger.”
On November 22, 1943, Michael was followed by some German officers to the ranch and was subsequently stopped. A few days later, on the 27th, the entire village was plastered with gruesome notices announcing the death penalty, one of which is on display today in the memorial gallery on Tiber Island. There was a month until the execution of the sentence: a month during which the family prayed and pleaded with their last hope. Many years later, Michael’s daughter Raffaella recounted what happened during this month in a book titled “The Thirty Long Days.”
Michael Del Greco’s teachings are still relevant today: take care of others, especially in difficult times. Michael’s story, like that of so many other martyrs, continues to be forgotten despite efforts, Father Romano said, which “needs to make people aware of these stories, to tell these stories, to create memorials to the martyrs” That’s what the showroom is for.” It is important to know the stories of witnesses of faith, ordinary people like us who set living examples of the strength and courage to resist evil with good.
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2023-09-19 10:16:07
