BLESSED MARCEL CALLO | KAIROS GLOBAL | MAY 2018

Author: Bernadette Avinash

The era of World War II, saw a great number of men and women with a deep zeal for the Lord, even during periods of intense pain and suffering. Blessed Marcel Callo was one such, who endured several forms of martyrdom even before he died.

Born 6 th December 1921 at Rennes, France, Blessed Marcel Callo was the second of nine children born to Marcel Callo and Felicita Maria Guiseppina. Even as a child, his leadership qualities were truly commendable. He had a very good sense of humor and, loved playing ping pong and cards. He loved being near the altar from the age of 7. His mother imbibed in him a true love for Christ even from a young age.

At a very tender age of 13, he took up a job as an apprentice, in a printing store in Rennes to support his family financially. He wouldn’t associate himself with his coworkers who would indulge in improper stories. In the midst of loose talks and lewd jokes, he would consecrate himself to the Immaculate heart of Mary, and would find his consolation there. He was also part of The Young Christian Workers’ Movement, where he grew deeper in his Catholic faith and found his mission, in his work place. At age 20, he fell in love with Marguerite Derniaux.

Both sought to deepen their relationship with Christ more than with each other, through daily reception of the Eucharist and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.

In 1943, World War II had gripped Rennes, France, robbing the city of its peace. That’s when Marcel Callo was drafted to Zella-Mehlis, Germany to serve in STO (Service of Obligatory Work). If he did not comply, he was told his family would be arrested. So he went, leaving behind his family and the girl he loved so much. In Zella- Mehlis, he worked in a factory that produced bombs, which were in turn used to destroy his own countrymen.In this new town, there was no Catholic Church. For about three months, he was unable to attend mass, drivinghim into depression. Later he was able to find a place where mass was celebrated and fought his despair, by receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. He said, “Finally Christ reacted. He made me understand that depression was not good. I had to keep busy with my friends and then joy and relief would come back to me.”

In the midst of the dangerous and inhumane conditions of his forced labor, Marcel would find joy in gathering his fellow Christian workers for some sports or theatrical play. He used to arrange a mass in French for his fellow French workers. The sparse diet and repressive labor, slowly resulted in Marcel’s physical breakdown. He began to suffer from bronchitis, malnutrition, dysentery, fever, swelling and general weakness. But he would never complain and continued to be a present leader.

In 1944, at the age of 23, he was arrested for no reason but for being “too Catholic”. He was then sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp, called “the hell of hells” by the few who survived the horrendous place. Even during his time at Mauthausen, he prayed and encouraged his fellow prisoners to pray. He often said to them, “It is in prayer that we find our strength.”

At the dawn of March 19 th , 1945, Marcel finally breathed his last, after a long fight against acute dysentery and finally, tuberculosis. He was buried in a mass grave, outside the walls of the camp and, his remains were never recovered. Colonel Tibodo – who saw thousands die in the camps, witnessed the death of Callo, and said of it with great emotion, "Marcel had the look of a saint". Tibodo also testified during the beatification proceedings and said, “I have never seen in a dying man a look like his". While his earthly life was taken away for being too Catholic, his heavenly state was exalted for the very same reasons and on 4 October 1987 the Church endowed on him the title of Blessed Marcel Callo.