Blessed Veronica Antal

24 August

Profile

The eldest of four children in her family, Veronica was taught Christianity by her pious grandmother. When she was old enough, the girl would walk five miles each day to Halaucesti, Romania for daily Mass at the closest church to her home. Veronica was drawn to religious life, but all religious orders had been outlawed by the Communist government, so she joined the lay Franciscan at age 17. She helped care for the local sick and poor, taught catechism to children, and prayed in a cell she constructed in her parent’s house. On the evening of 24 August 1958, Veronica stayed after Mass to clean up the church, then began praying the rosary as she walked home. On the road she was attacked by a neighbor who demanded sex, and when she refused, stabbed her to death. Considered a Martyr of Chastity.

Born

7 December 1935 in Nisiporesti, Botesti, Neamt, Romania

Died

stabbed 42 times and left to bleed out on the evening of 24 August 1958 in a cornfield near Halaucesti, Iasi, Romania

Veneration

26 January 2018 by Pope Francis (decree of heroic virtues)

Beatified

22 September 2018 by Pope Francis
beatification celebrated at the Church of Adormirea Maicii Domnului, Nisiporesti, Romania, presided by Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu
Franciscan Father Anton Demeter had hidden materials about her life and death, and was only able to start the beatification process after the end of Communist rule in 1989
first Romanian woman to be beatified
first Romanian lay person formally honoured as a martyr from the period of Communist rule