Brno: On Saturday, beatification of 2 martyrs – victims of the communist regime

Jan Bula was born on June 24, 1920 in the village of Lukov, in the territory of Třebíč, in the country of Wysoczyn. From an early age he actively participated in parish life. After graduating from advanced school in 1938, he joined a clergy seminary in Brno. During the war and the German occupation, he was forced to execute yearly forced labour at the pottery factory. After graduating from theological studies, he accepted priestly ordination on July 29, 1945. He was then directed to a parish in Rokytnica nad Rokytnou, where he was celebrated for his zealous pastoral work, especially among the youth gathered in the “Egle”.

Václav Drbola was born on 16 October 1912 in Starovički, then owned by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in Brzecław district, in the south of Morwa. The priestly appointment matured in it in the atmosphere of household religion. In 1933, he joined the clergy seminary in Brno, and the priestly ordination was accepted on July 5, 1938. He served in the parishes of Slavkov u Brno, Čučice and Bučovice, especially engaging in youth ministry and social activity. He helped those affected by war and postwar difficulties with dedication. In March 1950, he was appointed admin of the parish in Babice.

Both priests, due to their pastoral zeal and their influence on the faithful, were seen by the communist regime—powerful since 1948—as dangerous persons.

Fr Jan Bula was arrested on 30 April 1951, becoming the victim of provocation prepared by the communist secret police. Although he was already in prison, he was accused of inspiring the assassination, resulting in the death of respective communist officers in Babice on July 2, 1951. After a fake trial, he was sentenced to death punishment and hanged on 20 May 1952 in a prison in Jihlava.

Fr Václav Drbola was slyly arrested on June 17, 1951 and besides accused of participating in events in the Babicas, although he himself was in custody at the time of the assassination. He was besides sentenced to death and executed by hanging in Jihlava on August 3, 1951.

The martyrdom of both priests is confirmed in papers discovered especially in fresh years. The material relating to their arrest clearly indicates the forgery of the evidence fabricated by the communist police to destruct it. Defrauded and imprisoned as a consequence of provocation prepared with false witnesses, they were subjected to force and torture, which led to a falsification of the course of events and forced the signing of false evidence incriminating them. As a result, as victims of fake trials, they were sentenced to death and executed.

Formal Martyrdomex parte persecutoris it was proved due to the fact that the communist oppressors were driven by a clear hatred of religion and the clergy. Hostility towards the Catholic Church in communist regimes has evolved into open persecution, a tragic example of which was the situation in Czechoslovakia. Priests Jan Bula and Václav Drbola were imprisoned and killed due to their faith, priesthood and pastoral activities. Both their arrest and execution were motivated by the odium of fidea—hate of faith.

Martyrdom tooex parte Servorum Dei is full confirmed. Both priests were aware of the dangers of increasing hostility to the Church. Despite the suffering of imprisonment and torture, they accepted their destiny with unwavering religion and assurance in God’s will. This is evidenced by letters written before the execution, as well as by the account of the priest called for in John Bula’s confession.

In the case of both of God’s servants, a lasting view of martyrdom has been confirmed, which has strengthened over the years and remains alive to this day.

Chairman of the ceremony on behalf of the Holy Father Card. Michael Black SJ was born on July 18, 1946 in Brno. At the age of two, in 1948, he and his household emigrated to Canada. He joined the Jesuit order in 1963, and received priestly ordination at the hands of Thomas Fulton, Toronto's auxiliary bishop on June 9, 1973. "Going back to where I was born and where my household came from is, of course, a very touching experience and I look forward to it," said Cardinal Michael Czerny in an interview with EWTN News.

The Bronze Diocese, which will celebrate its 250th anniversary next year, will celebrate the first beatification in its history. Many guests are expected, and the ceremony precedes the novena.

“The coming days should aid us to get to know Jan Bula and Václav Drbola better so that they become close to us and become our spiritual friends,” explained Bishop of Brno, Pavel Konzbul, stressing that he does not want “beatification to be a one-off event.”