Blessed Anna Kolesarova was a 16-year-old Catholic virgin.
She was born on July 14 1928 in Vysoka nad Uhom, Michalovce, Slovak Republic.
She died as a martyr of purity on November 22 1944 in Pavlovce nad Uhom, Košice, Slovak Republic defending her virginity.
We celebrate her feast day on November 22 every year in the Catholic Church.
| Blessed Anna Kolesarova Biography | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 14 1928 |
| Place of Birth | Vysoka nad Uhom, Michalovce, Slovak Republic |
| Date of Death | November 22 1944 |
| Place of Death | Pavlovce nad Uhom, Košice, Slovak Republic |
| Feast Day | November 22 |
| Beatification | By Pope Francis on September 1 2018 |
| Patron Saint of | |
Blessed Anna Kolesarova Life History
Blessed Anna Kolesarova was born on July 14, 1928, in Vysoká nad Uhom, which is part of the diocese of Kosice in what was then Czechoslovakia (now the modern Slovak Republic).
She was the daughter of Ján “Hruska” Kolesár and Anna (née Kusnírová), born into a devout farming family and baptized just one day after her birth.
Tragedy struck when Anna’s mother died when Anna was only ten years old. She took on the responsibility of running the household for her father and brother, Michal.
During the final stages of World War II, as Russian soldiers were liberating her region of Slovakia from Nazi occupation, many local families sought shelter to avoid both the violence and the rough reputation of these soldiers.
On November 22, 1944, Anna was discovered by a drunken Red Army soldier. He forced her to cook for him and then demanded sexual favors.
She courageously refused and fled to her father and brother, but tragically, killed by the soldier. Anna Kolesarova became a martyr for her strong faith and unwavering principles.
She died on November 22, 1944, after being shot in the chest and face with a rifle in Pavlovce nad Uhom, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
Her family buried her in a shallow grave the following evening, as they still had to hide due to the ongoing combat in the region.
Father Anton Lukác later reburied her and conducted proper funeral rites on November 29, 1944. He also initiated a preliminary investigation into her potential canonization.
During the period of Communist Czechoslovakia, any mention of the incident and gatherings at her grave were prohibited.
However, with the fall of the Communist government, her grave has since become a pilgrimage site, particularly for young people, including the Catholic youth organization Domcek, dedicated to her memory.
Blessed Anna Kolesarova was beatified by Pope Francis on September 1, 2018, with the ceremony presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu at Lokomotíva Stadium in Košice, Slovakia.
Related Links
Other Saints Whose Feast Days are in November
Powered By SEO Experts
Follow @ReadingCatholic
