When WWII broke out, the Nazis took possession of his area and immediately rounded up the Catholic Priests.
Michal was born on November 1, 1885, in Lomza, Poland. He was the son of Ferdynand and Anna Zientara.
He graduated from high school and entered the seminary in Sejny. After being ordained a Deacon, he was sent for further specialized studies at the Catholic Clergy Academy in St Petersburg. At the age of 25 he was ordained a priest and the following year he graduated with a master’s degree in Holy Theology.
He left his initial Parish of St Mary Magdalene in Mikaszowka after 2 years to obtain doctorates in philosophy and literature.
WWI began and Polish emigrants requested he come to France to tend to their parish, workers, and schools. For 4 years he visited Polish colonies and prisoner-of-war camps of Poles in France. He assisted the poor and visited the sick during the terrible war. He was highly respected by all Poles for his holiness and charity.
After the end of hostilities, he returned in 1919 to his reborn hometown of Lomza and threw himself into teaching. He became a lecturer and Vice Director at the Major Seminary. He invited Jewish rabbis to him, thus becoming a promotor of religious dialogue with Jews, making him one of the precursors of the movement of Saint John Paul II.
He also taught in various schools and was the Chaplain of a Hospital and Confessor of the Benedictine Sisters in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity.
When WWII broke out, the Nazis took possession of his area and immediately rounded up the Catholic Priests. As part of the planned extermination of the Polish clergy, about 80% of the priests and bishops were placed in concentration camps. The majority lost their lives.
Father Michal was arrested on April 7, 1940, and was moved to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp on May 3rd.
During his detention, he comforted everyone. In the evenings, he prayed with them and provided short homilies and lectures. His deep love for God was also reflected in his helping the weak and assisting them however he could.
One day, when the head of the camp took their daily ration of bread from the Jews, Father Michal offered his portion to a Jewish lawyer. The lawyer stated, “You Catholics believe that there is a living Christ in your churches. I believe that there is a living Christ in this bread, He who told you to share it with me,” recalled Father Hamerszmit.
Due to no medical care, starving, and horrible living conditions, he died on December 18, 1940.
He is part of the 108 Polish martyrs of WWII.
For God’s Glory
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
