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Bl. Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa
February 2, Blessed


Source: Catholicsaints.info



Roman Martyrology:  In Mbahe, South Africa, Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa , murdered because of his Catholic faith kept him involved in anything that has to do with witchcraft. († 1990)

Beatification date:  September 13, 2015 by Pope Francis

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

The Bishop of Tzaneen, Mgr Joao Rodrigues, has asked the faithful to pray for the Congress meeting of theological advisers appointed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, that on 9 October will have to assess whether the Servant of God Benedict Daswa, can be considered a martyr.

Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa belonged to the Lemba tribe, whose members are called 'Black Jews' because they follow the Jewish rules. He was born in 1946 in the village of Mbahe, in the Diocese of Tzaneen, in Limpopo Province, in the north-east of South Africa. In 1963, after converting to Catholicism, Benedict Daswa had become a fervent activist in the Catholic Church and an important reference point for the community of the faithful.



In February 1990, following a series of strong storms that raged in his native village, local people thought that these phenomena were due to acts of witchcraft. The council of elders then decided to consult a healer and asked the villagers for an individual contribution of five Rand to pay for his advice. Benedict replied that storms are natural phenomena. He was killed for his refusal to support witchcraft.

On  February 2, 1990, the car Benedict was traveling in was blocked by some individuals. He managed to escape on foot and hid in a house. He was later found and stabbed to death and his body covered with boiling water.


He was beatified on September 13, 2015 by Pope Francis.








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