Blessed Mark Çuni
Mark Çuni was born in the village of Bushat (now a subdivision of Vau i Dejës, Shkodër, Albania), on 30 September 1919. He attended elementary school in his village, but for secondary schools he moved to Shkodër. At the age of 18, he became a pupil of the Xavier College of Shkodër, annexed to the Pontifical Seminary diocesan, both ruled by the Jesuits.
When Mark was very advanced in theological studies, Albania was occupied first by the Italian fascist army, then by the German Nazi army. At the end of 1944, the Germans withdrew and the Communist partisans, commanded by Enver Hoxha, took power.
The students of the Seminary, who had begun to fear the imminent danger, had begun to produce a monthly, "Aurora Consurgens," latin for "Dawn," printed on their own with the mimeograph with which, at the time, the textbooks were reproduced. Communist propaganda, meanwhile, increased more and more: not a day passed that, on the doors of the houses, leaflets appear threatening tones, often distributed by young people. The seminarians felt the worsening of the situation and found an unusual way to react. Mark and fellow seminarian, Gjergj Bici, reproduced a satirical poem by Franciscan Fr Gjon Shllaku on the flyers, without his permission.
Given the success, Mark and Gjergj decided to produce another flyer, then another. As a pseudonym, since they risked being discovered and expelled for violating the rules of the Seminary, they signed these flyers "Bashkimi Shqiptar," Albanian for "Albanian Union". During the summer holidays, the seminarians who were assigned to their first pastoral experiences, took advantage of this and distributed the leaflets to villages and mountain villages.
The summer of 1945, however, also marked the beginning of rumors about a probable election turn. In the following autumn, Mark and Gjergj went to shkollën e mesme Illyricum of the Friars Minor, to talk with Zef Plluni, a distant relative of Gjergj. Their aim was to get more mimeographers and typewriters, because the elections had been scheduled for December and, in fact, there were not any candidates besides the Communist party.
Zef was of opposite opinion: he thought that, being young, no one would listen to them. The other two replied that the communists had to face using their own propaganda weapons, even with the employment of young people. Zef tried to dissuade them, but with no success. In the pre-election period, the Albanian Union distributed five leaflets, always distributed with the most extreme secrecy, through relatives, acquaintances or other colleagues. The only professor who knew about the organization was the lay professor, Gjelosh Lulashi. However, on 27 November, a few days before the elections, one of the seminary students, Fran Gaçi, was arrested, tortured, and then released and shortly thereafter died at home due to afflicted torture. On 2 December, the first elections were held, not at all free: there was only one list and those who did not go to vote were threatened.
Five days later, on 7 December, Mark was arrested, followed by Gjergj Bici, Ndoc Vata and others. All suffered heavy torture, aimed at revealing to them the details of the plot they were accused of being part of, together with the Jesuits and the Franciscans. On the evening of the 31st, the rector, Fr Daniel Dajani, and Jesuit Vice-Provincial, Fr Giovanni Fausti, had just returned from the village of Fran Gaçi, where they had celebrated a suffrage Mass.
The accused were led to testify in pitiful conditions. The main accusation that they were facing was that of being spies of the Vatican and, consequently, of having betrayed their country. In particular, Mark had been tortured to such an extent that two guards had to support him. His spirit and his irony, however, were decidedly intact, judging by the words he spoke to the judges: "We seminarians are not sorry and do not ask for mercy for ourselves because we have used the propaganda means that the constitution guarantees and that you you promote. Nonetheless, we are not sorry and can not be absolved of guilt for breaking the rules of obedience and implying our superiors, you are falsely accusing, as leaders of our organization, the Albanian Union."
On 22 February 1946, after a show trial, the sentences were read. Eight were sentenced to death by shooting: Fr Gjon Shllaku, Fr Giovanni Fausti, Fr Daniel Dajani, seminarians Mark Çuni and Gjergj Bici, lay people Gjelosh Lulashi, Fran Mirakaj, and Qerim Sadiku. The others accused with them were sentenced to prison, for a period that could go from five years to the whole of life, in fact, if they had even minimally transgressed. For Gjergj Bici, the sentence was later commuted into years of forced labor, while Fran Mirakaj is reported to have died in September 1946.
At dawn on 4 March 1947, the remaining six were transported to the Catholic Cemetery of Shkodër (Varrezat e Rrmajit), where they were executed. At 6 am, the order was given to the eight soldiers of the platoon, armed with machine guns, to "FIRE".
Mark then pronounced his last words: "I forgive all those who have judged me, condemned me and those who are killing me. Tell my mother that she must give away the fifteen napoleona të arta I owe to Ludovik Rasha. Long live Christ the King!"
On 5 November 2016, beatification was celebrated at the Square of the Katedralja e Shën Stefanit in Shkodër, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato.
Mark Çuni was born in the village of Bushat (now a subdivision of Vau i Dejës, Shkodër, Albania), on 30 September 1919. He attended elementary school in his village, but for secondary schools he moved to Shkodër. At the age of 18, he became a pupil of the Xavier College of Shkodër, annexed to the Pontifical Seminary diocesan, both ruled by the Jesuits.
When Mark was very advanced in theological studies, Albania was occupied first by the Italian fascist army, then by the German Nazi army. At the end of 1944, the Germans withdrew and the Communist partisans, commanded by Enver Hoxha, took power.
The students of the Seminary, who had begun to fear the imminent danger, had begun to produce a monthly, "Aurora Consurgens," latin for "Dawn," printed on their own with the mimeograph with which, at the time, the textbooks were reproduced. Communist propaganda, meanwhile, increased more and more: not a day passed that, on the doors of the houses, leaflets appear threatening tones, often distributed by young people. The seminarians felt the worsening of the situation and found an unusual way to react. Mark and fellow seminarian, Gjergj Bici, reproduced a satirical poem by Franciscan Fr Gjon Shllaku on the flyers, without his permission.
Given the success, Mark and Gjergj decided to produce another flyer, then another. As a pseudonym, since they risked being discovered and expelled for violating the rules of the Seminary, they signed these flyers "Bashkimi Shqiptar," Albanian for "Albanian Union". During the summer holidays, the seminarians who were assigned to their first pastoral experiences, took advantage of this and distributed the leaflets to villages and mountain villages.
The summer of 1945, however, also marked the beginning of rumors about a probable election turn. In the following autumn, Mark and Gjergj went to shkollën e mesme Illyricum of the Friars Minor, to talk with Zef Plluni, a distant relative of Gjergj. Their aim was to get more mimeographers and typewriters, because the elections had been scheduled for December and, in fact, there were not any candidates besides the Communist party.
Zef was of opposite opinion: he thought that, being young, no one would listen to them. The other two replied that the communists had to face using their own propaganda weapons, even with the employment of young people. Zef tried to dissuade them, but with no success. In the pre-election period, the Albanian Union distributed five leaflets, always distributed with the most extreme secrecy, through relatives, acquaintances or other colleagues. The only professor who knew about the organization was the lay professor, Gjelosh Lulashi. However, on 27 November, a few days before the elections, one of the seminary students, Fran Gaçi, was arrested, tortured, and then released and shortly thereafter died at home due to afflicted torture. On 2 December, the first elections were held, not at all free: there was only one list and those who did not go to vote were threatened.
Five days later, on 7 December, Mark was arrested, followed by Gjergj Bici, Ndoc Vata and others. All suffered heavy torture, aimed at revealing to them the details of the plot they were accused of being part of, together with the Jesuits and the Franciscans. On the evening of the 31st, the rector, Fr Daniel Dajani, and Jesuit Vice-Provincial, Fr Giovanni Fausti, had just returned from the village of Fran Gaçi, where they had celebrated a suffrage Mass.
The accused were led to testify in pitiful conditions. The main accusation that they were facing was that of being spies of the Vatican and, consequently, of having betrayed their country. In particular, Mark had been tortured to such an extent that two guards had to support him. His spirit and his irony, however, were decidedly intact, judging by the words he spoke to the judges: "We seminarians are not sorry and do not ask for mercy for ourselves because we have used the propaganda means that the constitution guarantees and that you you promote. Nonetheless, we are not sorry and can not be absolved of guilt for breaking the rules of obedience and implying our superiors, you are falsely accusing, as leaders of our organization, the Albanian Union."
On 22 February 1946, after a show trial, the sentences were read. Eight were sentenced to death by shooting: Fr Gjon Shllaku, Fr Giovanni Fausti, Fr Daniel Dajani, seminarians Mark Çuni and Gjergj Bici, lay people Gjelosh Lulashi, Fran Mirakaj, and Qerim Sadiku. The others accused with them were sentenced to prison, for a period that could go from five years to the whole of life, in fact, if they had even minimally transgressed. For Gjergj Bici, the sentence was later commuted into years of forced labor, while Fran Mirakaj is reported to have died in September 1946.
At dawn on 4 March 1947, the remaining six were transported to the Catholic Cemetery of Shkodër (Varrezat e Rrmajit), where they were executed. At 6 am, the order was given to the eight soldiers of the platoon, armed with machine guns, to "FIRE".
Mark then pronounced his last words: "I forgive all those who have judged me, condemned me and those who are killing me. Tell my mother that she must give away the fifteen napoleona të arta I owe to Ludovik Rasha. Long live Christ the King!"
On 5 November 2016, beatification was celebrated at the Square of the Katedralja e Shën Stefanit in Shkodër, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato.
Blessed Mark Çuni
Mark Çuni was born in the village of Bushat (now a subdivision of Vau i Dejës, Shkodër, Albania), on 30 September 1919. He attended elementary school in his village, but for secondary schools he moved to Shkodër. At the age of 18, he became a pupil of the Xavier College of Shkodër, annexed to the Pontifical Seminary diocesan, both ruled by the Jesuits.
When Mark was very advanced in theological studies, Albania was occupied first by the Italian fascist army, then by the German Nazi army. At the end of 1944, the Germans withdrew and the Communist partisans, commanded by Enver Hoxha, took power.
The students of the Seminary, who had begun to fear the imminent danger, had begun to produce a monthly, "Aurora Consurgens," latin for "Dawn," printed on their own with the mimeograph with which, at the time, the textbooks were reproduced. Communist propaganda, meanwhile, increased more and more: not a day passed that, on the doors of the houses, leaflets appear threatening tones, often distributed by young people. The seminarians felt the worsening of the situation and found an unusual way to react. Mark and fellow seminarian, Gjergj Bici, reproduced a satirical poem by Franciscan Fr Gjon Shllaku on the flyers, without his permission.
Given the success, Mark and Gjergj decided to produce another flyer, then another. As a pseudonym, since they risked being discovered and expelled for violating the rules of the Seminary, they signed these flyers "Bashkimi Shqiptar," Albanian for "Albanian Union". During the summer holidays, the seminarians who were assigned to their first pastoral experiences, took advantage of this and distributed the leaflets to villages and mountain villages.
The summer of 1945, however, also marked the beginning of rumors about a probable election turn. In the following autumn, Mark and Gjergj went to shkollën e mesme Illyricum of the Friars Minor, to talk with Zef Plluni, a distant relative of Gjergj. Their aim was to get more mimeographers and typewriters, because the elections had been scheduled for December and, in fact, there were not any candidates besides the Communist party.
Zef was of opposite opinion: he thought that, being young, no one would listen to them. The other two replied that the communists had to face using their own propaganda weapons, even with the employment of young people. Zef tried to dissuade them, but with no success. In the pre-election period, the Albanian Union distributed five leaflets, always distributed with the most extreme secrecy, through relatives, acquaintances or other colleagues. The only professor who knew about the organization was the lay professor, Gjelosh Lulashi. However, on 27 November, a few days before the elections, one of the seminary students, Fran Gaçi, was arrested, tortured, and then released and shortly thereafter died at home due to afflicted torture. On 2 December, the first elections were held, not at all free: there was only one list and those who did not go to vote were threatened.
Five days later, on 7 December, Mark was arrested, followed by Gjergj Bici, Ndoc Vata and others. All suffered heavy torture, aimed at revealing to them the details of the plot they were accused of being part of, together with the Jesuits and the Franciscans. On the evening of the 31st, the rector, Fr Daniel Dajani, and Jesuit Vice-Provincial, Fr Giovanni Fausti, had just returned from the village of Fran Gaçi, where they had celebrated a suffrage Mass.
The accused were led to testify in pitiful conditions. The main accusation that they were facing was that of being spies of the Vatican and, consequently, of having betrayed their country. In particular, Mark had been tortured to such an extent that two guards had to support him. His spirit and his irony, however, were decidedly intact, judging by the words he spoke to the judges: "We seminarians are not sorry and do not ask for mercy for ourselves because we have used the propaganda means that the constitution guarantees and that you you promote. Nonetheless, we are not sorry and can not be absolved of guilt for breaking the rules of obedience and implying our superiors, you are falsely accusing, as leaders of our organization, the Albanian Union."
On 22 February 1946, after a show trial, the sentences were read. Eight were sentenced to death by shooting: Fr Gjon Shllaku, Fr Giovanni Fausti, Fr Daniel Dajani, seminarians Mark Çuni and Gjergj Bici, lay people Gjelosh Lulashi, Fran Mirakaj, and Qerim Sadiku. The others accused with them were sentenced to prison, for a period that could go from five years to the whole of life, in fact, if they had even minimally transgressed. For Gjergj Bici, the sentence was later commuted into years of forced labor, while Fran Mirakaj is reported to have died in September 1946.
At dawn on 4 March 1947, the remaining six were transported to the Catholic Cemetery of Shkodër (Varrezat e Rrmajit), where they were executed. At 6 am, the order was given to the eight soldiers of the platoon, armed with machine guns, to "FIRE".
Mark then pronounced his last words: "I forgive all those who have judged me, condemned me and those who are killing me. Tell my mother that she must give away the fifteen napoleona të arta I owe to Ludovik Rasha. Long live Christ the King!"
On 5 November 2016, beatification was celebrated at the Square of the Katedralja e Shën Stefanit in Shkodër, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato.
Mark Çuni was born in the village of Bushat (now a subdivision of Vau i Dejës, Shkodër, Albania), on 30 September 1919. He attended elementary school in his village, but for secondary schools he moved to Shkodër. At the age of 18, he became a pupil of the Xavier College of Shkodër, annexed to the Pontifical Seminary diocesan, both ruled by the Jesuits.
When Mark was very advanced in theological studies, Albania was occupied first by the Italian fascist army, then by the German Nazi army. At the end of 1944, the Germans withdrew and the Communist partisans, commanded by Enver Hoxha, took power.
The students of the Seminary, who had begun to fear the imminent danger, had begun to produce a monthly, "Aurora Consurgens," latin for "Dawn," printed on their own with the mimeograph with which, at the time, the textbooks were reproduced. Communist propaganda, meanwhile, increased more and more: not a day passed that, on the doors of the houses, leaflets appear threatening tones, often distributed by young people. The seminarians felt the worsening of the situation and found an unusual way to react. Mark and fellow seminarian, Gjergj Bici, reproduced a satirical poem by Franciscan Fr Gjon Shllaku on the flyers, without his permission.
Given the success, Mark and Gjergj decided to produce another flyer, then another. As a pseudonym, since they risked being discovered and expelled for violating the rules of the Seminary, they signed these flyers "Bashkimi Shqiptar," Albanian for "Albanian Union". During the summer holidays, the seminarians who were assigned to their first pastoral experiences, took advantage of this and distributed the leaflets to villages and mountain villages.
The summer of 1945, however, also marked the beginning of rumors about a probable election turn. In the following autumn, Mark and Gjergj went to shkollën e mesme Illyricum of the Friars Minor, to talk with Zef Plluni, a distant relative of Gjergj. Their aim was to get more mimeographers and typewriters, because the elections had been scheduled for December and, in fact, there were not any candidates besides the Communist party.
Zef was of opposite opinion: he thought that, being young, no one would listen to them. The other two replied that the communists had to face using their own propaganda weapons, even with the employment of young people. Zef tried to dissuade them, but with no success. In the pre-election period, the Albanian Union distributed five leaflets, always distributed with the most extreme secrecy, through relatives, acquaintances or other colleagues. The only professor who knew about the organization was the lay professor, Gjelosh Lulashi. However, on 27 November, a few days before the elections, one of the seminary students, Fran Gaçi, was arrested, tortured, and then released and shortly thereafter died at home due to afflicted torture. On 2 December, the first elections were held, not at all free: there was only one list and those who did not go to vote were threatened.
Five days later, on 7 December, Mark was arrested, followed by Gjergj Bici, Ndoc Vata and others. All suffered heavy torture, aimed at revealing to them the details of the plot they were accused of being part of, together with the Jesuits and the Franciscans. On the evening of the 31st, the rector, Fr Daniel Dajani, and Jesuit Vice-Provincial, Fr Giovanni Fausti, had just returned from the village of Fran Gaçi, where they had celebrated a suffrage Mass.
The accused were led to testify in pitiful conditions. The main accusation that they were facing was that of being spies of the Vatican and, consequently, of having betrayed their country. In particular, Mark had been tortured to such an extent that two guards had to support him. His spirit and his irony, however, were decidedly intact, judging by the words he spoke to the judges: "We seminarians are not sorry and do not ask for mercy for ourselves because we have used the propaganda means that the constitution guarantees and that you you promote. Nonetheless, we are not sorry and can not be absolved of guilt for breaking the rules of obedience and implying our superiors, you are falsely accusing, as leaders of our organization, the Albanian Union."
On 22 February 1946, after a show trial, the sentences were read. Eight were sentenced to death by shooting: Fr Gjon Shllaku, Fr Giovanni Fausti, Fr Daniel Dajani, seminarians Mark Çuni and Gjergj Bici, lay people Gjelosh Lulashi, Fran Mirakaj, and Qerim Sadiku. The others accused with them were sentenced to prison, for a period that could go from five years to the whole of life, in fact, if they had even minimally transgressed. For Gjergj Bici, the sentence was later commuted into years of forced labor, while Fran Mirakaj is reported to have died in September 1946.
At dawn on 4 March 1947, the remaining six were transported to the Catholic Cemetery of Shkodër (Varrezat e Rrmajit), where they were executed. At 6 am, the order was given to the eight soldiers of the platoon, armed with machine guns, to "FIRE".
Mark then pronounced his last words: "I forgive all those who have judged me, condemned me and those who are killing me. Tell my mother that she must give away the fifteen napoleona të arta I owe to Ludovik Rasha. Long live Christ the King!"
On 5 November 2016, beatification was celebrated at the Square of the Katedralja e Shën Stefanit in Shkodër, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato.
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