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John Maria Muzeyi

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John Maria Muzeyi

Birth
Death
27 Jan 1887
Burial
Burial Details Unknown
Memorial ID
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Roman Catholic Saint. Also known as Jean-Marie or John Mary Kiwanuka Muzeyi. He was born in Tanzania border near near Minziro Village in Buddu County in the kingdom of Buganda, Uganda, to his father Bunyaga and his mother (whose name was either Mukatunzi or Nnamalayo) of the Monkey Clan. Muzeyi was first called Musoke, but later acquired the name Muddembuga. He himself was of the Mbogo clan of the tribe of Muganda. When he was young, he was captured by a sub-chief named Kabega while herding the cattle and sold to an acquaintance called Bigomba, who offered him to King Mutesa I, who entrusted him to royal fencemaker Ttamiro. He became a Muslim page of Mutesa (with the forename Jamari, which means "good luck") when Islam first came into Uganda, later specializing as a herbalist without using witchcraft. He lived at the time of Mutesa and his son Mwanga II when Christianity came into Uganda between 1877 and 1879. When the plague broke out, Muzeyi left for Mutundwe where he was taught Catholicism, and became a right-hand man to Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, attending to the king in his sickness. After Mutesa's death on October 19, 1884, Mwanga came to power at age 16 and demanded that Christians renounce their faith on pain of torture or death, and that his pages engage in pedophilic activities. Many pages refused to engage in such activities and went into hiding with some Christian missionaries at a time of persecution. Muzeyi was baptized by Pere Simeon Lourdel on November 1, 1885, just three days after the martyrdom of Anglican bishop James Hannington and his companions; and during the martyrdom of Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, Charles Lwanga, and 19 other Catholic pages between November 15 of that year and June 3, 1886, Muzeyi practiced Christian virtues, taught catechism and helped out whatever he could to those in need. In January 1887, Muzeyi was arrested by Mwanga and sent to the courts at Mengo. On January 27, after Mass and Holy Communion, Muzeyi returned to Mengo, where he was beheaded, and his body was thrown into Jugula Swamp between Mengo and the hills of Namierembe. He became the last Roman Catholic martyr of Uganda to die, some say between the ages of 30 and 35, others at age 36 or 37. Along with Lwanga and his companions, Muzeyi was beatified in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV and canonized on October 18, 1964, by Pope Paul VI. He is the patron saint of doctors, nurses, hospitals and dispensaries; his solo feast day is January 27, while his joint feast day with Lwanga and 20 others is June 3.
Roman Catholic Saint. Also known as Jean-Marie or John Mary Kiwanuka Muzeyi. He was born in Tanzania border near near Minziro Village in Buddu County in the kingdom of Buganda, Uganda, to his father Bunyaga and his mother (whose name was either Mukatunzi or Nnamalayo) of the Monkey Clan. Muzeyi was first called Musoke, but later acquired the name Muddembuga. He himself was of the Mbogo clan of the tribe of Muganda. When he was young, he was captured by a sub-chief named Kabega while herding the cattle and sold to an acquaintance called Bigomba, who offered him to King Mutesa I, who entrusted him to royal fencemaker Ttamiro. He became a Muslim page of Mutesa (with the forename Jamari, which means "good luck") when Islam first came into Uganda, later specializing as a herbalist without using witchcraft. He lived at the time of Mutesa and his son Mwanga II when Christianity came into Uganda between 1877 and 1879. When the plague broke out, Muzeyi left for Mutundwe where he was taught Catholicism, and became a right-hand man to Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, attending to the king in his sickness. After Mutesa's death on October 19, 1884, Mwanga came to power at age 16 and demanded that Christians renounce their faith on pain of torture or death, and that his pages engage in pedophilic activities. Many pages refused to engage in such activities and went into hiding with some Christian missionaries at a time of persecution. Muzeyi was baptized by Pere Simeon Lourdel on November 1, 1885, just three days after the martyrdom of Anglican bishop James Hannington and his companions; and during the martyrdom of Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, Charles Lwanga, and 19 other Catholic pages between November 15 of that year and June 3, 1886, Muzeyi practiced Christian virtues, taught catechism and helped out whatever he could to those in need. In January 1887, Muzeyi was arrested by Mwanga and sent to the courts at Mengo. On January 27, after Mass and Holy Communion, Muzeyi returned to Mengo, where he was beheaded, and his body was thrown into Jugula Swamp between Mengo and the hills of Namierembe. He became the last Roman Catholic martyr of Uganda to die, some say between the ages of 30 and 35, others at age 36 or 37. Along with Lwanga and his companions, Muzeyi was beatified in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV and canonized on October 18, 1964, by Pope Paul VI. He is the patron saint of doctors, nurses, hospitals and dispensaries; his solo feast day is January 27, while his joint feast day with Lwanga and 20 others is June 3.

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