hidden image

Condemned for his Activism

F. M. Britto F. M. Britto
15 Mar 2021

Marcel Callo was born in a farmer’s family on Dec 6, 1921 as the second of nine children. Leaving the meagre acres of land in Brittany, his father got employed in a chemical factory in Rennes city, France. Marcel Callo helped in household chores and took care of his younger siblings. 

From childhood, he was a leader, a perfectionist, enjoyed games and fun. While in the school, he became a Scout and an altar server. To help out his family, the 12 year old Callo worked as an apprentice in a printing store; but he did not like the vulgar jokes of his senior fellow workers.  And they ridiculed him as a “Jesus freak”. The 14 year old boy then joined the Young Christian Workers, who were called “Jocists” (JOC). Since it was action-oriented, he liked it. His natural leadership qualities began to shine. Like a normal youth, Callo enjoyed organising sports, trips, movies and dance parties at the JOC centre.  

Here he met Marguerite Derniaux. Falling in love with her, the 20 year old Callo got engaged to her. But they enacted a strict spiritual life between them by saying the same prayers every day. But they never got married.

During the World War II, the Germans invaded France. His city was bombarded. Callo helped clean the rubble in his city. With his friends he visited regularly the railway station to assist the refugees fleeing from Eastern Europe due to the Nazi invasion. They helped many escape the Nazis by giving them their Red Cross armbands. 

Identified as a Jocist, which the Nazis perceived as a secret order, they arrested him. When the 21 years old Callo left home on March 19, 1944, he told his family, “I am leaving, not as a worker, but as a missionary in the service of my companions.” He was taken to Germany and enrolled to serve the war. 

Callo was made to work in a factory that produced firearms, which were used against his countrymen. He suffered depression for a few months. Revived by his prayers, Callo began to care for his deported companions. Here he organised the Christian workers. Once again he became their leader. And he continued to raise his companions’ spirits and urged them to pray with trust.

His religious activism came to be known to the Nazis. Condemning, “You are too much of a Catholic,” the court banished him to the concentration camp in Austria on Oct 7, 1944.   Here Callo was forced daily rigorous labour of 12 hours, seven days a week, with little food or water and was also abused and beaten. After contracting tuberculosis, fever and dysentery, the 23 years old Callo died on March 19, 1945.  Pope John Paul II beatified him on Oct 4, 1987. Marcel Callo has become the patron of young workers, prisoners and those affected by depression. 

 “The Christian should be first into the field against what is wrong – including man’s inhumanity to man.” – Francis A. Schaeffer. 

Recent Posts

In a world scarred by war, hatred, and inhuman leadership, education must humanise, not merely inform. Sanjeevani Vidyapeeth shows how empowering the marginalised with values, character, and competenc
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
07 Jul 2025
The sinking of MSC ELSA 3 off Kerala's coast exposes a toxic mix of corporate impunity, political complicity, and environmental neglect. As hazardous cargo threatens lives and livelihoods, the silence
apicture Joseph Maliakan
07 Jul 2025
In a world slipping into chaos, where leaders trade threats and valorise violence, India mirrors this decay, silencing dissent, weaponising identity, and pushing the marginalised to the margins. The c
apicture Thomas Menamparampil
07 Jul 2025
When Fr. Stan Swamy died on July 5, 2021, the world of truth and justice was shocked and saddened. Those who belonged to this group were convinced that his death was not a natural one, but a premedita
apicture Cedric Prakash
07 Jul 2025
The strength of India is in her democracy; the unity of India is in her diversity; the heritage of India is in her hospitality, the breath of India is in her principle of Ahimsa/non-violence, and the
apicture Fr. L. Michael Collins
07 Jul 2025
Marking June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' is a calculated distortion of history, designed to vilify Indira Gandhi while deflecting from the ongoing, undeclared Emergency under Modi.
apicture G Ramachandram
07 Jul 2025
When a nation stops examining itself, it stops evolving. When a people stop questioning, they stop progressing. And when truth is replaced by lies, it takes only a few years for credibility to erode —
apicture Robert Clements
07 Jul 2025
The Emergency must be remembered, not as a tool to target a political party but as a lesson against authoritarian excess. Yet, we cannot ignore that worse violations of democratic norms and human righ
apicture A. J. Philip
30 Jun 2025
Fifty years later, India faces a chilling déjà vu with an 'undeclared' Emergency. Freedom of speech is stifled, dissent is suppressed, and institutions are compromised. True democracy demands resistan
apicture Cedric Prakash
30 Jun 2025
Amit Shah's claim that those who speak English will be ashamed evidences that the BJP-RSS is trying to bring down the populace and push India into another Vedic dark age where ignorance and superstiti
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
30 Jun 2025