Priest Flees Red Purge
Photograph Description:
A Pacoima priest who escaped a communist death sentence 19 years ago is celebrating his 25th year in the priesthood this weekend. The Rev. Mario P. Matic, pastor of Guardian Angel Catholic Church, 10886 Lehigh Ave., was sentenced to death during a 1945 Communist purge of clergymen in his native Croatia (a country in southeastern Europe). The dark-complexioned, graying priest said friends warned him that Red soldiers were approaching his home. 'I escaped 10 minutes before they came to get me,' said Father Matic. Asked what the charge against him was, he replied with a rueful smile, 'I was a young priest.'
George Brich, Valley Times Photo Collection/Los Angeles Public Library
Photograph dated June 6, 1964
Present Valley
Thank you sharing this miraculous story of a young life being saved.
It would seem he had a purpose that was not yet completed.
Well Street
Wow, escaping with mere minutes to spare can strongly impact a belief in divine intervention.
Evangel
This triggers the unpleasant memory of the priests and nuns who were brutally assassinated in El Salvador, with the final murder targeting Archbishop Oscar Romero for his unwavering courage to uplift the poor through his weekly sermons. Reminiscent of threats to clergy in our own country, those in El Salvador who called out government abuses and advocated for peace were labeled "communists" to discredit their position in the church. If they persisted, they were ultimately silenced by bullets.
Sanatana
Literally escaped with his life!