Józef Innocenty Guz was a Polish Conventual Franciscan priest who lived from 1890 to 1940. Born in Lviv, he joined his religious order in 1908 and received holy orders in 1914. Throughout his ministry, he served various Polish parishes and worked alongside Maximilian Kolbe. After being arrested by Soviet authorities in 1940, he managed to escape their custody, only to be captured by the Gestapo. He was eventually killed by a guard at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where he died as a martyr.
Life and ministry
Following his ordination, Guz served as a professor and a confessor in Grodno. His religious life was defined by his commitment to the Franciscan order and his service to the local community. His experiences during the early years of the Second World War were marked by extreme hardship, including imprisonment by Soviet forces and subsequent capture by Nazi authorities.
Martyrdom and veneration
After being held at the Soldau concentration camp, Guz was transferred to Sachsenhausen. He was killed there on June 6, 1940. He is recognized as a blessed in the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II beatified him on June 13, 1999, and his feast day is observed on June 12.