1938 AD — Konnersreuth, Germany
To the Croatian Jesuit priest Fr. Petar Perica (1881–1944), poet and author of the famous Marian hymn 'Zdravo Djevo, Kraljice Hrvata' (Hail Virgin, Queen of Croats), Therese Neumann prophesied during his medical treatment in Germany: 'You will die a martyr's death.' The prophecy was tragically fulfilled on October 24, 1944, when Communist Partisan forces arrested Fr. Perica without trial along with approximately fifty other civilians and priests from Dubrovnik. They were taken to the islet of Daksa, where they were tortured, executed, and thrown into a common pit. Fr. Perica reportedly went to his death singing 'Tebe, Boga, hvalimo' (Te Deum). His cause for beatification as a martyr of communism has been opened.
Petar PericamartyrdomCroatiaJesuitDaksacommunism1944fulfilled
Testimonies of Fr. Petar Perica and Croatian Catholic tradition
by Therese Neumann / Fr. Petar Perica