Blessed Marcel Callo
Blessed Marcel Callo was a man who loved love itself as dearly as life. He was a young man who was prepared to preserve his personal holiness until God gave him the one chosen for him and to kiss her with the purest form of love. The attitude Marcel maintained towards women was in stark contrast to that of many of his peers and friends. He firmly believed that women are to be respected. “I am not someone who entertains myself with a woman. My love is pure and dignified. If I waited until I was twenty to go out with a young woman, it was only to find true love. Before I give my love to the person Christ has chosen for me, she must have already conquered my heart.” This was Marcel’s perspective on love. Respecting this ideal, God chose and gave him a woman – Marguerite Derniaux.
It was only after a year of friendship and close observation that he expressed his love to Marguerite. Even then, it took several more months before he gave her the first kiss. After their engagement, they both committed themselves to a strict spiritual life. This included saying the same prayers, attending Holy Mass as often as possible, and receiving the Holy Eucharist whenever they could.
Marcel Callo was born on December 6, 1921, in Rennes, France. From a young age, he was known for his cheerful nature. He was always ready to help with household chores and to care for his younger siblings. He began working at the age of thirteen. The vulgar language and obscene stories from his coworkers disturbed him deeply. He yearned for the company of devout Catholics and soon found such companionship through the movement Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne (Young Christian Workers).
Marcel excelled in wrestling and football alike. His Marian consecration prayer was: “Blessed Mother, keep me as your own. Guard and protect me as your possession and treasure.” Marguerite entered his life when he was twenty. Those days filled with love and happiness were suddenly shattered by a series of events that tore through life both deeply and widely.
When World War II began, the city of Rennes was occupied by German forces. During a bombing, Marcel’s sister was killed. The German army deported Marcel to Germany for forced labor under the Service du Travail Obligatoire (STO). Out of concern for his family’s safety, Marcel unwillingly agreed to go. He went through intense hardship for about three months. Not seeing his family was painful, but even more painful for him was the inability to attend Holy Mass.
This plunged Marcel into deep depression. On top of that, he suffered from migraines, stomach ailments, mouth ulcers, and toothaches. All of this deepened his gloom. But God did not allow him to remain in that darkness for long. “Christ decided to act,” said Marcel about that period. He was able to break free from his isolation and join others again. He returned to prayer and began participating in secret Masses.
This joy of Marcel’s disturbed the German secret police. They were perplexed-how could a person be happy when there was no reason to hope? They found the reason. Eventually, they arrested Marcel on the charge of being a Catholic. This happened on April 19, 1944. Marcel stood firm before the interrogations. He openly confessed his Catholic activities. He was then transferred to another prison in Mauthausen. Even while suffering from bronchitis, malnutrition, diarrhea, fever, and exhaustion, Marcel never complained. He boldly declared to his companions that strength could be found in prayer.
On March 19, 1945, the feast of Saint Joseph, Marcel left this world. By that time, he had spent two years among German soldiers. On October 4, 1987, Pope John Paul II declared him Blessed.
Let us call it joyful – to have a friend who knows how to support you during every painful and broken hour that never seems to leave you, not even for a moment. If you have such a friend, you can endure anything. I am grateful to that friend for preparing the path I now walk. Christ is so good.” These were the words Marcel wrote in a letter sent home on July 6, 1944.
After Marcel’s death, what happened to Marguerite? Isn’t that a natural question to ask? Here is the answer: Marguerite never married. She kept Marcel in her heart and lived a single life until her death in 1997. Lives that stand as memorials of love.
