Fr. Jan Bula was born June 24, 1920, in Lukov by Moravian Budejovic. He completed theological studies in Brno and was ordained a priest on July 29, 1945. From 1945-1951 he was pastor in Rokytnice. In 1951, during a show trial he was unjustly accused of treason and condemned to death. He was hanged on May 20, 1952 in Jihlava. In 1990, after the Velevet Revolution, he was declared innocent by the court. In a letter to his relatives before his execution he wrote: “We human beings do not love God enough; that is the only thing for which we must ask forgiveness.”
Jesus, Good Shepherd, we thank You for Your servant Jan. He conscientiously served You as a priest, the vocation to which You called him. He sought always to do Your will, and lived accordingly. Persecuted, tortured and condemned to death, he remained faithful to the church and her shepherds and persevered until death in faith and hope in Your immense mercy. You who teach us to love our enemies, we ask for the same spirit with which you imbued your servant Jan, so that we too may be stronger in our faith, our hope and our love. AMEN.
Say three times: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. AMEN.
