GHEBRÉ, MICHAEL, Blessed. – An Abyssinian martyr, member of the Congregation of the Mission. Born at Dibo (Goggiam) in 1791, after attending local schools (debrab), at the age of 22 he embraced the monastic life in order to devote himself more freely to study and prayer. During a journey to Alexandria he met the Blessed Giustino De Jacobis (q.v.), with whom he travelled to Rome (1841) and to Palestine. On his return to his homeland, he abjured Monophysite heresy (1843); then he placed himself under the guidance of De Jacobis, by whom he was ordained priest in 1851. From that time until his death this “Abyssinian genius, intelligent, capable, active, exemplary” (De Jacobis) devoted himself to the conversion of heretics (he won over to the Roman faith even the son of King Giovanni) and to the instruction of young Abyssinians at the Seminary of Alai, for whom he composed a grammar, a dictionary in the Ge'ez language, a catechism, and, together with the Blessed De Jacobis, began the translation of the moral theology of Gury.
When the religious persecution broke out, he was captured at Gondar in 1854 by order of the Coptic abuna Salama. Condemned to death by the Emperor Teodoro, he was pardoned, but kept constantly in chains, he died of privation at Cercia Ghebaba, on the borders of the Wallo pass (Sciao), on 28 Aug. 1855. He was beatified by Pius XI on 31 Oct. 1926. Feast, 19 Sept.