GHEBRÉ, MICHAEL, beato. - Abyssinian martyr, member of the Congregation of the Mission. Born at Dibo (Goggiam) in 1791, after attending the local schools (debrà), at the age of 22 he embraced the monastic life in order to devote himself more freely to study and prayer. On a journey to Alexandria he met Bl. De Jacobis (v.), with whom he made a pilgrimage to Rome (1841) and to Palestine. Upon returning to his homeland, he abjured the Monophysite heresy (1843); thereafter he followed De Jacobis, by whom he was ordained priest in 1851.
From that time until his death, this “Abyssinian genius, intelligent, skilful, active, exemplary” (De Jacobis) devoted himself to the conversion of heretics (he won over to the Roman faith the very son of King Giovanni) and to the instruction of the young Abyssinians at the Seminary of Alai, for whom he composed a grammar, a dictionary in the ge'ez language, and a catechism; together with Bl. De Jacobis, he also began the translation of Gury’s moral theology.
When religious persecution broke out, he was captured at Gondar in 1854 by order of the Coptic abuna Salama. Condemned to death by Emperor Teodoro, he was pardoned, but, kept constantly in chains, he died of privation at Cerecia Ghebaba, on the borders of the Wallo Pass (Scioa), on 28 Aug. 1855. He was beatified by Pius XI on 31 Oct. 1926. Feast day: 1 Sept.