The Martyrdom of Father Leo Heinrichs OFM (top left) by David Gabler, citing the February 1908 edition of the Denver Catholic Register, reads:>Father Leo Heinrichs woke up the morning of Feb. 23, 1908, and prepared for the 6 a.m. Mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish near downtown Denver. While he normally said the 8 a.m. Mass, Father Leo asked his vicar, Father Wulstan Workman, if he would switch on account of a meeting he had later that morning.>It was the last Mass the Franciscan priest ever celebrated. While distributing Holy Communion, an Italian immigrant named Giuseppe Alia approached the altar rail, and knelt down to receive Holy Communion as given to him by Father Leo. However, upon receiving it, Alia spit the Sacred Host out into his hand and threw it in the face of Father Leo. As the Eucharist fell to the ground, Alia pulled a revolver hidden in his pocket and put a bullet in Father Leo’s heart.

Originally published in Padre Peregrino. Read original article