Petar Barbarić

Petar Barbarić, SJ (19 May 1874 – 15 April 1897) was a Bosnian Herzegovinian Jesuit from Šiljevišta, near Ljubuški, Bosnia Vilayet (modern Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was in the novitiate and in the midst of his studies for the priesthood before he died of tuberculosis. Upon realizing his condition, he was allowed to make his solemn vows before his death. Barbarić was known for his devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and his charismatic nature among his peers.

On 18 March 2015, he was proclaimed to be venerable after Pope Francis acknowledged the fact that Barbarić had lived a life of heroic virtue.

Life Petar Barbarić was born in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1874 in the Croatian family of Ante and Kata Barbarić (nee. Tolj). He had eight brothers; one was the Franciscan Mate (religious: Marko) Barbarić-Lesko (19 Feb. 1865 – 6 Feb. 1945) who was killed and whose sainthood cause has commenced. He spent his childhood on the farm with the sheep and was known for being an avid reader of religious texts. The second process – following the re-ignition of the cause decades later – spanned from 1998 until 2007. These processes were validated in Rome at the behest of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 2012.

Historians met to discuss the cause on 20 November 2012 to ascertain if historical obstacles existed and the reason that the cause had not been introduced earlier as a recognition of holiness. Historical questions bought into question were addressed on an adequate level and so the cause was given approval on 20 November 2012. On 18 March 2015 the title of a venerable was conferred upon him once Pope Francis had signed a decree that recognized the fact that Barbarić had lived a life of heroic virtue. A miracle attributed to Barbarić was investigated in the diocese of its origin and received validation from officials in Rome on 13 June 2014. The postulator assigned to the cause is the Jesuit priest Anton Witwer.