Today's Saint of the day is Blessed Benedict Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa.

He was born to Petrus Daswa and Ida Daswa from

the Lemba Tribe on sixteenth June 1946 in Mbahe,Limpopo, South Africa.He was the first born among four siblings.He started
his studies in 1957 at Vandwe Primary School and moved to Mphaphuli High School for his secondary education.He started his
studies in 1957 at Vandwe Primary School and moved to Mphaphuli High School for his secondary educationHis Father ,met his
death accidentally .This forced Benedict to enter the workforce to earn a living for sibling's education. .Daswa got to know the
Catholic faith through a friend while he was living with his uncle in Johannesburg . He learnt the catechism every Sunday with
Fr Benedict Risimati.After two years of instruction, Daswa was baptised on 21 April 1963 by Father Augustine O’Brien. Daswa
went to Venda Teacher Training College to do a primary teacher’s certificate and later obtained his matriculation through
correspondence in 1973. He served as a teacher and catechist as he worked with children and he assisted poor families .
Daswa was known to fetch students who decided to skip school. Daswa later helped to build the first church in his area and
became the principal of Nweli Primary school that he taught on 1 January 1979. Daswa married Shadi Eveline Monyai in 1974
and they had eight children. He would help his wife with chores,and he hosted Daswa Family Days each 16 December where
gifts would be exchanged and a meal held. he personally built his brick house for his family. Daswa also established a soccer
team called the Mbahe Eleven Computers and left this team when members wanted to use “muti” which was witchcraft in
order to win games. Later He started a new team, Mbahe Freedom Rebels .In November 1989, the area experienced heavy
rains and thunder storms .this happened again in January 1990 . the elders decided that the lightning occurred due to magic
and thus demanded a tax from all their residents to pay for a sangoma to “sniff out” the witch who caused the storms.
Refusing to believe this, Daswa said it was a natural phenomenon and declined to pay the tax.On 2 February 1990, Daswa
drove his sister-in-law and her sick child to a doctor in Thohoyandou and en route, picked up a man who asked for his help to
take a bag of mealie meal to his home in a town next to Mbahe. At around 7:30pm, he returned to Mbahe where he left his
sister-in-law and child near their home. He told his daughter that he would return after taking the passenger to the next
village.Returning home, he found his path blocked by fallen trees an as he attempted to clear the road he was ambushed by a
mob of young men and started stoning him.He started Bleeding and left his damaged car and ran for assistance at a woman’s
hut. However, the woman revealed where he was when the mob threatened to kill her if she did not comply. As a result of
this, he was beaten and clubbed over the head. Boiling water was poured over him in his ears and nostrils a to ensure that he
was dead. The woman of the hut informed Daswa’s brother what had happened and the latter remained with his dead brother
for the night. The funeral took place on Saturday, 10 February 1990. The priests wore red vestments to indicate their belief
that Daswa died at the hands of his attackers .He was beatified by Cardinal Angelo Amato in Limpopo on 13 September 2015.
Present at the celebration was Daswa’s mother and children as well as Father Augustine O’Brien who baptised him. Blessed
Benedict will be remembered as a hardworking, God fearing , Generous and Honest man He showed exemplary bravery by his
firm decision not to engage in witchcraft even though the whole village engaged in it .He was murdered while saying the words
God into your hands I commend my spirit.Let us pray ,O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Benedict Daswa with
great love and zeal for building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and strength to stand up for his faith
without fear and to bear witness to it even unto death. Loving God, like him, may we always proclaim the truth of the Gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ by the witness of our life.Keep us away from all deeds of darkness; protect us from evil spirits and the
powers of evil. Make us true apostles of life in our families and in society.• Father, through Blessed Benedict Daswa’s
intercession and if it accords with your will, grant us this grace which we now ask of you … May we always draw strength and
courage from the life of your Servant Benedict Daswa whom we in South Africa venerate as our intercessor and model of
holiness.Through Christ our Lord.Amen