November 19th - Saint Raphael Kalinowski
Trudie
(Also known as Joseph Kalinowsk)
1835 - 1907
Son of Andrew Kalinowski, prominent mathematics professor at the College of
Nobility, and Josepha Poionska Kalinowski. Studied at his father's school.
Though he felt a call to the priesthood, Joseph decided on college first.
Studied zoology, chemistry, agriculture, and apiculture at the Institute of
Agronomy in Hory Horki, Russia, and at the Academy of Military Engineering at
Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Lieutenant in the Russian Military Engineering Corps in 1857. Planned and
supervised the construction of the railway between Kursk and Odessa. Promoted to
captain in 1862, stationed in Brest-Litovsk. There he started, taught, and bore
all the costs of a Sunday school, accepting anyone interested.
In 1863 he supported the Polish insurrection. He resigned from the Russian army
and became the rebellion's minister of war for the Vilna region; he took the
commission with the understanding that he would never hand out a death sentence
or execute a prisoner. Arrested by Russian authorities on 25 March 1864. In June
1864 he was condemned to death for his part in the revolt, but the authorities
feared they would be creating a political martyr, and commuted his sentence to
ten years forced labor in the Siberian salt mines; part of his sentence was
spent in Irkutsk where his relics recently sanctified a new cathedral.
Released in 1873, he was exiled from his home region in Lithuania. Moved to
Paris, France, and worked as a tutor for three years. In 1877 he finally
answered the long-heard call to the religious life, and joined the Carmelite
Order at Graz, Austria, taking the name Raphael. Studied theology in Hungary,
then joined the Carmelite house at Czama, Poland. Ordained on 15 January 1882.
Worked to restore the Discalced Carmelites to Poland, and for church unity.
Founded a convent at Wadowice, Poland, c.1889. Worked with Blessed Alphonsus
Mary Marurek. Noted spiritual director of both Catholics and Orthodox.
Enthusiastic parish priest, he spent countless hours with his parishioners in
the confessional.
Born
1835 at Vilna, Russian Poland (modern Vilnius, Lithuania) as Joseph Kalinowski
Died 15 November 1907 at Wadowice, Poland of natural causes
Beatified 22 June 1983 at Cracow, Poland by Pope John Paul II. Canonized 17
November 1991 by Pope John Paul II
Readings
Our Redeemer, ever present in the most Blessed Sacrament, extends His hand to
everyone. He opens His heart and says, 'Come to Me, all of You.'"
-Saint Raphael
source: http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintr37.htm
Quote:
All that we give through charity to the Souls in Purgatory is changed into grace
for us, and after our death we will find the merit of it increased a
hundredfold.
-St. Ambrose
Bible Quote
31 Another parable he proposed unto them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like
to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. 32 Which is
the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up, it is greater than all
herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come, and dwell in the
branches thereof. (Matthew 13:31-32)
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Prayers from the Leonine Sacramentary of AD 440: for protection, for morning,
for evening, at the hour of death, in love of the spiritual law, and in
persecution:
Protect, O Lord, Thy suppliants, supporteth their weakness, and washeth away
their earthly stains; and while they walk amidst the darkness of this mortal
life, do Thou ever quicken them by Thy light; delivereth them in Thy mercy from
all evils, and granteth them to attain the height of good: through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
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O God, Who doth divide the day from the night, separate our deeds from the
darkness of sin, and let us continually live in Thy light, reflecting in all
that we do Thy eternal beauty. Amen.
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God, Who giveth the day for work and the night for sleep, refresh our bodies and
our minds through the quiet hours of night, and let our inward eyes be directed
towards Thee, dreaming of Thy eternal glory. Amen.
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O God, the Saviour of both the living and the dying, I humbly beseech Thee to
pardon all my offenses, both those committed deliberately and those committed
without thought and intention. And when at last Thou doth command that my soul
should depart from my body, may Thy holy Angels protect my soul from all evil
powers, and carry it safely to Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.
<><> Thou hast made for us this law: that the effect of what come upon us from
without should depend on what we are like within.
Thus, no external misfortune shall overcome us if we restrain the vices inside
us. No public disgrace shall overwhelm us if we resist our own disgraceful
desires. No outward disturbance shall daunt us if our intentions are pure. No
enemy can rob us of our peace if our hearts are fixed upon Thee. No one can
doeth more harm to us, than we inflict upon ourselves; and as soon as we master
ourselves, everything else loseth power to injure us.
For this Thy spiritual law, we give unto Thee thanks. Amen.
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Our weakness, O Lord, giveth Thee continual opportunity for displaying Thy
strength; and opposition to Thy Church giveth Thee continual opportunity for
displaying Thy power. Thus at times such as these of persecution, when we feel
weak in the face of our enemies, sustaineth our hearts with Thy strength, and
defeateth Thine enemies by Thy mighty power; and may the blood which Thy
faithful people shed today, become the soil in which Thy Church groweth and
flourish in the future. Amen.