Today's saint 😇 ministered to the Secular Franciscan Order.
December 16, 2024
Dear John,
Many people are on a journey of faith. On that journey, many of us encounter challenges, questions, and pain points. If we don’t get the answers we are seeking or find the resources to help us when we face obstacles, we often become discouraged. We may even be tempted to give up our faith journey for a time, or maybe for good.
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With profound gratitude,
Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD President & Publisher,
Wenceslaus Kozminski was born in Biala Podlaska in 1829. By the age of 11 he had lost his faith. By the age of 16 his father had died. He studied architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Suspected of participating in a rebellious conspiracy against the Czarists in Poland, he was imprisoned from April 1846 until March of 1847. His life then took a turn for the better, and in 1848 he received the Capuchin habit and a new name, Honoratus. He was ordained in 1855 and dedicated his energies to the ministry where he was involved, among other things, with the Secular Franciscan Order.
A 1864 revolt against Czar Alexander III failed, which led to the suppression of all religious orders in Poland. The Capuchins were expelled from Warsaw and moved to Zakroczym. There Honoratus founded 26 religious congregations. These men and women took vows but did not wear a religious habit and did not live in community. In many regards, they lived as members of today’s secular institutes do. Seventeen of these groups still exist as religious congregations.
Father Honoratus’ writings include many volumes of sermons, letters, and works on ascetical theology, works on Marian devotion, historical and pastoral writings, as well as many writings for the religious congregations which he founded.
When various bishops sought to reorganize the communities under their authority in 1906, Honoratus defended them and their independence. In 1908, he was relieved of his leadership role. Nevertheless he encouraged the members of these communities to be obedient to the Church.
Father Honoratus died on December 16, 1916, and was beatified in 1988. His liturgical feast is celebrated on October 13.
Reflection
Father Honoratus realized that the religious communities that he founded were not truly his. When ordered by Church officials to relinquish control, he instructed the communities to be obedient to the Church. He could have become combative, but instead he accepted his fate with religious submission, and realized that the gifts of the Religious were to be gifts to the larger community. He learned to let go.
Embrace Franciscan solutions that inspire us to tackle today's ecological challenges with hope and determination
in this updated classic by Keith Douglass Warner, OFM, Ilia Delio, OSF, and
Pamela Wood.
Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth
The incarnation is at the heart of our faith, and what we celebrate in this season. Over the course of Christian history, it fell to a number of saints to help establish the truth of God-become-human. That effort was often a bitter struggle, resulting in great hardships.
In the fourth century, the Arian heresy tore the young church apart, as the teaching of the priest Arius denied the divinity of Christ. Thousands followed Arius, including many bishops. Standing against Arianism was Athanasius, first as a deacon at the Council of Nicea, and later as bishop of Alexandria. The Creed we pray today bears, in part, the stamp of the work of Athanasius and his colleagues. In his defense of Christ’s divinity, Athanasius faced great opposition and suffered exile five times.
In today’s Gospel Jesus’ authority is called into question by the chief priests and scribes as he teaches in the temple. They are not ready to accept his divine mandate. He silences his opponents with a clever argument. Athanasius witnesses to Christ by his preaching, writing, and silent suffering in exile. We, too, can find a variety of opportunities to profess our faith in Jesus.
A powerful lesson my dad taught me as a little girl was how using a person’s name is an act of reverence. Once at the grocery store, my Dad thanked the person who bagged our groceries by using their first name. “Patty, always thank the person who bags your groceries, because they often do not get seen, or thanked, or noticed.” To say another human being’s name is a simple, yet powerful way to honor their God-given dignity and humanity.
Pray
Spirit of Love, Help me to remember that I am always known and loved by God. My name is always on your lips. May I remember to always speak the names of those I encounter with kindness and love. Amen.
Act
Be on the lookout today to use people’s names as you encounter them. And when you do so, be aware of saying it as an act of reverence. How does this change your interactions with people around you?
Today's Pause+Pray was written by Patricia Breen. Learn more here!
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