Thursday, December 16, Third Week of Advent
BLESSED HONORATUS KOZMINSKI (Poland, 1825-1916)
Capuchin, Founder of Congregations, Writer
Imprisoned as a teenager for allegedly taking part in a rebellion conspiracy,
he joined the Capuchins, and as a priest in Warsaw, devoted himself to
preaching, confessions, spiritual direction and working with lay Franciscans.
At age 30, he helped Blessed Angela Truszkowska establish the Felician
congregation. In 1864, Polish orders were suppressed after an assassination
plot on the Russian czar, and the clergy were expelled from Warsaw. Exiled
to another city, Zakroczym, he established 26 male and female congregations
who took vows but did not wear habits and lived among the people (17 still exist
today as secular institutes). His life was also marked by extensive writings,
particularly his sermons and letters, and 52 publications on ascetic theology.
In 1895, he was named Commissary-General for the Capuchins of Poland, but
in 1908, diocesan bishops took control over his congregations, whom he told
to obey. A contemporary said of him, "He always walked with God". He was
beatified in 1988.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/nab/readings/121610.shtml
OR today.
At the General Audience, the Pope speaks on St. Veronica Giuliani:
'True image of the Crucified Christ'
Other Page 1 stories: Unemployment continues to plague US economy; India and China announce strategic alliance in economic, trade and energy matters; Italian government investigates masterminds behind Tuesday riots in which some 2000 union thugs apparently incited 20,000 student protesters to confront Italian police, using a confidence vote in Parliament as a pretext, causing Rome's worst riots in years, with at least 150 wounded among policemen and rioters, and 20 million euros in damage; thousands flee the Ivory Coast because of a possible civil war caused by a president who refuses to accept electoral defeat; and dozens die as refugee boats carrying Iraqis and Iranians are wrecked off Australia's Christmas Island.
THE POPE'S DAY
The Holy Father met today with
- The new ambassadors from Nepal, Zambia, Andorra, Seychelles, and Mali, who presented their credentials.
Address in French.
- Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (weekly meeting)
- Fr. José Rodríguez Carballo, Minister-Geeran of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor
- Rev. Munib A. Younan, President of the World Lutheran Federation, and his delegation. Address in English.
In the afternoon, he presided at Vespers during the traditional Christmas encounter with university
students of Rome. Homily in Italian.
The Holy Father's Message for the World Day of Peace on January 1, 2011, was released at a news conference
at the Vatican today.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 19/12/2010 00:31]