Subj : June 17th - St. Albert Chmielowski, Servant of the Poor. To : All From : rich Date : Sun Jun 16 2019 08:34:53 From: rich June 17th - St. Albert Chmielowski, Servant of the Poor. (Also known as Adam Chmielowski; Brat Albert; Brother Albert; Brother of Our Lord; Brother of Our God; Our God's Brother) St. Albert was born Adam Chmielowski on Aug. 20, 1845, at Igolomia in the Miech=C3=B3w district of southern Poland. 18 years later, he took part in the failed uprisings against the Russian occupation. While he was in prison, Albert's left leg was amputated. Eventually, he was allowed to return to Poland, where he studied agriculture, before switching to art - and, for a year, engineering. He was a successful artist, but 10 years after his first exhibition, Albert decided that he was called to religious life. However, within six months of joining the Jesuits, he suffered a nervous breakdown and left them to become a Franciscan tertiary. As a third order or secular Franciscan, Albert worked first in the country before moving to Cracow in 1884. Gradually, he gave up his art in favor of helping the poor, particularly the homeless. In 1887, he followed the example of Rafal Kalinowski, who had become a Carmelite friar. He adopted both the name Albert and a simple habit. A year later, he made vows before Card. Albin Dunajewski, the Archbishop of Cracow, who also had been active in the uprising against Russia. Thus, he began the Albertine Brothers, who were followed after three years by the Albertine Sisters. Both congregations opened houses that still exist to help the poor and homeless. Albert died on Christmas in 1916. His funeral was attended by the mayor, the bishop and large numbers of ordinary citizens. In 1938, in honor of his contributions to his country, the president of Poland awarded Albert the country's highest honor - the Grand Ribbon of the Order of Poland Restituta. Pope John Paul beatified Albert on June 22, 1983, during a visit to Poland. He canonized him on Nov. 12,1989. We celebrate his feast on June 17. His life reminds us that, no matter how many things we do in life, our primary call is to serve Jesus in one another. Source: Butler's Lives of the Saints =E2=80=9CDo not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.=E2=80=9D=E2=80=A6.Matthew 6:19-21 REFLECTION =E2=80=93 Reflecting on his own priestly vocation, Pope John Pau= l II wrote in 1996 that Brother Albert had played a role in its formation =E2=80=A6..=E2=80=9Cbecause I found in him a real spiritual suppo= rt and example in leaving behind the world of art, literature and the theater and in making the radical choice of a vocation to the charity=E2=80=9D --St John Paul speaking of St Albert Chmielowski (Gift and Mystery: On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination) =C2 The life and work of St Albert Chmielowski, reminds us that a particular vocation of the Christian is to love the poor, marginalised, weak and those with disabilities. In today's self-centred age, when professional success is seen as the greatest good and money is the driving force of our lives, St. Albert Chmielowski =E2=80=94 who gave up the life of a celebrity painter to serve Christ by helping the poor =E2=80=94 challenges us to ask if we focus too m= uch on worldly goals and ignore life's true meaning. =E2=80=9CBut seek = first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides.=E2=80=9D (Matthew 6:33). St Albert Chmielowski, pray for us! <><><><> PRAYER =E2=80=93 Father of goodness, make me realise and understand that ea= ch and all of my brothers represent the face of Jesus and that He is the only way to You for us all!=C2 Help me to extend all of myself to my neighbour in loving imitation of Your Son. St Albert Chmielowski, pray for us that we too may be a light in the darkness of this world, to all who call out to us in their pain and suffering. And please pray for us! Amen --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .