The Catholic Defender: Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

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.

Honoratus Kozminski was born in Biala Podlaska (Siedlce, Poland) and studied architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Warsaw. When Wenceslaus was almost sixteen, his father died.

Suspected of participating in a rebellious conspiracy, the young man was imprisoned from April 1846 until the following March. In 1848 he received the Capuchin habit and a new name.

he was arrested and jailed on suspicion of rebellious political affiliations. During his nearly one year of imprisonment, he contracted Typhus, and was unlikely to survive. It was in captivity, sick with fever, that Wencesalo turned back to the Lord.

Four years later he was ordained. In 1855 he helped Bl...essed Mary Angela Truszkowska establish the Felician Sisters.

"Bless me with the strength to obey, That my soul may subdue both natures, Blending them as a fair aromatic bloom.I always seek favour in Your eyes, To always obey You until my last breath!"

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.

“Christ’s Vicar himself has revealed God’s will to us, and I carry out this order with greatest faith.... Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that you are being given the opportunity to show heroic obedience to the holy Church.”

Honoratus served as guardian in a Warsaw friary already in 1860. He dedicated his energies to preaching, to giving spiritual direction and to hearing confessions. He worked tirelessly with the Secular Franciscan Order.

The failed 1864 revolt against Czar Alexander III led to the suppression of all religious Orders in Poland.

The Capuchins were expelled from Warsaw and forced to live in Zakroczym, where Honoratus continued his ministry and began founding twenty-six male and female religious congregations, whose members took vows but wore no religious habit and did not live in community. They operated much as today's secular institutes do. Seventeen of these groups still exist as religious congregations.

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 1906, various bishops sought the reorganization of these groups under their authority; Honoratus defended their independence but was removed from their direction in 1908. He promptly urged the members of these congregations to obey the Church's decisions regarding their future.

He "always walked with God," said a contemporary. In 1895 he was appointed Commissary General of the Capuchins in Poland. Three years before he had come to Nowe Miasto, where he died and was buried. He was beatified in 1988.

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.

Words to live by: Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

"Bless me with the strength to obey, That my soul may subdue both natures, Blending them as a fair aromatic bloom.I always seek favour in Your eyes, To always obey You until my last breath!"

He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in October 1988. In briefly reviewing his life, we find in Brother Honoratus a man caught up in political struggles—many of which endangered his life. When confronted with an obstacle to practicing his faith, he found another way to live and preach the Christian life. When the world handed him disheartening news, he reacted with joy in obedience. In this holy man, we find a indomitable spirit of perseverance and love for the Lord—a message we could all take a lesson from!