Saint of the day for December 16: the story of Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

Saint of the day for December 16nd
(October 16, 1829 - December 16, 1916)

The story of Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

Wenceslaus Kozminski was born in Biala Podlaska in 1829. At the age of 11 he had lost his faith. At the age of 16, his father had died. He studied architecture at the Warsaw School of Fine Arts. Suspected of having participated in a rebel conspiracy against the Tsarists in Poland, he was imprisoned from April 1846 until March 1847. His life then took a positive turn and in 1848 he received the Capuchin habit and a new name, Honoratus. He was ordained in 1855 and devoted his energies to the ministry where he was involved, among other things, with the Secular Franciscan Order.

A revolt of 1864 against Tsar Alexander III failed, which led to the suppression of all religious orders in Poland. The Capuchins were expelled from Warsaw and transferred 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 ways they lived like the members of today's secular institutes. Seventeen of these groups still exist as religious congregations.

The writings of Father Honoratus include many volumes of sermons, letters and works of ascetic theology, works on Marian devotion, historical and pastoral writings, as well as many writings for the religious congregations he founded.

When various bishops tried to reorganize the communities under their authority in 1906, Honoratus defended them and their independence. In 1908 he was relieved of his leadership role. However, 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.

Reflection

Father Honoratus realized that the religious communities he founded were not really his. When ordered by Church officials to relinquish control, he instructed communities to be obedient to the Church. He could have become harsh or combative, but instead he accepted his fate with religious submission and realized that the gifts of the religious were to be gifts to the wider community. He has learned to let go.