Martyr (1908-1942)
His life
+ Stanislaw Trojanowski was born Sadlowo, Mazowieckie, Poland. The son of a poor family of farmers, he received little formal education and began working at an early age.
+ In 1930, he entered the Conventual Franciscans, receiving the religious name Tymoteusz. He professed solemn vows in 1935.
+ Brother Tymoteusz served in the friars’ infirmary and in the warehouse and shipping departments of Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s “Knight of Immaculate” magazine.
+ Although he desired to serve in the foreign missions, Brohter Tymoteusz gave up the idea when the Nazis invaded Poland.
+ Arrested with six other friars in October 1941, he was sentenced to forced labor in the concentration camp at Auschwitz. He ministered to his fellow prisoners in the months before his death from pneumonia on February 28, 1942.
+ Blessed Tymoteusz Trojanowski was beatified with other Polish martyrs of World War II in 1999.
For prayer and reflection
“The blessed martyrs cry to our hearts: Believe in God who is love! Believe in him in good times and bad! Awaken hope! May it produce in you the fruit of fidelity to God in every trial!”—Pope Saint John Paul II at the beatification of the Polish Martyrs of World War II
Prayer
Almighty and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Tymoteusz to overcome the torments of his passion, grant that we, who celebrate the day of his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For One Martyr)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
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