Saint of the Day: Bl. Joseph Kowalski

Priest and Martyr (1911-1942)

His life

+ Joseph was born in Siedliska, Poland, and educated by the Salesians, whom he joined in 1927.

+ Following his ordination in 1938, he was appointed to serve as secretary to the provincial. Beyond these official duties, he was also involved in youth ministry, conducted conferences and retreats, heard confessions, and formed a youth choir.

+ Joseph, with 11 other Salesians, was arrested by the Nazis at the Church of Mary, Help of Christians in Krakow for providing non-approved youth activities. He was imprisoned at Auschwitz.

+ In June 1942, he was scheduled to be sent to the concentration camp at Dachau. However, a Nazi officer who disliked Joseph’s attitude beat the priest and order him to stomp on his rosary. When Joseph refused, he was assigned to hard labor. In the final months of his life, he spent what little free time he had ministering to other prisoners.

+ On July 3, 1942, he was beaten and drowned by the guards in a cesspool in the camp.

+ Blessed Joseph Kowalski was beatified in 1999 as one of the “108 Polish Martyrs of World War II.”

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 108 Polish Martyrs of World War II

Spiritual bonus

On this day, we also remember Blessed Lucia Ripamonti. A member of the Handmaids of Charity, she was known for her devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Maria Crocifissa di Rosa (the founder of Maria’s community). Diagnosed with a serious illness, she offered herself and her sufferings as a spiritual offering for those in need of forgiveness as she underwent treatment for her condition. Lucia died on July 4, 1954, at the age of 45 and was beatified in 2021

Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Joseph 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, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.