Post by troubledgoodangel on Jun 4, 2007 3:28:56 GMT -5
Beginning today, Poland has a new Saint, Szymon z Lipnicy (1435-1482)! It is the second Polish Bernardine Saint after St. John of Dukla, who was canonized in 1997 by John Paul II. St. Simon died helping the victims of cholera. The canonization ceremony took place yesterday on June 3, 2007 at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is a memorable day for Poland, a day that will never be forgotten. Saints are models of sanctity par excellence(the Polish term is wzorce œwiêtoœci. I am proud to say that, according to reports, the canonization was largely made possible thanks to my Angelicum University professor, Fr. Ambrosius Eszer, O.P., the Vatican expert on the primitive Church (including that delineated in the Apostolic Tradition., which may be of interest to the Apostolic Oneness). Fr. Eszer introduced St. Simon to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints "by comparing the cult the Saint has been afforded in Poland for centuries, to that of such great Saints as Francis of Assisi, Dominic, and Catherine of Sienna" (cf. Cracovien, canonizationis beati Simonis de Lipnica; Positio super virtutibus, Roma, 2004, p. 8/I). The quest for canonization has been long and turbulent. It began in 1776, during the reign of King Stanis³aw August Poniatowski, at the king's own request. But the historical upheavals prevented the process from continuing after Poland had lost her independence. The process was resumed on June 23, 1948, diring Pope Pius XII, but was again held up by World War II. Much credit goes to Pope Benedict XVI for going through with this long sought canonization. It is a special joy for me, since I am completing my doctoral studies at the very monastery where this Saint spent decades of his life. I feel like his spirit is touching me wherever I go. His relics are in the adjacent chapel, across the street from the Wawel Castle, the centuries old seat of the Polish Kings. Let's hope that St. Simon of Lipnica performs some great miracles soon for us all!