Andre Bobola
Andre Bobola - (1591 - 1657) - Jesuit and martyr, are one of the owners of the Poland.
Its life
André Bobola was born in 1591 close to Sanok in Poland.
He made his studies until in 1611 with the college Jesuit of Braniewo and integrated then the noviciate of the Jésuites, with Vilnius. Two years later, on July 31st 1613 it pronounced its first religious wishes (chastity, obedience, poverty).
Always with Vilnius, he studies philosophy during three years, and obtains his examination. However, it is not allowed to support its thesis publicly. He then carries out two years of teaching work to the college of Braniewo, then with that of Pultusk, before starting studies of theology.
It is in May 1621 which it makes a success of the final examination. But again, it is not allowed to support its thesis in theology.
It is ordered priest with Vilnius on March 12th 1622, day of canonization with Rome of Ignace de Loyola and François Xavier, both founders about the Jésuites. But its final examination, which was to represent the end of its seven years is once more a failure.
At the end of the summer 1622, André Bobola begins the third year of noviciate, the last of his training of Jesuit. It does it under the direction of Filip Frisius, Doctor of Divinity. This last lengthily developed the opinion that it had of its pupil, which made it possible to better know André. Particularly he considers it assiduous in his work, very attentive with his next, seeking to relieve poverty by the love which he carried to the others, and attached to the Order which he had chosen to join. He on the other hand reproached him a certain greediness, and strong a enough taste for food and drink. However, he regarded it as one of his best pupils.
Once its completed formation, André Bobola became vice-chancellor of the church of Nieswiez, then, he went to Vilnius where, between 1624 and 1630 he worked like regulator of a movement entitled Sodalice Mariales. It there was very appreciated, and thanks to its action, the movement saw its members growing in an important way. It had a clear spirit, a good judgment, excellent qualities of organization, and was also a very good preacher.
Despite everything these qualities, the general superior of the Order, Vitelleschi, which did not appreciate the impatience of Andre, and provincial Nowicki, who did not consider it able, did not wish to see it teaching in the schools and being responsible for a community. Finally, the general of the Order finally admitted it with the solemn profession.
June 2nd 1630, the celebration takes place, in the church Saint Casimir with Vilnius. From there, having made conceal the reserves of some of his superiors, André is named responsible for works of the Company.
He works then in Bobrujsk, Rock, Warsaw, then Plock, Lomza, Pinsk, Vilnius, before turning over to Pinsk in 1652 where he will finish his life.
Andre teaches catechism with people whose faith was almost non-existent, it baptizes, manages the sacraments, it is very close to people towards whom it goes, those appreciate the authenticity of his life, his major faith, his immense charity.
Its martyrdom
At the 17th century, on the oriental party of the Poland, the influences at the same time Rome and of Moscow crossed. The orthodoxe Christians were divided, certain wished a bringing together with Rome, others refused it. The Cosaques undertook to carry out a kind of crusade against the catholics, with at their head Bogdan Chmielnicki, of which the goal was certainly more political than religious. It entered in war against the Poland, the motivations political, social and finally nuns mixing to cause even more violence.
Monasteries and churches are destroyed, the grounds of Dniepr are devastated, there are thousands of deaths. André Bobola is regarded as one of most dangereous because of the Cosaques. Those succeed in making it captive, in the surroundings of Janow Poleski.
There, André is attached, stripped, beaten, struck, quartered by horses, piqué with lances so that there remains conscious, his martyrized body is trailed in all the city, finally, his skin is buried in the basement of the church of the Jesuits, with Pinsk, and is forgotten. It was on May 16th 1657.
Relics of saint Andre Bobola
The division of the Poland delayed the lawsuit of beatification of Andre. In 1853 however, it was looked at as that which had predicted the independence of the country. After the First World War, the worship of Andre Bobola took importance.In 1923, its relics are transported initially to Moscow, then, in 1924, they are repurchased by the the Vatican, and are deposited in the church Jesuit of Gesù.
Lastly, on June 17th 1938, they are finally deposited with Warsaw. Already, André Bobola was regarded as patron saint of the Poland, but on May 16th 2002 had to be awaited so that this title is allotted to him officially in the church of Warsaw which bears its name.
With this occasion, the Polish bishops wrote: “ the life of Saint Andre Bobola, who ended in a martyr, was like a grain fallen into the ground during the difficult period from Poland, to give afterwards centuries, fruit in the rebirth of Poland, initially after the First World War, and then after the fall of Communism. Saint André is owner of evangelization in times of difficulties. Political and social freedom now found is for us always a challenge which requires a religious and moral revival. We as well need a spirit of rebirth opposite divisions which were shown after the fall of Communism, as from the point of view of the new evangelization for Europe which links. ”
Beatification - canonization
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the Father Andre Bobola was declared Vénérable in 1755.
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It was béatifié in 1853 by the pope Pie IX.
Patronage
André Bobola is patron saint of the Poland with:
See too
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Mural of Adolphe Tassin (1896) in the church St Louis of Liege.
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Encyclical of Pie XII Invicti Athletæ (May 16th, 1957), on Saint Andre Bobola
Sources
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Articles of the Father Miroslaw Paciuszkiewicz.
- Holy and Bx of the Society of Jesus - F. Paillart - Edition 1900, (p. 151-152) - edition 1941, (p. 99-108).
External bonds
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Biography and spirituality
- Site of the Province of France of the Jesuits
- Site of the French-speaking parish Holy Andre Bobola in Warsaw