Saint of the Month
St. Zygmunt Gorazdowski
June 26
Saint Zygmunt Gorazdowski
Zygmunt Gorazdowski was born on November 1, 1845 in Sanok. He completed school in Przemysl and enrolled in the department of law at the Lviv University. After two years, he left the university and entered the seminary in Lviv. He completed his studies in theology, but was ordained only two years later due to a particularly severe attack of tuberculosis (from which he had suffered since childhood). This time Zygmunt Gorazdowski had to undergo a long treatment.
On July 25, 1871 he was ordained as a priest in the Lviv Cathedral. In all the parishes that he ministered he won immediate respect of the faithful who appreciated his commitment to the cause of the sick and poor.
In 1877 Fr. Gorazdowski returned to Lviv and a year later settled in St. Nicholas Parish. He worked there for 40 years, organizing many charitable and educational projects. He worked as a catechist at school, as an editor and writer. He published many works on religious issues, such as catechisms, "Advise to Young People" and many articles in the local press. He also founded the Bonus Pastor Association to help priests in their ministry. Fr. Gorazdowski helped establish many charitable institutions, such as a soup kitchen for the poor, Infant Jesus House for single mothers and abandoned children, and many others. In February 1884 he founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph that continues his work to this day, running many missions, hospitals and educational centers around the world. Fr. Gorazdowski died on January 1, 1920.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001 in Lviv and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.
O God,
I thank You for everything you have granted upon me.
Thanks to Your grace I can live, work and enjoy
the love of my close ones.
I wholeheartedly ask You to remember and help
those who do not enjoy such happiness.
Grant that a smile and peace fill their hearts.
Amen.
From Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives