News Item: : Feast of St. Josaphat
(Category: Torch of The Faith News)
Posted by admin
Wednesday 12 November 2008 - 15:19:14
Picture from Wikepedia. (St. Josaphat is depicted wearing the pallium of unity with the Pope of Rome and holds the lily of martyrdom).
St. Josaphat was born in Lithuania in 1580 and became a monk. In time, he was elected as Catholic Archbishop of Polotsk. He clung firmly to unity with the Roman Pontiff against the claims of the Orthodox Church. However, with a truly universal outlook he also opposed those who saw Roman Catholic unity exclusively in Latin terms over and against Byzantine traditions and culture.
Josaphat's humility and devotion to prayer and preaching won many converts to Catholicism. His troubles were multiplied because the Orthodox contested the See of Polotsk and appointed their own archbishop.
Nevertheless, St. Josaphat continued to lead his flock and travelled to prisons and hospitals to hear confessions. In 1623 he visited Witebsk to preach peace and to reconcile religious differences. On this date, 12th November, the house where he was staying was raided by opponents who struck his head with an axe, shot him dead, and cast his body into the river. As a true peacemaker he was hated by extremists on both sides. He is an icon of Christian unity because he remained steadfastly united to the objective anchor of such unity in the Successor of St. Peter, whilst also remaining open and seeking to reconcile fellow Christians through his Christlike humility.
St. Josaphat was canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1867.
In the summer of 2004 we were blessed by Divine Providence to be touring the Great Lakes area of North America. We were thus able to spend an awe inspiring afternoon praying and receiving peace in the splendid Basilica dedicated to St. Josaphat in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
You would not know it from this shot of the interior dome (from the Basilica's own website) that this building was constructed using material from the defunct U.S. Post Office and Customs House in Chicago. Fr. Wilhelm Grutza purchased these materials and had them transported on 500 flatbeds to Milwaukee! The basilica was formally dedicated in 1901 to provide a larger church for the growing community of Polish immigrants. Its architecture followed the Polish Cathedral style which was then popular in the region.
The original high altar remains complete and is flanked by two side chapels of similar beauty. The whole edifice gained minor basilica status from Pope Pius XI in 1929.
In keeping with the long established and authentic tradition of Catholic Church building the Basilica of St. Josaphat raises the heart, mind and soul to God in all its aspects and details. Pictures cannot do justice to the sheer, breathtaking and majestic beauty of the interior. As a minor basilica, the church is thus a true place of pilgrimage and if you ever get the chance to visit we heartily recommend it!
In the meantime, why not check out the basilica's website at www.thebasilica.org?
This news item is from Torch of The Faith
( http://www.torchofthefaith.com/news.php?extend.125 )
(Category: Torch of The Faith News)
Posted by admin
Wednesday 12 November 2008 - 15:19:14
Picture from Wikepedia. (St. Josaphat is depicted wearing the pallium of unity with the Pope of Rome and holds the lily of martyrdom).St. Josaphat was born in Lithuania in 1580 and became a monk. In time, he was elected as Catholic Archbishop of Polotsk. He clung firmly to unity with the Roman Pontiff against the claims of the Orthodox Church. However, with a truly universal outlook he also opposed those who saw Roman Catholic unity exclusively in Latin terms over and against Byzantine traditions and culture.
Josaphat's humility and devotion to prayer and preaching won many converts to Catholicism. His troubles were multiplied because the Orthodox contested the See of Polotsk and appointed their own archbishop.
Nevertheless, St. Josaphat continued to lead his flock and travelled to prisons and hospitals to hear confessions. In 1623 he visited Witebsk to preach peace and to reconcile religious differences. On this date, 12th November, the house where he was staying was raided by opponents who struck his head with an axe, shot him dead, and cast his body into the river. As a true peacemaker he was hated by extremists on both sides. He is an icon of Christian unity because he remained steadfastly united to the objective anchor of such unity in the Successor of St. Peter, whilst also remaining open and seeking to reconcile fellow Christians through his Christlike humility.
St. Josaphat was canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1867.
In the summer of 2004 we were blessed by Divine Providence to be touring the Great Lakes area of North America. We were thus able to spend an awe inspiring afternoon praying and receiving peace in the splendid Basilica dedicated to St. Josaphat in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
You would not know it from this shot of the interior dome (from the Basilica's own website) that this building was constructed using material from the defunct U.S. Post Office and Customs House in Chicago. Fr. Wilhelm Grutza purchased these materials and had them transported on 500 flatbeds to Milwaukee! The basilica was formally dedicated in 1901 to provide a larger church for the growing community of Polish immigrants. Its architecture followed the Polish Cathedral style which was then popular in the region.
The original high altar remains complete and is flanked by two side chapels of similar beauty. The whole edifice gained minor basilica status from Pope Pius XI in 1929.
In keeping with the long established and authentic tradition of Catholic Church building the Basilica of St. Josaphat raises the heart, mind and soul to God in all its aspects and details. Pictures cannot do justice to the sheer, breathtaking and majestic beauty of the interior. As a minor basilica, the church is thus a true place of pilgrimage and if you ever get the chance to visit we heartily recommend it!In the meantime, why not check out the basilica's website at www.thebasilica.org?
This news item is from Torch of The Faith
( http://www.torchofthefaith.com/news.php?extend.125 )