Feast of St Raphael Kalinowski, Priest

Joseph Kalinowski was born to Polish parents in the city of Vilnius in 1835. In 1863 the Polish insurrection against their Russian oppressors broke out. He accepted the post of Minister of War for the region of Vilna, in the rebel army. On 24th March 1864, he was arrested and condemned to death, a penalty that was mitigated to 10 years hard labour in Siberia.  In 1877 he joined the Discalced Carmelite Order, taking the name Raphael of St Joseph and in 1882 was ordained a priest. He brought about the restoration of the Order in Poland and guided its growth.

His life was distinguished by his zeal for Church unity and by his unflagging devotion to his ministry as a confessor and spiritual director. He died in Wadowice in 1907. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on November 17th, 1991.

In the first reading (Philippians 3:8-14) St Paul offers us his conviction that “nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” while the Gospel (John 15:9-17) gives us Jesus’ great commandment “ love one another, as I have loved you.”