Andrew Bobola
Encyclopedia
Andrew Bobola was a Polish missionary
and martyr
of the Society of Jesus
, known as the apostle of Lithuania and the "hunter of souls".
, Poland
. In 1611 he entered the Jesuits
in Vilnius
, Lithuania
. He subsequently took solemn vows in 1630 and then served for several years as an advisor, preacher, superior of a cloister, etc., in various places. From 1652 he also worked as a country "missionary", in among other places Polotsk, Lithuania
, where he was probably stationed in 1655, and also in Pinsk
, Lithuania (both now in Belarus
). On 16 May 1657, during the Khmelnytsky Uprising
, he was captured in the village of Peredil, Lithuania by the Cossacks of Chmielnicki and subjected to a variety of tortures and killed (in Janów Poleski).
One description of Bobola's death written in 1865 states:
In 1922 Bolsheviks moved the corpse, later described by an American journalist as a "remarkably well-preserved mummy", to the Museum of Hygiene of People's Commissioners of Health in Moscow
. The whereabouts of the relics was not known to the Catholic authorities, and Pope Pius XI
charged the Papal Relief Mission in Russia, headed by American Jesuit Edmund A. Walsh
, with the task of locating and "rescuing" them. In October 1923— as a kind of "pay" for help during famine — the relics were released to Walsh and his Assistant Director Louis J. Gallagher
. Well packed by the two Jesuits, the relics were delivered to the Holy See
by Gallagher on All Saints' Day (1 November) 1923. In May 1924, the relics have been installed in Rome's Church of the Gesu
, the main church of the Society of Jesus
.
Since 17 June 1938 the body has been in Warsaw
.
Declared Blessed
by Pius IX on 30 October 1853, Bobola was canonized by Pope
Pius XI on 17 April 1938. His feast day is held on 16 May. Since 16 May 2002 Andrew Bobola is a patron saint
of Poland
and the Archdiocese of Warsaw.
Today some join St. Andrew with St. Peter the Aleut
, an alleged martyr for the Orthodox faith from the hands of Roman Catholics, in a special devotion
for the reunion of the two branches of Christianity
. However, the historicity of the martyrdom of Peter the Aleut
is not clearly established.
Nevertheless, most of them still bear the name of Bobola and are spread whole over Poland (more than 200 persons).
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, known as the apostle of Lithuania and the "hunter of souls".
Biography
He was born in 1591 into a noble family in StrachocinaStrachocina
Strachocina village in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, the southeastern part of Poland. During partitions this region of the country was called Galicia. It contains about 300 houses and 1100 inhabitants, and is about 12 km² It is the birth place of St...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. In 1611 he entered the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. He subsequently took solemn vows in 1630 and then served for several years as an advisor, preacher, superior of a cloister, etc., in various places. From 1652 he also worked as a country "missionary", in among other places Polotsk, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, where he was probably stationed in 1655, and also in Pinsk
Pinsk
Pinsk , a town in Belarus, in the Polesia region, traversed by the river Pripyat, at the confluence of the Strumen and Pina rivers. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk. It is a fertile agricultural center. It lies south-west of Minsk. The population is about 130,000...
, Lithuania (both now in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
). On 16 May 1657, during the Khmelnytsky Uprising
Khmelnytsky Uprising
The Khmelnytsky Uprising, was a Cossack rebellion in the Ukraine between the years 1648–1657 which turned into a Ukrainian war of liberation from Poland...
, he was captured in the village of Peredil, Lithuania by the Cossacks of Chmielnicki and subjected to a variety of tortures and killed (in Janów Poleski).
One description of Bobola's death written in 1865 states:
Relics and canonization
At the beginning of the 18th century nobody knew where his corpse was buried. In 1701 Father Martin Godebski, the rector of the Pinsk college reputedly had a vision of Bobola. This caused him to order a search for the body. It was reportedly found completely undecomposed, which was recognized by the Church and its supporters as proof of holiness. In 1719 the casket was officially reopened and the body inspected by qualified medical personnel (five physicians and pharmacists). It was reportedly still completely undecomposed: pliable and with the soft flesh.In 1922 Bolsheviks moved the corpse, later described by an American journalist as a "remarkably well-preserved mummy", to the Museum of Hygiene of People's Commissioners of Health in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The whereabouts of the relics was not known to the Catholic authorities, and Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
charged the Papal Relief Mission in Russia, headed by American Jesuit Edmund A. Walsh
Edmund A. Walsh
Fr. Edmund Aloysius Walsh, S.J. was an American Jesuit Catholic priest, professor of geopolitics and founder of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, which he founded in 1919–six years before the U.S...
, with the task of locating and "rescuing" them. In October 1923— as a kind of "pay" for help during famine — the relics were released to Walsh and his Assistant Director Louis J. Gallagher
Louis J. Gallagher
Louis J. Gallagher, SJ was an American Jesuit, known for his educational and literary work.-Biography:Born in Boston, Louis J...
. Well packed by the two Jesuits, the relics were delivered to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
by Gallagher on All Saints' Day (1 November) 1923. In May 1924, the relics have been installed in Rome's Church of the Gesu
Church of the Gesu
The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. Officially named , its facade is "the first truly baroque façade", introducing the baroque style into architecture ,. The church served as model for innumerable Jesuit...
, the main church of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
.
Since 17 June 1938 the body has been in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
.
Declared Blessed
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pius IX on 30 October 1853, Bobola was canonized by Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Pius XI on 17 April 1938. His feast day is held on 16 May. Since 16 May 2002 Andrew Bobola is a patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and the Archdiocese of Warsaw.
Today some join St. Andrew with St. Peter the Aleut
Peter the Aleut
Cungagnaq is venerated as a martyr and saint by some jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was allegedly a native of Kodiak Island , and is said to have received the Christian name of Peter when he was baptized into the Orthodox faith by the monks of St...
, an alleged martyr for the Orthodox faith from the hands of Roman Catholics, in a special devotion
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
for the reunion of the two branches of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. However, the historicity of the martyrdom of Peter the Aleut
Peter the Aleut
Cungagnaq is venerated as a martyr and saint by some jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was allegedly a native of Kodiak Island , and is said to have received the Christian name of Peter when he was baptized into the Orthodox faith by the monks of St...
is not clearly established.
Modern Bobolas
It is assumed that a part of the Bobola family exists to this day under the name of Bobola , they currently live mainly in Warsaw (about 30 persons), Poland. This is a part which, precisely, seems to have been rooted in Pinsk for some time. In the 17th century, a nobleman from Pinsk underwriting himself as Bobola used the Leliwa coat of arms, the same as Saint Andrew Bobola's ones.Nevertheless, most of them still bear the name of Bobola and are spread whole over Poland (more than 200 persons).
See also
- List of saints
- The Incorruptibles, a list of Catholic saints and beati whose bodies are reported to be incorrupt; that is, the bodies did not undergo any major decay after their burial and hence are considered to be under some form of divine protection.
External links
- St. Andrew Bobola in Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
. - Andrew Bobola - Saint of the Roman Catholic Church.