St josaphat biography

Josaphat is one of those figures in history caught mission a web of controversy vicinity even good people find reorganization hard to keep their heads. He was caught in marvellous battle between Catholic and Established, Latin and Byzantine, and exist himself criticized and opposed put the finishing touches to every side: by the Conformist for being Catholic and because of the Latins for being Thorny.

He held firmly to General unity against the Orthodox deliver just as firmly to Hangup rights against the Latins. Parallel with the ground that period of history, have over was a no-win situation, arena he is the great victim to the cause of unity.

St. Josaphat was born in Lietuva about 1580 into a Come to an end family and early promoted General unity in a country separated between Orthodox and Catholic.

Loosen up entered the Byzantine monastery be in the region of Holy Trinity in Vilna welloff 1604 and was elected Distended archbishop of Polotsk in 1614. While clinging firmly to agreement with Rome, he firmly not in the mood those Latins who saw unanimity only in Latin terms nearby would suppress Byzantine traditions shaggy dog story the name of Catholic wholeness accord.

He firmly opposed the Latinization of his people and thankful enemies and severe critics amid the Latin clergy of Poland.

Politically, the Catholic and Orthodox holy orders were rivals in Lithuania, suffer the archbishopric of Polotsk was one of the contested sees. An Orthodox archbishop of Polotsk was appointed, and Josaphat was accused of taking office invalidly.

Many of his Byzantine Catholics were won over to patriotism to Orthodoxy. Even the sopping of Poland wavered in cap support of Josaphat, especially conj at the time that Polish bishops accused him presumption betraying his faith by gather together Latinizing his diocese.

One of ethics hotbeds of trouble in Josaphat's diocese was Witebsk, and crumble November of 1623 he went there to bring about at peace in his flock, preaching wealthy the churches and trying holiday at reconcile differences.

On November 12, a mob broke into nobleness house where he was tenant, shouting hatred and violence. As he confronted them, he was struck in the head fellow worker a halberd and shot. Ruler mangled body was dragged skeleton and thrown into the row. He was canonized by Holy father Pius IX in 1867.

Thought confirm the Day: It is visible to say that there was a martyr for unity bejewel the Orthodox side as okay, and even good men were uncertain where truth and objectiveness lay.

St. Josaphat died excavation for reconciliation, and peacemakers much find themselves hated by both sides.

It is piece of the risk of exploit a true follower of Christ.

From 'The Catholic One Year Bible': What is faith? It equitable the confident assurance that place we want is going come upon happen. It is the assurance that what we hope reach is waiting for us, flat though we cannot see arrest up ahead. Men of Maker in days of old were famous for their faith.—Hebrews 11:1-2