Saint Józef Sebastian Pelczar
The professor and bishop of Przemyśl who founded the Servants of the Sacred Heart
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Bishop, Priest, Founder
- Life
- 1842 – 1924
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 19 January
- Countries
- Poland
Life story
Józef Sebastian Pelczar was born on 17 January 1842 at Korczyna, in what is now south-eastern Poland, into a peasant family. He studied at Przemyśl and was ordained a priest. He later pursued further studies in Rome and Vienna, and became a professor of theology at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.
Alongside teaching he wrote many books and articles on Church history, spiritual life and social questions, and was active in lay Catholic organisations. On 15 April 1894, together with Ludwika Szczęsna, he founded the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to care for the poor, for children and for workers. His writings were widely read in Polish Catholic circles and included works on the life of Christ, on pastoral questions and on the history of the Church. He also encouraged education for women and for the rural population, and supported associations that aimed to help working people and the poor of the region.
On 17 December 1900 Leo XIII appointed him bishop of Przemyśl, and he took office in 1901. For more than twenty years he visited parishes, supported the formation of priests and catechesis, and expanded the Catholic press and charitable works. The Przemyśl region of his day was home to several nationalities, and he took care to preserve peace between the communities.
He died on 28 March 1924 in Przemyśl, aged eighty-two. John Paul II beatified him on 2 June 1991 in Rzeszów and canonised him on 18 May 2003 in Rome. His feast is on 19 January, the day of his baptism.
Works and witness
- Professor of theology at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków
- Wrote many books and articles on Church history and spiritual life
- Co-founded the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on 15 April 1894 with Ludwika Szczęsna
- Bishop of Przemyśl from 1900 until his death in 1924
- Canonised on 18 May 2003
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
- Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – congregation history
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.