Blessed Karolina Kózka

Life story

Karolina Kózka was born in 1898 in the village of Wał-Ruda, in the diocese of Tarnów in southern Poland, then part of Austria-Hungary. Her family were poor peasant farmers. She was baptised in the parish church at Radłów, and according to Pope John Paul II's homily she loved prayer from a very young age.

When the First World War began, Russian troops moved into the area around her village. On 18 November 1914 a Russian soldier seized her and tried to assault her. She resisted in the woods near the village and, according to the accounts, was badly wounded and died, aged 16. Her body was found some weeks later, on 4 December according to Wikipedia.

The Church regards her death as a death in defence of purity. On 30 June 1986 Pope John Paul II recognised that she had been killed in defence of chastity, and on 10 June 1987 he beatified her in Tarnów during his visit to Poland. In his homily he spoke of her as a daughter of the Tarnów Church addressing young people.

Karolina has not been canonised. The Polish Church keeps her memorial on 18 November. Poles often compare her to Saint Maria Goretti, but that is a popular comparison, not an official title.

Works and witness

• Born to a poor peasant family in Wał-Ruda
• Killed by a Russian soldier on 18 November 1914, aged 16
• Recognised as killed in defence of chastity on 30 June 1986
• Beatified by Pope John Paul II in Tarnów on 10 June 1987

Saints from the same country

Saint Stanislaus of Kraków, Saint John Paul II, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Faustina Kowalska

References

• Polish Breviary blog, November 18: Bl. Caroline Kózka (includes the beatification homily)
• Wikipedia, Karolina Kózka (dates of the attack and the finding of the body)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.