Post by troubledgoodangel on Jun 3, 2007 10:47:22 GMT -7
Beginning today, Poland has a new Saint, Szymon z Lipnicy (1435-1482)! It is the second Polish Bernardine Saint after St. John of Dukla, who was canonized in 1997 by John Paul II. The canonization ceremony of St. Simon took place today on June 3, 2007, at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is a memorable day for Poland, a day that will never be forgotten. I am proud to say that, according to reports, the canonization was largely made possible thanks to my Angelicum Professor, Fr. Ambrosius Eszer, O.P., the Vatican expert on the the Primitive Church. Fr. Eszer (whom I have always esteemed and regarded as a good man), is said to have introduced St. Simon to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints "by comparing the cult he has been afforded in Poland for centuries, to the cult of such great Saints as Francis of Assisi, Dominic, and Catherine of Sienna" (cf. Cracovien. canonizationis beati Simonis de Lipnica ... Positio super virtutibus. Roma 2004, p. 8/I). The quest for canonization already began in 1776, during the reign of King Stanis³aw August Poniatowski, at the king's request, but the historical upheavals prevented the process from continuing. The process was resumed on June 23, 1948, during Pope Pius XII, but again held up. Much credit goes to Pope Benedict XVI, for going through with the long awaited canonization. It is a great joy for me personally, since I am conducting my doctoral seminars at the Bernardine Monastery where the new Saint spent much of his life. I stopped today at the adjacent Bernardine Church (in front of the Wawel Castle), and kissed the Saint's Simons relics. His coffin is right in front, with the body still visible through a glass. The head is kept separately as relic at the treasury. I did recomend all Jaga Polish Forum participants to the Saint. Let's hope that St. Simon performs some great miracles soon for all of us!