[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 128 (Thursday, October 3, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1736-E1737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ZYGMUNT SZCZESNY FELINSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 2, 2002

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, on August 18, 2002, Pope John Paul II 
beatified the founder of Russian Catholicism Zygmunt Szczesny Felinski 
(1822-1895). BI. Zygmunt Felinski was Archbishop of Warsaw and Founder 
of the Franciscan Sisters of the family of Mary. He was born on 
November 1, 1822 in Wojutyn in Volinia in present-day Ukraine.
  As Co-Chairman of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I call the 
attention of the House to the life of Archbishop Felinski--a man whose 
example of courage, perseverance and faith provides heroic 
encouragement to all of us who desire freedom and liberty.
  Mr. Speaker, according to the Vatican, Felinski, Archbishop of Warsaw 
for 16 months, spent 20 years in exile in Siberia, spent 12 years in 
semi-exile as Archbishop of Tarsus and parish priest in the county. He 
died in Krakow, which then belonged to Austria, on 17 September 1985. 
Indeed, he spent 58 of his 73 years in territory that belong to the 
Russian Empire.
  A Vatican biography describes him as follows: he is venerated as 
Shepherd in exile, an apostle of national harmony and unity in the 
spirit of the Gospel, a model of priestly dedication. As Archbishop of 
Warsaw and founder of a religious congregation, he exercised his duties 
and role as ``Good Shepherd'' with great strength, love and courage, 
always keeping careful watch over himself. ``I am convinced that by 
keeping my heart uncontaminated, living in faith and in fraternal love 
towards my neighbor, I will not go off the path. These are my only 
treasures and are without price,'' he wrote.
  The third of six children, of whom two died at an early age, he was 
brought up with faith and trust in Divine Providence, love for the 
Church and Polish culture. When Zygmunt was 11 years old his father 
died. Five years later, in 1838, his mother was arrested by the 
Russians and sent into exile in Siberia for her involvement in 
patriotic activity. Her patriotic activity was working for the 
improvement of the social and economic conditions of the farmers.
  Zygmunt was well educated. After completing high school, he studied 
mathematics at the University of Moscow from 1840-1844. In 1847 he went 
to Paris, where he studied French Literature at the Sorbonne and the 
College de France. He knew all the important figures of the Polish 
emigration. He was a friend of the nationalist poet Juliusz Slowacki 
who died after the revolt of Poznan. In 1848, he took part in the 
revolt of Poznan which failed. From 1848-50 he was tutor to the sons of 
Eliza and Zenon Brzozowski in Munich and Paris. In 1851 he returned to 
Poland and entered the diocesan seminary of Zytomierz. He studied at 
the Catholic Academy of St. Petersburg until 1857, when the bishop 
appointed him spiritual director of the Ecclesiastical Academy and 
professor of philosophy. In 1856 he founded the charitable organization 
``Recovery for the Poor'' and in 1857 he founded the Congregation of 
the Franciscan Sisters of the family of Mary.
  On 6 January 1862, Pope Pius IX appointed Zygmunt Felinski Archbishop 
of Warsaw. On 26 January 1862 Archbishop Zylinski consecrated him in St 
Petersburg. On 31 January he left for Warsaw where he arrived on 9 
February 1862. The Russians brutally suppressed the Polish uprising 
against Russian in Warsaw in 1861 creating a state of siege. In 
response to the harsh measures of the Russians, the ecclesial 
authorities closed all the churches for four months. On 13 February 
1862, the new Archbishop reconsecrate the cathedral of Warsaw; the 
Russian Army had profaned it on 15 October 1861. On 16 February he 
opened all of the churches in the city with the solemn celebration of 
the Forty Hours Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
  Zygmunt Felinski was Archbishop of Warsaw for 16 months, from 9 
February 1862 to 14 June 1863. Times were difficult since there were 
daily clashes between the occupying Russian power and the Nationalist 
Party. Unfortunately, he was met by an atmosphere of distrust on the 
part of some citizens and even clergy, since the Russian government 
deceived them into thinking that he was secretly collaborating with the 
government. The Archbishop always made it clear that he was only at the 
service of the Church. He also worked for the systematic elimination of 
governmental interference in the internal affairs of the Church. He 
reformed the diocese by making regular visits to the parishes and to 
the charitable organizations within the diocese so that he could better 
understand and meet their needs. He reformed the programs of study at 
the Ecclesiastical Academy of Warsaw and in the diocesan seminaries, 
giving new impetus to the spiritual and intellectual development of the 
clergy. He made every effort to free the imprisoned priests. He 
encouraged them to proclaim the Gospel openly, to catechize their 
parishioners, to begin parochial schools and to take care that they 
raise a new generation that would be sober, devout and honest. He 
looked after the poor and orphans, starting an orphanage in Warsaw, 
which he entrusted to the Sisters of the Family of Mary.
  In political action he tried to prevent the nation from rushing 
headlong into a rash and inconsiderate position. As a sign of his own 
protest against the bloody repression by the Russians of the ``January 
Revolt'' of 1863, Archbishop Felinski resigned from the Council of 
State and on 15 March 1863 wrote a letter to the Emperor Alexander II, 
urging him to put an end to the violence. He likewise protested against 
the hanging of the Capuchin Fr. Agrypin Konarski, chaplain of the 
``rebels''. His courage and interventions quickly brought about his 
exile by Alexander II.
  In fact, on 14 June 1863, he was deported from Warsaw to Jaroslavl, 
in Siberia, where he spent the next 20 years deprived by the Czar of 
any contact with Warsaw. He found a way to organize works of mercy to 
help his fellow prisoners and especially the priests. Despite the 
restrictions of the Russian police, he managed to collect funds to 
build a Catholic Church, which later became a parish. The people were 
struck by his spiritual attitude and eventually began calling him the 
``holy Polish bishop''.
  In 1883, following negotiations between the Holy See and Russia, 
Archbishop Felinski was freed and on 15 March 1883, Pope Leo XIII 
transferred him from the See of Warsaw to the titular See of Tarsus. 
For the last 12 years of his life he lived in semi-exile, in 
southeastern Galizia at Dzwiniaczka, among the crop farmers of Polish 
and Ukrainian background. As chaplain of the public chapel of the manor 
house of the Counts Keszycki and Koziebrodzki, he launched an intense 
pastoral activity. Out of his own pocket, he set up in the village the 
first school and a kindergarten. He built a church and convent for the 
Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary.
  In his leisure, he prepared for publication the works he had written 
during his exile in Jaroslavl. Here are some of them: Spiritual 
Conferences, Faith and Atheism in the search for happiness, Conferences 
on Vocation, Under the Guidance of Providence, Social Commitments in 
view of Christian Wisdom and Atheism; Memories (three editions).
  He died in Krak[oacute]w on 17 September 1895 and was buried in 
Krak[oacute]w on 20 September. Later he was buried at Dzwiniacza (10 
October 1895). In 1920 his remains were translated to Warsaw where, on 
14 April 1921, they were solemnly interred in the crypt of the 
Cathedral of St. John where they are now venerated.
  Mr. Speaker, the beatification of Zygmunt Felinski is significant for 
us to consider during the difficult period in which we find ourselves 
today. Clearly, America's desire to secure freedom and liberty for our 
neighbors and ourselves must coincide with a sincere commitment to 
provide aid, comfort and charity to the poor and oppressed of the 
world.
  Upon the Holy Mass and Beatification, Pope John Paul II suggested to 
the world the suitability of Zygmunt Felinski as an inspiration to 
persevere in service to the poor. He stressed the importance of 
establishing educational institutions, orphanages and political 
activism for the cause of freedom.
  The pope said, ``inspired by this spirit of social charity, 
Archbishop Felinski gave himself fully in defending the freedom of the 
nation. This is necessary today also, when different

[[Page E1737]]

forces--often under the guidance of a false ideology of freedom--try to 
take over this land. When the noisy propaganda of liberalism, of 
freedom without truth or responsibility, grows stronger in our country 
too, the Shepherds of the Church cannot fail to proclaim the one fail-
proof philosophy of freedom, which is the truth of the Cross of Christ. 
This philosophy of freedom finds full motivation in the history of our 
nation.''
  Mr. Speaker, I know the hearts of America's Polish, Ukrainian and 
Russian immigrants swelled with pride upon the beatification of 
Archbishop Felinski. Likewise, the faithful of Poland, Ukraine, and 
Russia, through his ministry, have been truly blessed. His remarkable 
life brought the Gospel to the most inhospitable reaches of Eastern 
Europe and he delivered the word of salvation to thousands whose lives 
were inspired by his exemplary devotion. Indeed, we are all inspired 
today.
  As the son of a Ukrainian immigrant, I am honored to deliver these 
remarks today as a Member of the U.S. Congress that we may all find 
encouragement and reassurance in the unyielding love of the Almighty as 
is intended by the beatification of Archbishop Zygmunt Szczesny 
Felinski.

                          ____________________