Saint of the Month! St. Josaphat

St. Josaphat was born in present-day western Ukraine in 1580 to Christian parents who taught him from an early age how to pray. One of the earliest callings St. Josaphat had to the Lord was when he was a child and was visiting the church of St. Parasceve with his mother. While looking at the crucifix, St. Josaphat later commented that “I saw a spark of fire leave the side of our Lord and enter my heart. I was suddenly overwhelmed by such an abundance of sweetness and love that I stood very still, seeing and hearing nothing, and from that moment on such a great love was born in me for the Savior of mankind . . .”

This moment would lead to a life filled with grace. In his adolescence he was sent away from home to work for a wealthy cloth merchant, Yakinta Popovich, in Vilna (Vilnius), the capital of Lithuania. Even though he was a young man, St. Josaphat was given many graces and did not succumb to the temptations a large city can provide. He spent his free time either reading about the lives of the saints or in prayer.

While he was living in Vilna, a small group of Ukrainian bishops decided to pledge allegiance to Rome in 1596. The political authorities were not pleased with the bishops’ decision.  In retaliation, agents were sent throughout Ukraine to incite upheaval amongst the people in the name of religious liberty.   Suddenly, young St. Josaphat found himself in the middle of a confusing tempest of political and religious unrest. Remembering who held true authority over him, he decided he would pray to God about what his next course of action would be. Should he join those Uniates, who were joining the Latin Church of Rome, or the Schismatics?

St. Josaphat got down on his knees in front of an image of our crucified Lord and earnestly asked Him. Immediately, he was given such clear conviction that he should join the Uniates that he began to proclaim the words from Psalm 24 “Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation: on Thee I wait all the day.”

He was so sure of his mission, to serve Christ’s church in union with the Church of Rome, that he decided to become a monk. His employer, Popovich, did everything he could to try to dissuade him. He offered his only daughter to him for marriage and all of his possessions. St. Josaphat, having found his calling from God, rejected Popovich’s offer.

As a monk, he later became a priest, and eventually bishop of Polotsk, in present-day Belarus that was in great need of reform. He led by example and instituted changes that helped clergy and laity alike live more faithfully.  When schismatic Orthodox bishops took up residence in the same area, claiming priority in the faith among the people and conflict arose.  Josaphat was unfairly discredited. He tried to calm the troubles by speaking out, knowing full well that it might cost him his life. “If I am counted worthy of martyrdom,” he said, “then I am not afraid to die.”

He urged patience and forbearance among his people, even when they were incited to violence. Tensions rose until finally a mob gathered and took him by force—he was beaten and killed and his body was thrown in the river. It was November 12th, 1612. As soon as the next day, miracles began to take place throughout the region. The holiness of St. Josaphat was made known to the masses through these extraordinary works of God.  

Even within a couple of days of his death, thousands of Schismatics sought to join the Roman Catholic Church. Even one of the main organizers of the murder plot, John Khodiha, later said, “God wanted to show through me, that Josaphat could convert after his death those who had refused to listen to the words of their shepherd, while he lived.”

St. Josaphat, pray for us!