The Canonization of Father Walter Ciszek, S. J.

The Canonization of Father Walter Ciszek, S. J.

New meaning to the belief in ‘Divine Providence’.

A Polish American Jesuit priest from Pennsylvania is currently part of a beatification and canonization process of the Roman Catholic Church, road to sainthood.  Beatification is the Catholic Church recognition  of a dead person's entrance into heaven.  Canonization is whereby the church declares that a person who has died was a saint and hopefully you will read his story and recognize it for yourself.  I do encourage you to do so.   His complex story is so amazing and worthy of this honor, it is too difficult and complex to describe completely. His youth as a fighting tough in Pennsylvania coal country allowed him to persevere through the struggles of an unbelievable journey in the Soviet Siberian prison system, 1939 – 1963.

His great motivation toward entering the priesthood was learning about Polish St. Stanislaus Kostka.  Here was a tough kid, the kind who stuck to his guns,  who walked from Warsaw to Rome in order to join the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. Walter Ciszek, himself a tough street kid,  identified with him. St. Stanislaus Kostka died at the age of seventeen as a Jesuit novice and is the patron saint of novices. Many churches of Polish communities, especially in the United States and Canada are dedicated to him.

Upon entering the priesthood, Fr. Ciszek was sent to Albertyn, Poland  in 1937.  He then volunteered as a needed worker in the Soviet Union in order to be available as a priest to the Russian people. He could not indicate he was a priest and so entered as a regular volunteer worker. In the process, he was first arrested as a German spy and then as a Vatican spy once they became aware of his being a priest [which actually they knew all along].  For 23 years, he bore the suffering of solitary confinement, torture, violent interrogations, 16 hour workdays in - 20 to -40 below zero temperatures, and denied food and clothing necessary for such an ordeal. In addition, he was forced to survive among criminals, thieves and murderers while a political prisoner. Released from prison, but forced to remain in Siberia, Father Ciszek worked as an auto mechanic, but was watched relentlessly so as not to practice his religion as a  pastor to local Catholics.  Two books were published upon his return to America in 1963: “With God in Russia” and “He Leadeth Me.” They are a testament to his spiritual odyssey and an inspiration to all Christians toward a greater faith and trust in God, even in the darkest hours. And dark hours they were ! A life of perseverance and struggle, yet so inspiring, I recommend these two books for your spiritual growth. And keep on the lookout for the canonization of Father Walter Ciszek, S. J.  How actually did he survive it all?  According to Fr. Ciszek, it was ‘divine providence’.

Ciszek, Walter, S. J.  and  Flaherty,  Daniel L., S. J.

He Leadeth Me.

Ciszek, Walter, S. J.  and  Flaherty,  Daniel L., S. J.

With God in Russia.