Born
on August 20, 1845, Albert belonged to a wealthy, aristocratic Polish
family. Involved in politics from a young age, at eighteen he lost his
leg during an uprising against Czar Alexander III of Russia.
Albert
had a great talent for painting, and eventually became a well-know and
rather popular artist. But he soon became aware of the suffering of the
poor of the city, and felt compelled to help those in need. He abandoned
his art and became a Secular Franciscan to dedicate his life to helping
those in need. In 1887, he founded the Brothers of the Third Order of
Saint Francis, Servants of the Poor, known as the Albertines or the Gray
Brothers. Then, in 1891, he founded a community of Albertine sisters,
known as the Gray Sisters. The Albertines organized food and shelter for
the poor and homeless of any age or religion, dedicating their good
works to God.
Albert died on Christmas Day, 1916. He was canonized on November 12, 1989.
Thursday, June 17, 2021
St. Albert Chmielowski
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