JANSKI, BOGDAN. - B. at Ciechanowiec (Poland), 27 March 1807; d. at Rome, 2 July 1840. Having completed his initial studies at Pultusk, in 1824 he entered the University of Warsaw to attend courses in political economy. There he ended by losing his faith altogether, while abandoning himself to sensuality. Highly intelligent, in 1827 he was sent by the Russian government to Paris to perfect his studies. He joined the sect of the Saint-Simonians and, from Sept. 1830 to Feb. 1931, on the instructions of its leaders, negotiated in London the union of the Owenites with the Saint-Simonians, with such zeal that he did not trouble to hasten to Warsaw when it rose against the Russians. But, having returned to Paris, he broke away from the sect and, after most arduous struggles, returned to the Catholic Church.
Having refused to return to Warsaw to teach at the University, he lived in poverty by giving lessons and writing articles, assisted by his friends, among whom were Lacordaire, Montalembert, and especially the poet A. Mickiewicz, then a fervent Catholic, with whom he collaborated in providing material and spiritual assistance to the Polish exiles in France after 1831. Also in order to prevent their perversion, J. founded a religious institute (later the Congregation of the Resurrection), although the priesthood was barred to him because of a marriage contracted in his youth. Amid many difficulties, from 1836 onward he directed the small community and was able to send his first disciples to Rome to complete their studies. Meanwhile, he sanctified himself amid great physical and moral sufferings. Having joined his disciples in Rome, worn out by tuberculosis, he died there.