LUBIENSKI, BERNARDO

BERNARD LUBIEŃSKI. — Redemptorist, born near Warsaw on 9 December 1846, died there on 10 September 1933. Descended from a noble family, he spent his youth in England. After entering the Redemptorists and being ordained a priest, he worked for some time as a missionary in England, and, returning to Poland in 1882, founded the first house of his Congregation at Mościski. Renowned for his outstanding oratorical gifts, he soon became one of the most well-known missionaries and lecturers. At the age of 39, he was struck by partial paralysis in his legs due to the many hardships and sacrifices he endured, but this did not prevent him from continuing to preach missions for another 40 years, effectively contributing to the revival of religious life in Poland. He died in a reputation for holiness, surrounded by an almost legendary aura because of his missionary preaching.