The Saints: St. Albert Chmielowski

1845-1916

Feast – June 17

Born in Poland, Adam was an artist drawn to helping the poor. His spiritual life deepened and he joined the Franciscan Third Order, giving up his painting. As Brother Albert, he aided those in need in Krakow, and in 1887 founded the Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis, Servants of the Poor, known as the Albertines. He also began a women’s religious order. He was the subject of a 1949 play by the future Pope John Paul II, who as pope beatified and canonized his fellow Pole.