MORALITY AND CATHOLICISM FIRST by STEPHANIE Age 16  

 

BLESSED KAROLINA KÓZKÓWNA

 

+JMJ+ 

 

 

Blessed Karolina Kozkowna was born on August 2, 1898, in the town of Wal-Ruda in southern Poland. She was the fourth of eleven children born to Jan and Maria Borzechka Kózka. Born into a humble family, Karolina was surrounded by Catholic Faith and Catholic Virtues. Although her family was very poor, religious education was not sacrificed. Roman Catholicism was the very heart of her family. Their faith kept them strong and hopeful. From the age of six, Karolina was enrolled at the local school. She never disappointed her family in her faith or studies. She was a superb hard-working student who learned quickly and was quite wise though she was very reserved and loving. Her family was well known in their town for their distinguishing trait of devout lifestyles. Karolina was a very special child with a gentle sense of humor and a genuinely pure heart. As a young girl, she made many pilgrimages to Our Lady of Czestochowa and celebrated her youthful consecration to living according to Christ's Laws. As a teenager, Karolina's love for Christ and His Church grew more and more. She would often gather people from all over the small town around her family's pear tree to read from the Catechism and the Bible as well as teaching the children about the saints. At lent, the Kozkas sang the Passion of Our Lord and during Advent they would go caroling around the village of Wal-Ruda. As many villagers later recalled, their home was "the little church".  During Karolina's days she prayed often and enjoyed saying "Hail Mary" to herself because it made her "feel a great joy in her heart"! She never ceased praying the Rosary. She often stayed up during the night praying and talking to God and it often interferred with her sleep, but Karolina did not mind. She would wander off and pray to herself often.
 
As a teenage child, she embodied true Catholicism by caring for her family, the elderly, and instructing the village children in their catechism. One of her followers who had lost her own mother recalled, "She was more than a mother to me." The people of her village called her "a real angel" and often said that "she was the first soul destined for Heaven from among all her co-villagers." When people told her these things she often responded with how she attributed an holiness to the teaching of her Uncle, Franciszek Borzęcki. Franciszek Borzęcki.worked at the town center and she helped him organize the library and organize the parish records. She also was a great help to her parish priest, Władysław Mendrala, whom she helped with all her might. Then, war broke out in Poland and life for Europe would never be the same again.
 
In July 1914, Communist Russia invaded Roman Catholic Poland. The Polish people were horrified of the stories they heard about the Russian soldiers and their immoral ways. On the first day of occupation, a Russian soldier came to the Kowzka's house and stayed for lunch. Then, he left. The next day, another soldier came to their home but he told
Karolina and her father to come with him to the commanding Russian officer. Karolina's moment of glory was about to come. While they were walking in the forest, the soldier told Mr. Kowzka to return to his home.The horrifyed man did as he was told and left his daughter alone with the soldier. Two boys who were walking in the forest heard noises and were brave enough to hide in some near-by bushes. They saw Karolina struggling with the soldier and ran to her aid. She and the boys began running from the soldier, but Karolina fell. She had died from loss of blood.
 
Her body was found on December 4, 1914. The terrible wounds on her body were proof of her suffering. Even in the face of danger, Karolina defended her purity and remained a virgin. Immediately after her burial, the people of Poland gave her the name of "Star of the People". She was beatified on 18 November, 2002 by Pope John Paul the Great, who shared her name as Karol. Now, her remains rest at her shrine where many people make pilgrimages to ask favors of her. Many of them have been cured through their devotion to her. Her church is a beautiful and spectacular pilgrimage in Poland!
 
I have chosen Blessed Karolina Kozka as my confirmation name because I believe in her. I believe in how she lived her life. I believe in how she died. I also believe that she lived her baptismal and confirmation promises every day. I also wish to take her name because of Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla, and because my great grandmother, Karolina Dietrich, also carried her name. By teaching people about their beloved faith, she proved her worthiness of the sacrament of Confirmation. I hope that all people can follow her example and choose morality first as she did. I hope that when it is my turn to die, she will be present at my side and help me to make the same choice she did: Christ and Christ alone!
 

Response : Lord Have Mercy On Us

Lord have mercy on us. 
Christ hear us
Christ graciously hear us
God the Father of heaven 
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 
God the Holy Ghost, 
Holy Trinity one God, 

Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Blessed Karolina, Pray for us.
A Martyr in defence of the purity…
An Apostle of the Cross of Christ…
A Worshiper of the Holy Rosary…
A Witness of the Gospel…
An Example of the living faith ….
A Flower of the Polish Land…
A Solicitous guardian of the temple…
A Teacher of true piety…
Untried in service of neighbor …
An Example of respect for parents…
A Zealot Teacher of children…
A Guardian of the Domestic Church …
An Example of assiduousness...
An Example of Honesty...
An Apostle of goodness…
A Sensitive consoler of the harmed …
An Apostle of light to the lost…
An Example of honest friendship…
A Patron of hard labor of farmers…
A Patron of youth…
A Guide on the road to holiness…
Through the graces of the Blessed Caroline,
We ask you, o Lord,

For perseverance in faith …
For obedience to the Word of God…
For wisdom in making decisions in life situations…
For wise use of God-given talents…
For knowledge to perceive goodness…
For strength in difficult moments in life…
For comfort in sorrows and anguish …
For strength of spirit in moments of doubt …
For courage to endure suffering …
For a sensitive conscience …
For faithfulness to God, neighbour and to oneself…

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Lord.
Let us pray,

O Almighty and merciful God, in Blessed Caroline virgin and martyr You have left us a bright example for a love for prayer, purity and work, grant to us through her intercession, that we may imitate her virtues and with her, we may attain unto the joys of everlasting life in heaven.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.