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Also known as
Adam Chmielowski; Adam Hilary Bernard Chmielowski Brat Albert; Brother
Albert; Brother of Our Lord; Brother of Our God; Our God's Brother
Profile
Born to a wealthy aristocratic family, he initially studied agriculture in
order to manage the family estate. Involved in politics from his youth, he
lost a leg at age 17 when injured while fighting in an insurrection. In
Krakow, he became a popular, well-known and well-liked artist. His
interest in politics and art made him keenly aware of the human misery
around him. A gentle and compassionate soul, he felt called to help those
in need. After years of reflection, he understood that this desire was how
God was calling him to service and Himself.
Franciscan tertiary, taking the name Albert. He abandoned painting, and
began a life of working with and for the poorest of Krakow. In 1887 he
founded the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants of the
Poor, known as the Albertines (named for him) or the Gray Brothers (after
their rough gray habits). In 1891 he founded the women's congregation of
the Order (Gray Sisters). The Albertines organized food and shelter for
the poor and homeless.
Albert preached that the great calamity of our time was that so many
refused to see and voluntarily relieve the suffering of their miserable
brothers and sisters. The "haves" lived away from the "have-nots" in order
to ignore them and leave their care to others.
In 1949, Pope John Paul II wrote a well-received play about Albert; the
work was filmed in 1997, released as Brother of Our God. Albert was the
spiritual teacher of Blessed Maria Bernardina Jablonska.
Born
20 August 1845 at Igoalomia (Aigolonija), Poland as Adam Hilary Bernard
Chmielowski
Died
25 December 1916 at Krakow, Poland, of natural causes
Beatified
22 June 1983 by Pope John Paul II at Krakow, Poland
Canonized
12 November 1989 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter's Square, Rome
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