Karol Antoniewicz
Encyclopedia
Karol Antoniewicz (born in Lwów (now Lviv Ukraine), 6 November 1807; died 14 November 1852) was a Polish-Armenian Jesuit and missionary
.
After the death of his father (1823), Karol entered the university at Lwów, to study law, devoting, however, much time to philology; hence besides Polish, he spoke fluent German, French, Italian, and English. Here he also gathered material for the history of the Armenians in Poland
(his ancestors were Armenians) and wrote Polish and German poetry.
Having finished his course in law with the highest distinction (1827), he made a tour through Austria and Rumania. During the Polish insurrection of 1830-31, he served for some time under General Dwernicki.
In 1833 he married his cousin Sophia Nikorowicz, and settled in Skwarzawa. His marital life ended with the death of his five children, followed shortly by that of his wife, who took religious vows on her death-bed. His mother also died as a religious in the Benedictine Order. This, as well as the advice of his spiritual director, Father Frederic Rinn, S.J., induced him to seek admission into the novitiate of the Jesuits at Stara Wieś
in September, 1839, where he took the solemn vows on 12 September 1841.
His philosophical studies were made at Tarnopol, where he was a colleague of the theologian Cardinal Franzelin
. His theological studies he finished at Nowy Sącz
. He was ordained priest on 10 October 1844, by Bishop Jan Marceli Gutkowski.
Upon the request of Count D'Este, Governor of Galicia, the Provincial (Father Pierling) appointed him missionary for the Sandec district, where crime and lawlessness (massacre of the nobility, 1846) reigned supreme. During seven months, Antoniewicz gave over twenty missions, preached over 200 sermons. His impaired health, however, compelled him to seek a mountainous climate in spring, 1847. Having recovered, he was assigned to St. Nicholas in Lwów, as preacher, and as confessor for students.
When on 7 May 1848, the Society of Jesus was dissolved in Austria, Antoniewicz went to Silesia
(Graefenberg), returning incognito, however, to Lwów, in 1850. Being discovered, he left the country, stopping at Cracow, just after the conflagration of 18 July 1850, to console the inhabitants. On this occasion, he delivered the sermon "On the ruins of Cracow" (Na zgliszczach Krakowa).
At the insistence of Cardinal Diepenbrock he gave missions in Silesia; there he also founded a house in Nissa
, and was appointed its first superior. Asked by Archbishop Leon Przyłuski, he extended his missionary activity to Posen
(1852). He contracted cholera
and died of it.
In the church at Obra
, where he rests, his friends erected to his memory a monument, surmounted by his bust.
In youth he composed many charming poems; later he gave preference to religious themes. He had genuine poetic talent, and a facile pen, for example in his "Wianek krzyzowy" (Garland of the Cross), "Wianek majowy" (Wreath of May), "Jan Kanty, Sw. Jacek" (St. Hyacinth), etc. He is the author of many devotional and ascetic works, e. g. "Czytania swiateczne dla ludu" (Festive Readings for the Faithful), "Sw. Izydor Oracz" (St. Isidore), "Groby swietych polskich" (The Tombs of Polish Saints), "Listy w duchu Bozym do przyjaciol" (Spiritual Letters to Friends), and many others.
His sermons were collected and arranged by his fellow Jesuit, John Badeni, and published in four volumes (Cracow, 1893, 2d ed.), under the title "Kazania Ks. Karols Antoniewicza". "Zbiór poezti" (a collection of poems) was likewise published in 1898-99 by Badeni.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
.
Life
He was the son of Joseph Antoniewicz, a nobleman and lawyer. His pious mother Josephine, née Nikorowicz, attended to his early training on their estate at Skwarzawa, where they had moved in 1818.After the death of his father (1823), Karol entered the university at Lwów, to study law, devoting, however, much time to philology; hence besides Polish, he spoke fluent German, French, Italian, and English. Here he also gathered material for the history of the Armenians in Poland
Armenians in Poland
Armenians in Poland have an important and historical presence going back to the 14th century. According to the Polish census of 2002, there are 1,082 self-identifying Armenians in Poland,, although Armenian-oriented sources cite estimates as high as 92,000....
(his ancestors were Armenians) and wrote Polish and German poetry.
Having finished his course in law with the highest distinction (1827), he made a tour through Austria and Rumania. During the Polish insurrection of 1830-31, he served for some time under General Dwernicki.
In 1833 he married his cousin Sophia Nikorowicz, and settled in Skwarzawa. His marital life ended with the death of his five children, followed shortly by that of his wife, who took religious vows on her death-bed. His mother also died as a religious in the Benedictine Order. This, as well as the advice of his spiritual director, Father Frederic Rinn, S.J., induced him to seek admission into the novitiate of the Jesuits at Stara Wieś
Stara Wies
Stara Wieś may refer to the following places in Poland:*Stara Wieś, Silesian Voivodeship *Stara Wieś, Subcarpathian Voivodeship...
in September, 1839, where he took the solemn vows on 12 September 1841.
His philosophical studies were made at Tarnopol, where he was a colleague of the theologian Cardinal Franzelin
Johann Baptist Franzelin
Johann Baptist Franzelin was an Austrian Jesuit theologian and Cardinal.-Life:Despite their poverty, his parents sent him at an early age to the neighboring Franciscan college at Bolzano...
. His theological studies he finished at Nowy Sącz
Nowy Sacz
Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:...
. He was ordained priest on 10 October 1844, by Bishop Jan Marceli Gutkowski.
Upon the request of Count D'Este, Governor of Galicia, the Provincial (Father Pierling) appointed him missionary for the Sandec district, where crime and lawlessness (massacre of the nobility, 1846) reigned supreme. During seven months, Antoniewicz gave over twenty missions, preached over 200 sermons. His impaired health, however, compelled him to seek a mountainous climate in spring, 1847. Having recovered, he was assigned to St. Nicholas in Lwów, as preacher, and as confessor for students.
When on 7 May 1848, the Society of Jesus was dissolved in Austria, Antoniewicz went to Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
(Graefenberg), returning incognito, however, to Lwów, in 1850. Being discovered, he left the country, stopping at Cracow, just after the conflagration of 18 July 1850, to console the inhabitants. On this occasion, he delivered the sermon "On the ruins of Cracow" (Na zgliszczach Krakowa).
At the insistence of Cardinal Diepenbrock he gave missions in Silesia; there he also founded a house in Nissa
Nysa, Poland
Nysa is a town in southwestern Poland on the Nysa Kłodzka river with 47,545 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Nysa County. It comprises the urban portion of the surrounding Gmina Nysa, a mixed urban-rural commune with a total population of 60,123 inhabitants...
, and was appointed its first superior. Asked by Archbishop Leon Przyłuski, he extended his missionary activity to Posen
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
(1852). He contracted cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
and died of it.
In the church at Obra
Obra
Obra is a river in west Poland, a tributary of the Warta river , with a length of 164 kilometres and the basin area of 2,758 km2. The river is popular with canoe and kayak enthusiasts and an established canoe trail exists....
, where he rests, his friends erected to his memory a monument, surmounted by his bust.
Works
He composed over seventy-six different works; six before he became a Jesuit, and seventy as a Jesuit, twenty-seven of which were published after his death.In youth he composed many charming poems; later he gave preference to religious themes. He had genuine poetic talent, and a facile pen, for example in his "Wianek krzyzowy" (Garland of the Cross), "Wianek majowy" (Wreath of May), "Jan Kanty, Sw. Jacek" (St. Hyacinth), etc. He is the author of many devotional and ascetic works, e. g. "Czytania swiateczne dla ludu" (Festive Readings for the Faithful), "Sw. Izydor Oracz" (St. Isidore), "Groby swietych polskich" (The Tombs of Polish Saints), "Listy w duchu Bozym do przyjaciol" (Spiritual Letters to Friends), and many others.
His sermons were collected and arranged by his fellow Jesuit, John Badeni, and published in four volumes (Cracow, 1893, 2d ed.), under the title "Kazania Ks. Karols Antoniewicza". "Zbiór poezti" (a collection of poems) was likewise published in 1898-99 by Badeni.