There are needs that individuals cannot be dprived of
by the general public,
and these are: bread and the roof over your head.
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
Images of Brother Albert
