November 18 Celebration of Saints

November 18 Celebration of Saints

Blessed Karolina Kózka

Blessed Karolina Kózka was born into a family of peasant farmers on August 2, 1898 in Wal-Ruda, Austria-Hungary (now Poland). Shewas baptized five days after her birth.

As a child she had strong faith and would spend much of her time in religious activities, from reciting the rosary to catechizing neighbors, reading the Bible and helping to teach the catechism at her local parish church of Saint John the Baptist.

Karolina was confirmed May 18, 1914, and also said her first confession and received Holy Communion that year.

On November 18, 2014, three days after Karolina had received her first communion, a Russian soldier came to the Kózka farm. He said that he had orders to take Karolina and her father Jan to his commanding officer.

The soldier marched the two to the edge of a forest, and commanded Jan to return home, which he did reluctantly.

The Russian then attacked Karolina, but she refused to let him defile her. The soldier then angrily stabbed Karolina several times but she was able to run away to a nearby swamp. When he saw her fall he stopped his chase, and she died in the swamp from a loss of blood.

Her remains were found on December 4, 1914 and she was buried on December 6. Karolina Kózka was beatified on June 10, 1987 by Pope John Paul II. She has not yet been canonized.

Other Saints for Today

Other saints and the blessed beatified for this day include:

Saint Anselm, Blessed Grimoaldo of the Purification, Saint Hesychius of Antioch, Blessed John Shoun, Saint Keverne, Saint Leonard Kimura, Saint Mabyn, Saint Mawes, Saint Mummolus, Saint Odo, Saint Oriculus and Companions, Saints Romanus and Barula, Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne and Saint Thomas of Antioch.