A Symbol of Christian Unity

On November 12th, Catholics celebrate an important feast in the life of the Church. As you know, we celebrate oftentimes feast of saints. 

Saint Josaphat was born in the 17th century in Ukraine. As we think about today’s tensions in the world, the war between Ukraine and Russia, Josaphat had experienced that in a very particular way.

He was born into an Eastern rite, an Orthodox Church. As we recall, our Church is divided between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church, the Church united with the Pope.

Over the centuries, one of the great movements in the Church has been the desire to reunite the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.

Josaphat was a Ukrainian priest who eventually became a Ruthenian. A Ruthenian is one who is united with the Pope. He was very dedicated to the Catholic Church and to bringing about unity.

Unfortunately for that, Josaphat was murdered. But he remains for us a symbol of our desire, always as Catholics and as Christians, for unity, the unity that Christ willed for his Church at the Last Supper, when he prayed that they all may be one.