Poland is also expecting at least two other beatifications shortly, of the late Polish Pope John Paul II, as well as of Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, brutally murdered by communist militia 25 years ago.

Being canonized by the Catholic Church means to be declared a saint, a person who is in Heaven with God.

 

The Church does not make people saints, but only confirms that God has awarded this person with eternal happiness, by means of a detailed and lengthy investigation, examining the candidates virtues, deeds and reputation. If successful, the person can be beatified by the Pope. Such people are called blessed and can be venerated locally. If further canonized, they are declared Saints of the Catholic Church, to be honored universally, around the globe. This process may take anywhere between several years and several hundred years. Catholics believe that there are many more unnamed saints in Heaven, in addition to those officially recognized by the Church, who are to serve as role models for believers on Earth.

 

Szczesny Felinski became the archbishop of Warsaw at the age of 40, and was in the office in very difficult times, during the January Uprising of 1863, when people of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth rebelled against the Russian Empire occupying Poland. He was an outstanding spiritual leader, who was against the bloodshed of a military uprising, but when it broke out, he heroically defended the repressed. He even went so far as to write a letter to the Russian tsar, demanding independence for Poland, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in exile in Siberia, and was banned from returning to Warsaw ever after. He died in Krakow in 1895.