On this 99th anniversary of the death of our brother, Rev. Pawel Smolikowski, CR, declared Venerable Servant of God by the Vatican, we share with you excerpts from a reflection written by Rev. Kazimierz Wójtowicz CR.
“If the theology of spirituality urges Christians to shape their lives so that they may see themselves reflected in the word of God as in a mirror, then it is only fitting that the figures of saints, venerables, and candidates for the altars naturally appear in the mirror of the Liturgy of the Word. And so today—on the 99th anniversary of the death of the Venerable Servant of God Fr. Paweł Smolikowski (4 February 1849–11 September 1926), … I wish to add to his known titles, such as the canonical “Venerable Servant of God” or the biographical ones like “passionate educator,” “missionary of the Resurrection,” “apostle of unity,” “guide on the paths of faith,” yet another biblical title, inspired by today’s Mass readings: “Clothed in Love.”
Clothe Yourselves in Love: The Venerable Servant of God Radiated Love
St. Paul, [in today’s letter to the Colossians] calls them to put off the old self and put on the new, continually renewed. Staying with this image of clothing, he urges them twice to “clothe yourselves”—not in garments of fashion or festivity, but in attitudes and virtues that reveal our true, redeemed selves…
What are these “garments” Paul speaks of? They are the fruits of the Holy Spirit—born of our cooperation with the Third Person of the Trinity… compassion, humility, meekness, forgiveness, gratitude—and above all, love, which binds all these together in perfect unity.
Hearing these exhortations, we cannot help but see in them a living portrait of the venerable Servant of God, Paweł Smolikowski. These attributes were not just ideals for him; they were daily realities, visible in his relationships with confreres, superiors, coworkers, and students—marked always by humility, patience, calm respect, and a gentle love for each person. …
Teach and Admonish One Another: The Venerable Servant of God Preached Love
This part of Paul’s “spiritual wardrobe” is inseparably linked to the word of Christ dwelling in our hearts in all its richness and wisdom. It calls us to glorify God in prayer and song, but also to teach and admonish one another—that is, to engage in all catechetical, missionary, preaching, teaching, and scholarly work. Here, too, the Venerable Servant of God was an unsurpassed master, bearing extraordinary fruit. As a priest, theologian, philosopher, historian, and writer, he gave countless sermons, lectures, retreats, conferences, and lessons. He authored 237 works in multiple languages, … In all these writings, the underlying theme—as noted in the decree—was “an unceasing and loving dialogue with the Lord Jesus and a daily union with Him through the heroic imitation of His life as Savior.”…
Your Reward Will Be Great: The Venerable Servant of God Died with Love
In today’s Gospel, Jesus… raises the commandment of the love of neighbor to its highest level: “Love your enemies!”… This kind of love—so difficult and demanding—not only brings good where none seems to exist, but prevails even where its opposite exists. Just as each beatitude carries a promise (the kingdom, comfort, mercy, divine sonship), so too does this command to love our enemies: “Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.”
Such a great reward awaited the Venerable Servant of God Paweł ninety-nine years ago at the moment of his passing to the Father’s house… Before his death, he urged the novices to keep vigil not to grieve but to rejoice, for the most beautiful moment was approaching—he was going to his loving Father. To his superior, he simply said: “Finita la musica mia”— “My music is finished.” As a man of Easter, with a heart full of love, he departed “further and higher.” “