St. Josaphat today.

I have grown to love him in later life as I believe he was a true bishop - a fatherly pastor most of all.

When he was given the people of Polotsk as his flock he initially attracted them to the faith by celebrating beautiful liturgies, with processions and singing - which his people grew to love.

He taught them their faith in little classes all over the city. Nothing over the top or strange - just the beauty of the faith lived liturgically. In this effort, he was so like the Cure of Ars. By my own experience, I think that is so right. Those are the things that unify parishes and make them happy. If the Sacramental life is good, the Parish will be good. His people grew to love him for this.

But he lived in a time and an area of the world - the Ukraine - where Eastern Orthodox Catholics were tooth and nail up against Roman Catholics. Josaphat fought bravely and doggedly to bring unity and peace to this his divided Church. No doubt it cost him sleep and worry.

He listened to many heated arguments, endured much distrust filled with age old resentments from his priests and his flock. He listened attentively and patiently to disagreements about liturgy, rubrics, customs. Hmm, sounds familiar. His response was ever peace, charity, good sense and fidelity to Christ and his church. And always out of love for his people.

It is a good though frightening lesson to read that he was martyred in the end by the followers of a rival archbishop. It gives one pause that anger, resentment, and arrogance - even over holy things - can eventually lead to this - the martyrdom of a saint. Christ does not dwell in arrogance and resentments but in patience and understanding and truth.

Josaphat did not seem to succeed in his lifetime to create the unity he so longed for, but it didn't stop him from striving constantly to find a way to unite east and west until he gave his blood for it.

Josaphat finished his race at full run knowing that he had tried his utmost to please Jesus, Who had asked this task of him.

Sometimes saints are asked simply that: to try their utmost without that satisfying ending. That is where we see what faith really is - not in lauded successes but in fighting for the good against all odds. These kind of saints fill me with awe.

St Josaphat, help us by your prayers, to be humble.