Blessed Honorat of Biala

Blessed Honorat was born on October 16, 1829 in Biala Podlaska (Poland). He was the son of Stefan Kozminski and Aleksandra Kahlowa and at baptism, was given the name of Wenceslaus.

At the age of 11, Wenceslaus lost his faith. He was arrested in April 1846 and sent to prison. In a prison cell, Wenceslaus experienced a spiritual upheaval. His faith was renewed and after eleven months of imprisonment, he was freed and in 1848 he entered the Capuchin Order, taking the name Honoratus. After professing vows and finishing his philosophical and theological studies, he was ordained a priest.
As a priest, he began an enthusiastic and zealous apostolic activity in Warsaw. He was an indefatigable confessor and preacher. In his pastoral work he strongly promoted the Third Order of St. Francis, a group of lay men and women following the way of St. Francis.

In 1867, Father Honorat offered himself to Christ through the hands of Mary as her "slave," giving himself over to her completely as an instrument for her hands. From that moment forward, the motto of his life was contained in a sentence expressing limitless trust: "Mary, I am completely Yours---Tuus totus."