Born in Vilnius in 1835 to a noble Polish Catholic family, St Raphael of St Joseph was originally named Joseph Kalinowski. Though he felt called to the priesthood from a young age, he first pursued studies in mathematics, science, and engineering. Because higher education was restricted in Lithuania and Poland under Russian rule, he joined the Russian army to attend military college. As a lieutenant, he supervised engineering projects while also serving as a catechist and founding a Sunday school. In the 1860s, Joseph left the army to support the Polish uprising against Russian oppression. Appointed minister of war for the rebellion, he accepted the role only on the condition that he would never order the death penalty. Arrested in 1864, he was sentenced to death, though this was later reduced to ten years of forced labour in Siberia. Sustained by deep faith, he became a source of spiritual strength to fellow prisoners during the harsh exile.After his release, Joseph moved to Paris and worked as a tutor before entering the Discalced Carmelites in Austria in 1877, taking the name Raphael of St Joseph. Ordained a priest in 1882, he dedicated himself to restoring the Carmelite Order in Poland, founding a community in Wadowice in 1889. Known for his charity, warmth, and commitment to reconciliation, he devoted himself especially to the spiritual and intellectual formation of young people. He was widely sought as a confessor and spiritual director. St Raphael died in 1907 and was canonised by Pope John Paul II in 1991.

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