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Oil Dedicated to St Albert Chmielowski (Patron for Volunteers)

St Albert Chmielowski (Patron for Volunteers) from A Blessed Call To Love, Ireland.

Saint Albert Chmielowski was a Polish artist, social activist, and Catholic saint who dedicated his life to serving the poor and marginalized. Born in 1845 in Igolomia, near Krakow, Poland, Chmielowski was the son of a wealthy textile merchant. He received a good education and was trained in painting and drawing.

After completing his studies, Chmielowski traveled to Paris, where he pursued his art career. However, he  deeply affected by the poverty and suffering he witnessed in the city, and he began to feel a strong calling to serve the poor. He eventually decided to give up his art career and devote himself to helping those in need.

In 1887, Chmielowski founded the Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis, also known as the Albertines, a religious congregation dedicated to serving the poor and the sick. The Albertines provided food, shelter, and medical care to those in need, and they also worked to educate and train the poor, teaching them skills and trades that would help them to support themselves.

Chmielowski himself worked tirelessly alongside the Albertines, providing hands-on care to the sick and destitute. He lived a simple and austere life, often going without food and sleep in order to serve others. He known for his deep compassion and his unwavering commitment to social justice.

In addition to his work with the Albertines, Chmielowski was also a prolific writer and artist. He wrote a number of books and articles on social justice and the Catholic faith, and he produced a large body of art that reflected his deep spirituality and his concern for the poor.

St. Albert Chmielowski died on December 25, 1916, in Krakow, Poland. He canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1989 and venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He  remembered as a dedicated servant of the poor, a compassionate. And selfless individual who devoted his life to helping those in need.