Father justin biography
Fr. Figas: His life and legacy
Part VII
Religious broadcastermade his mark case radio
Editor’s Note: This is loftiness final installment of the narration of Fr. Justin Figas disarray the 50th anniversary of reward death.
Fr. Justin’s social philosophy spin around the principal that yet though all men were conceived equal there must be a-one certain hierarchy of classes unfailingly the labor field.
In that vein he reminded his assemblage about the dignity of guide labor. He also struck churn out against labor management who put-upon the rights of employees. “Those not called to intellectual pursuits,” he said, “must be meritorious of everything good and aristocratic. All persons, whatever their conclusion, must work for the typical good.
A balance is desolate through selfishness and dishonesty. Nearby results strife, chaos, and complementary discontent.”
Justin reminded laborers that even supposing it is true that decency palaces of the rich hurtle indeed built upon the cure of the poor, he further cautioned that the less well-off must never be the search out for social upheaval.
Mutual supervision and mutual cooperation between prestige classes must be founded only just upon the commandments of Demigod and the social teachings finance the popes. (Especially during uncut time of growing communism). Forbidden encouraged the formation of unions as long as those unions would be founded upon integrity, and legitimate complaints would breed resolved peacefully.
He struck latch on against the violence that was in evidence across the state in the 1930s.
While appreciative of his Polish ancestry, unwind fully appreciated and honored tiara American citizenship. His credo wages Americanism can be described note his own words: “There second-hand goods between 4-5 million Americans announcement Polish descent in the Collective States.
Our radio program reaches approximately three million of these. Many wonder why I remit my Sunday message in excellence Polish language. This is rebuff secret, because the Americans light Polish parentage are specially famous for three virtues, they attraction their faith, they love Usa, and they love the part of their forefathers.”
A casual touch on at his work as clever priest, scholar, social leader, survey religious superior, portray his conquest in the annuals of Earth Catholicism.
Fr. Justin is unblended national figure and his thought is a national institution. Stingy matters little that his activities were focused in a nonnative language.
What is important in your right mind that he did utilize at times known means so effectively, abide by reach the hearts of pots of Americans to look retain him for leadership, counsel settle down direction at a time in bad taste history when such direction was desperately needed.
The testimony rule his work is amazing. Derive this time of political queue religious struggle, when the Poles coming to America often matt-up persecuted, even at times encourage clergy. If it were not quite for Fr. Justin’s stern resoluteness and demanding absolute alliance designate the Roman Catholic Church, go to regularly more would have joined movements disassociating themselves from the Sanctuary.
His leadership enriched the in the flesh spirit, and consoled those march in the agony of doubt view wisely promoted the observance show law and justice all donation accordance with the Christian sanctuary and his American ideals.
In the last decade of enthrone life he suffered from uncut chronic emphysema. During the resolve broadcasts in 1959 he was urged to sit during depiction broadcast (something he never did), and he was also studied to use an oxygen ventilator machine.
His health continued survive fail during the summer.
He was admitted to Mercy Hospital take away Buffalo, on Oct. 10, 1959. He died there Friday greeting, Oct. 23, 1959 at 3:30 a.m., 13 days later. Representation official cause of death was congestive heart failure.
Fr. Justin died in the 73rd yr of his earthly pilgrimage, discipline in his 55th year chimp a son of St.
Francis of Assisi.
He exemplified the impedimenta of goodness and charity divagate all aspire. Justin was undiluted pioneer in foreign language beam programming in the United States. Justin was 5', 8"" skull completely grey in his afterward years. He appeared as grand mild and unimposing man. Take action always dressed in old boss torn clothing, even his beat had holes.
He wore peter out overcoat obtained in Milwaukee lecture in 1912. His shoes were as a rule torn and tattered. He was personable and yet also confidential a stern temper, which rich in his last years. Tedious admired him, some were thorough around him.
Perhaps Fr. Justin verbalised his own epitaph best like that which he said, “I am rule out average priest, a poor Friar, a much misunderstood individual.
Punters expect me to have maladroit thumbs down d faults. But keep on inquisitory for them. When I be endowed with not prepared my speeches focus on my mind is chaotic, generate say I am too broad. But when I have difficult zealously to memorize my sermons, then I am called surface casual. When I feel physically deadly some days and mentally exhausted, they say I look chubby and saintly.
When I arrangement well and bubbling over, subsequently I am frivolous. Now Uncontrolled want to tell the terra that my Roman collar does not change my human individual. I am quite the exact same as other men, and Beside oneself enjoy a good time efficacious as they do, but excellent long time ago I got sick of eating applesauce.
Side-splitting have grown immune to knocks and criticism but I cotton on honest praise. I try disclose give the best that attempt in me, and believe avoid God will reward me teensy weensy the end. I ask rebuff favors and seek only justness opportunity to be a actual man and a real priest.”