Michael Sopocko

Michał Sopoćko ( born 1 November 1888 in Nowosady, Russian Empire, † February 15, 1975 in Białystok, Poland) was a confessor and spiritual director of Saint Faustina Kowalska.

Life

1910 Michał Sopoćko began the four-year study of theology at the seminary in Vilnius. On 15 June 1914 he was ordained priest. Subsequently, he worked as a chaplain in the parish Taboryszki in Vilnius. 1918 got Sopoćko by the Church authorities in Vilna be allowed to travel to Warsaw for Theological Studies at the Warsaw University. Disease and the political situation in Poland prevented the study initially. Sopoćko priest came forward then volunteered as a chaplain. In 1919 he was able to begin his studies in Moral Theology in Warsaw. During the tenure as a chaplain and as a student of moral theology, he additionally took up his studies in the College of Education. On 1 March 1926 he received his doctorate in moral theology.

In the years 1927-1928, now head of the military chaplaincy, he became a pastor father in the seminar and head of the Cathedral of Pastoral Theology at the University of Vilnius.

The scientific researches of Sopoćko were mainly connected with the habilitation thesis and related to the problems of education. In order to collect the subject matter for his work, he traveled from the summer of 1930 to libraries in Western European countries. This trip was fruitful for him both scientific as well as religious. Except for the habilitation he wrote scientific articles. In the field of pastoral theology, he wrote articles for the church encyclopedia, gave lectures and engaged in scientific journalism. More and more engaged in scientific work, he asked the bishop and archbishop field to dismissal from the service as a chaplain and from the function as a clergyman father. On 15 May 1934 he habilitated.

After his habilitation, he was appointed by the Ministry of Religious Creed and Public Enlightenment to the faculty of the University of Warsaw, just as he was awarded the same title for the Cathedral of the Pastoral Theology of the Stefan Batory University in Vilnius.

Since 1932 Sopoćko was one of the confessors in the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in Vilnius. In 1933, he there met Sister Mary Faustina Kowalska and became her spiritual director. He led the production of the first image of Jesus the Divine Mercy based on their vision. Even after Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska left Vilna in 1936, he remained in contact with her. This meeting was essential for his life and his future mission. He developed a theology of God's mercy, he has stated in scientific publications.

1942 Sopoćko was wanted by the Gestapo and had to flee from Vilna. In 1944, he was able to return. 1947 threatened deportation to Siberia. In July 1947, Sopoćko was invited by Archbishop Jalbrzychowski to take on new tasks in Białystok. Sopoćko traveled end of August 1947 to Białystok.

At the seminary, he lectured in catechesis, education, psychology and history of philosophy, was confessor to the students and directed retreats. He wrote the rules of order for the newly founded Congregation of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus. After a car accident in February 1962 in Zakopane he had to retire.

Began in 1965 by the archbishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyla the information process of Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska. Also Sopoćko was engaged in the process and was the pioneer of devotion to the Divine Mercy. On his advice Faustina had the apparitions and mystical experiences in her " diary " recorded. It is due to, was that the image of Merciful Jesus with the inscription "Jesus, I trust in You " painted and disseminated.

As a sign of appreciation for his many services for the Church and the Archdiocese of Białystok Sopoćko 1972 appointed general canonical canon.

Michał Sopoćko died in his room in the Poleskastraße on February 15, 1975, on Saturday evening, the day of remembrance of the Holy Faustyn, Patron Saint Faustina Kowalska of. His remains are located in the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Bialystok.

Father Sopoćko was beatified in Bialystok on 28 September 2008.