Memorial of St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Brief Background:

St. Josaphat (c. 1580–1623) is honored as the patron saint of Christian unity, particularly between the Eastern and Western Churches. Born in what is now Ukraine, he devoted his life to healing divisions within Christianity and fostering reconciliation among believers. Because of his tireless efforts to bring the Orthodox and Catholic Churches into communion, he is also recognized as a patron of ecumenism and of the Ukrainian people, whose faith and culture he deeply loved. His witness continues to inspire those who work for understanding, peace, and unity within the Body of Christ.

REFLECTION:

One of the gifts we often pray for as priests is the gift of listening and understanding. In the confessional, much of our ministry is not in speaking, but in listening—listening to the hurts of the heart, the burdens of conscience, and the longing for peace. Yet it is not enough simply to hear; we must also strive to understand where a person is coming from—to discern the root of sin or struggle, and to respond with patience and compassion. The same is true in our daily ministry: we listen to frustrations, to new ideas, and to the hopes and fears of those we serve. True listening seeks to understand the person behind the words.

The Book of Wisdom begins today’s passage with a strong invitation: “Hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth’s expanse! Give ear, you who rule over multitudes” (Wis 6:1–2). These words were written to rulers and leaders, but they speak also to every one of us who has influence over others—parents guiding their children, teachers shaping young hearts, supervisors leading teams, and parishioners who build up the community. God reminds us that with every role of responsibility comes the sacred call to listen with humility and act with justice. “Because authority was given you by the Lord and sovereignty by the Most High” (Wis 6:3).

How often in life do we speak before we listen, or react before we understand? We may raise our complaints or opinions, yet forget to pause long enough to hear the fuller story or the reason behind a decision. The same happens in our prayer life: we tell God all that we need, yet become discouraged when He seems silent. But perhaps the silence is not absence—it is an invitation to listen and understand more deeply, to see that His answer may be unfolding in a different way.

The life of St. Josaphat, whose memory we honor today, reflects this call to hear and understand. As a bishop in a time of deep division between East and West, he listened first to the voice of Christ, who prayed “that all may be one.” His ministry was marked not by argument, but by dialogue and sacrifice. He gave his life seeking unity in the Church—an act that required both courageous leadership and deep understanding. St. Josaphat teaches us that listening is not weakness; it is strength rooted in love.



May we, too, learn to hear as God hears—to listen with our hearts, to understand before judging, and to lead those entrusted to us with mercy and truth. For as the Scripture reminds us, “Those who keep the holy precepts will be found holy, and those who have learned them will have a ready defense” (Wis 6:10). May our listening and understanding become the path through which God’s wisdom rules our hearts.