Ignacy Posadzy

Ignacy Posadzy was born on February 17, 1898 in Szadłowice to Jakub and Katarzyna Posadzy. In 1905 he took part in a children's strike, protesting against the attempt to require the use of the German language in religion classes. From 1908 he attended the Jan Kasprowicz gymnasium in Inowrocław. In 1917, after passing the matura, he entered the Catholic Seminary in Poznań. During World War I, he continued his studies in Münster and Fulda. After the war ended, he completed his studies in Gniezno and Poznań.

He first encountered the plight of Polish emigrants when he was studying in Germany. He witnessed the struggles of seasonal workers, particularly those from the Russian partisan of Poland.

On February 19, 1921, Ignacy Posadzy was ordained a priest by bishop Wilhelm Kloske in the Gniezno Cathedral. After ordination he was a parochial vicar at Poznań Fara. He later served as prefect of the Teacher's Seminary in Poznań. He also served as co-editor of the monthly publications "Biblioteka Kaznodziejska" and "Wiadomości dla Duchowieństwa".

In 1929, at the request of the Primate of Poland Cardinal August Hlond, Ignacy Posadzy traveled to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina to familiarize himself with the struggles of the Polish communities in those countries. In 1932, Card. Hlond entrusted Ignacy Posadzy with the establishment of a new religious order, the Society of Christ. Ignacy Posadzy was the order's first novice. After his profession of vows, he became its first Superior General. He served as Superior General of the order until 1968.

Following a suggestion Card. Hlond once gave him, in 1958, he founded another religious order, the Missionary Sisters of Christ the King.

Ignacy Posadzy died on January 17, 1984 in Puszczykowo. He was buried at the Society of Christ's burial plot at the Miłostowo cemetery in Poznań. In 2007, his body was exhumed as part of the ongoing cause for beatification. His remains are now interned in a chapel at the Society of Christ's headquarters in Poznań.

On June 16, 1999, in a letter to the Archbishop of Poznań, the Superior General of the Society of Christ formally requested to open a cause for the beatification of Ignacy Posadzy. May 23, 2000, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints issued a nihil obstat allowing the cause to be opened. On January 17, 2001, a ceremony at the Poznań Cathedral marked the beginning of the beatification process on the diocesan level in which evidence of Ignacy Posadzy's heroic virtue would be gathered. On January 12, 2007, Ignacy Posadzy's earthy remains were exhumated and identified. They were interned later in a chapel at the headquarters of the Society of Christ. On May 6, 2009, the diocesan investigation was completed and a report was prepared for submission to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. On June 19, 2009, the report and its related documents were submitted. On September 3, 2009, the Congregation issued a decree allowing the cause to proceed to its next phase in Rome. On November 23, 2009, the Holy See began its review of the submitted report. After reviewing the report, the Congregation issued a decree validating the diocesan investigation and granting Ignacy Posadzy the title of Servant of God. On June 21, 2018 the postulator of the cause Fr. Bogusław Kozioł SChr submitted the Positio super vita, virtutibus et fama sanctitatis. The cause is now awaiting the Congregation to complete its review of the Positio.