Peter Semenenko
| Fr. Piotr Semenenko | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Religion | Catholic |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Born | June 29, 1814 |
| Died | November 18, 1886 (aged 72) |
Piotr Semenenko (June 29, 1814 - November 18, 1886) was a leading Polish theologists of the Roman Catholic Church in the 19th century. He was a catholic priest, co-founder and superior general of the Resurrectionists, where he was the creator of the main spiritual ideas of the Congregation (Resurrectionist School of Spirituality). Philosopher and theologian, he was regarded as one of the most scholarly members of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland in the second part of the 19th century.
He was an author of many philosophical and theological works, as well as on the interior life. He left massive correspondence, as well as a personal diary.
Peter Semenenko was born on June 29, 1814 in Dzięciołowo in north-east Poland. In 1830, he started his studies at the University of Wilno in the Department of Philosophy, but soon interrupted them because he decided to join the November Uprising against Russian invaders. He emigrated to France in 1832. While in Paris, he met Bogdan Jański in 1833, who soon became his spiritual director and master. Under his influence, Semenenko returned to the Catholic faith and became the first member of the “Jański House” in 1836, which was the beginning of the Congregation of the Resurrection.
After the early death of Jański in 1840 in Rome, Semenenko was elected the first superior and spiritual leader of the new community. When he finished his theological studies at the Collegium Romanum (1837–41), he was ordained to the priesthood on December 5, 1841, although not without difficulties from Russian authorities.
As a main co-founder of the order, he wrote the rule of 1842 and was the principal editor of the (1850 - 1880) rules. He also was superior general of the Congregation from 1842-1845 and 1873-1886.
In 1865, he founded and was the first rector of the Polish Pontifical College in Rome. Between 1865-1938, many alumni of the college accepted and adopted Resurrectionist spirituality. Many also went on to become outstanding priests, bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, including some have been beatified and even canonized. E.g. Józef Dąbrowski, St. Józef Sebastian Pelczar, St. Józef Bilczewski.
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