Father Ciszek's Cause For Canonization Coming Closer to Reality

See this article about Father Ciszek, a priest from our diocese (Allentown) who may be beatified, the first step towards canonization.  Briefly, Fr. Ciszek was ministering in the Soviet Union when he was captured and imprisoned by the Russians for over 20 years in brutal conditions near the Arctic circle. I first heard of Father Ciszek when I read his Prayer of Surrender. It meant so much to me because it was a prayer asking God to help us unite our suffering to Christ's for the purpose of His body. This doctrine of redemptive suffering has really resonated with my wife and I and was what initially led Deborah to the Church. The prayer was so important to me, it inspired the composing of my song, The Offering.

"Lord, Jesus Christ, I ask the grace to accept the sadness in my heart, as your will for me, in this moment. I offer it up, in union with your sufferings, for those who are in deepest need of your redeeming grace. I surrender myself to your Father’s will and I ask you to help me to move on to the next task that you have set for me.
Spirit of Christ, help me to enter into a deeper union with you. Lead me away from dwelling on the hurt I feel:
to thoughts of charity for those who need my love, to thoughts of compassion for those who need my care, and to thoughts of giving to those who need my help. As I give myself to you, help me to provide for the salvation of those who come to me in need.
May I find my healing in this giving.
May I always accept God’s will.
May I find my true self by living for others in a spirit of
sacrifice and suffering.
May I die more fully to myself, and live more fully in you. As I seek to surrender to the Father’s will, may I come to trust that he will do everything for me."