Apostle of the Little Ones...
Vladimir burned
with desire to respond to the call of Jesus. In 1923, at the age of 50,
by special permission from Pope Pius XI who had a great reespect for him,
he was ordained priest. In one of his writings, he put on the lips of his
Divine Master this phrase which sums up his entire priesthood: "0 my priest,
how do you dare to sacrifice Me, truly and entirely, if you have not already
sacrificed yourself truly and entirely?" Thus began a unique, obscure and
splendid cycle of epics. He devoted himself with unimaginable activity to
the service of all souls. Catholic or Orthodox, rich or poor, mystics or
blasphemers would be the friends of this shepherd of royal blood, infatigable
traveller, traversing up to a quarter of the planet to help a single soul..."Don't
try and do a great work on your own," he wrote, "but be a tool of happiness."
He took this "happiness" into the "zone rouge" of the Parisian suburb where
he installed himself in a little railway shed on waste ground in Villejuif.
His heroism and his gentleness did miracles, leading to the foundation of
the parish of Villejuif.
The prince travelled to Japan to found the first Community of Daughters of Charity.
While he was there, he met the Emperor, the "Mikado". . ..