Dear byzanTN,
I agree with you!
But my ancestor, Count Auguste Jablonowsky, was given a title by the Polish King for his bravery in fighting the Turks.
Afterwards, he always ploughed the fields WITH his servants, ate with them and avoided parties with the well-heeled aristocrats.
And he spent his life in piety and he contributed toward a chapel at the shrine of the Black Madonna in Poland (that exists to this day). His best friend was count Myron Pototsky who spent his fortune on the Lavra of the Pochaiv Mother of God (and is given silent mention in the Akathist to the Pochaiv Mother of God!)
My grandmother's family considered their old roots as something that demanded of them greater service to Church and community.
She had 14 married priests in her family, all with doctorates, and all serving the Church in various capacities.
She married a priest and had seven children with him, working hard with parishioners at all times.
Her father was a priest and he died at a young age after working physically all day in constructing a new parish church.
He got a bad flu one night and died the next morning.
Her mother spent the remaining years of her life on the pension procured by Met. Andrew Sheptytsky, looking after her grandchildren and praying ceaselessly.
I was named after her.
She was a true aristocrat of the spirit.
I'm proud of the Jablonowsky crest as it bears the Cross Patee and the Cross of St Andrews' as well as the Cross of Lorraine.
Alex
