During World War II, Rubin was arrested and interned in a forced labour camp, joining the Polish Army after his release.

Ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Rémy-Louis Leprêtre, OFM, on 30 June 1946, he then did pastoral work with Polish refugees in Lebanon until 1949.

Rubin furthered his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1949 to 1953, when he resumed his pastoral ministry among Polish refugees, this time in Italy.

He received his episcopal consecration on the following 29 November from Cardinal Wyszyński, with Archbishop Karol Wojtyła and Bishop Stefan Bareła serving as co-consecrators, in the church of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale.

Rubin was elevated to a cardinal priest, with the same titular church, on 26 November 1990, but died two days later in Vatican City, at age 73.