Thursday, May 29, 2014

May 29: Saint Julia Maria Ledóchowska


Mother Ursula (Saint Julia
Maria Ledóchowska) in 1907

History

She was born in Austria, but her dad was Polish and her mom was Swiss, and they moved to Poland when she was young. Julia was fortunate to grow up in a family devoted to Christ. Shortly before he died, her father gave Julia his blessing to join the Ursuline sisters, where she became a teacher. She was sent to Russia to open a boarding school and became Mother Ursula. But at the beginning of World War I, she was expelled from Russia and went to Sweden After the war, Mother Ursula and her sisters brought dozens of orphans back to Poland. She started her own branch of the Ursulines called the Ursuline Sisters of the Heart of Jesus in Agony.

Activity

For people who had lost homes, family members and jobs because of the war, Mother Ursula and her sisters were almost like angels, providing practical help as well as spiritual support. Today, make these Polish “Angel Wing” cookies – they are very simple and light, and they cook on top of the stove.

Saint Julia Maria Ledóchowska, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Polish Ursuline Community
Catholic Online

SPECIAL NOTE: Today is a Holy Day of Obligation in most dioceses, the Feast of the Ascension! So make sure you go to Mass and make sure you feast, even if the celebration was moved to Sunday where you live (then you can celebrate twice).

No comments:

Post a Comment