Feast Day: June 6
Birth: 1865
Death: 1935
Beatified: Pope John Paul II
Maria Karlowska (1865-1935) was a Polish nun, founder of the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd.
Maria was the 11th child in a pious family and had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart. Following the death of her parents in 1882, Maria worked in her sister's tailor and embroidery shop, where she met a prostitute. Maria came to understand that her mission was to work for the moral and social rehabilitation of prostitutes and to tend to those suffering from venereal diseases. Her ministry attracted a number of like-minded women. Together they founded the Good Shepherd Sisters in 1894. Maria developed the constitution and the ascetic book on educational and practical practices are the same as the sisters use today. In 1902, she added a fourth religious vow – the vow of consecration to help people who are morally lost. The same year she founded the Good Shepherd Sisters (1894), with financial help from Duchess Aniela Poluticka, Maria established the Good Shepherd Institute in Winiary (near Poznán) to care for prostitutes. Both Prussian and Polish civil authorities commended Karlowska's work, which continues today in seven Polish educational institutions for girls and women, three homes for single mothers, and a rehabilitation center. Karlowska's cause for beatification started in 1965. She was declared venerable on July 11, 1995, and on March 8, 1997, a miracle attributed to her intercession was approved. She was beatified by John Paul II on June 6 1997 (Feast of the Sacred Heart), at Wielka Krokiew Arena, Zakopane (near Kraków), Poland.
“She worked as a true Samaritan among women suffering great material and moral deprivation. Her devotion to the Savior’s Sacred Heart bore fruit in a great love for people. Thanks to this love, she restored many souls to the light of Christ and helped them to retain their lost dignity.” ~Pope John Paul II during the beatification ceremony
“Make Christ more visible than we ourselves.” ~ Blessed Maria
From: catholic.org, encyclopedia.com, and scrc.org
