Thursday, 11 February 2016 11:15

Stations of St. Ursula's life


1865

Julia is born in Loosdorf, in Lower Autria, as the second of the seven children of Anthony and Josephine Salis-Zizers.

1883
The Ledóchowski Family moves to Lipnica Murowana, near Cracow in Poland.

1886
Julia enters the Ursuline Order in Cracow, known for its deep spirituality, as well as for teaching and educating girls both from local communities and from far-away places in Galicia and Russia.

1904
Sister Ursula is elected Mother Superior of the Convent.

1907
With the blessing of Pius X, she goes to Petersburg accompanied by two sisters - to administer St. Catherine's boarding high school for girls.

1908
A growing community of the sisters living the religious life in secrecy becomes an autonomous convent in Petersburg with Mother Ursula as its superior. Future Ursulines prepare for religious life in an underground novitiate.

1910
To realize Mother Ursula's ideological ideas, a convent and a boarding high school for girls are established on Finnish Bay.

1914
The outbreak of the war of 1914 causes Mother Ursula's exile from Russia. She stops over in Scandinavia – first in Stockholm and next in Denmark. Gradually she transfers here the sisters from war-affected Petersburg in order to organize with them a school for Scandinavian girls.

In addition, she devotes her time to the local Church and community, and gets involved in the activities of the committee established in Switzerland by Henryk Sienkiewicz to give help to the victims of the War in Poland.

1920
The Petersburg Ursuline Community returns to independent Poland and settles in Pniewy near Poznań. It soon receives permission from the Apostolic See to be transformed into the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus (Grey Ursulines).

From an old root sprouts a new branch. It is to live according to the Ursuline spirituality and its tradition of being involved in education, as a privileged instrument of evangelization, as well as seeking various ways of responding to current needs, especially those of the poor. The Congregation quickly develops under Mother Ursula's direction. New convents and endeavours in Poland, as well as missions at the Eastern Borderland, are established. New houses are also being opened in Italy in 1928 and in France in 1930, where the sisters accompany young women going to France to earn their living.

Mother Ursula tells the sisters to love God above all, and to live a life of simplicity, humility, self-sacrifice and creativity in serving others, especially children and youth. She regards smiling, serenity and kindness as the most credible witness of being united with Christ and the most influential means used in evangelization and education. She teaches that holiness is accessible to everyone and is based on deep love of God and others, shown in performance of everyday duties.

She travels much visiting the various communities of the order and accepting new requests for the work of the sisters. She holds in high regard the role of organizations which are helpful in catechesis and religious education. Among others, she transfers to Poland the Eucharistic Crusaders (known today as the Eucharistic Movement of Youth). She publishes magazines for children and youth, herself submitting some of the articles. Among all her duties she finds time to write books for children. She actively participates in the religious, cultural and social life of the country and receives high awards from the State. She burns with love for Jesus Christ and that love is the source of Her incentive in whatever she does. She loves everyone regardless of creed, personal convictions and status.

1939
After her death in Rome on May 29, 1939, those who knew her said, „A saint has passed away!”

1983
On June 20, Pope John Paul II beatifies Mother Ursula in Poznan. This was the first beatification on Polish soil.

1989
Bl. Ursula's incorrupt body is transferred from Rome to Pniewy and laid in the chapel at the Motherhouse.

2002
A decree on the confirmation of a miracle through the intercession of Blessed Ursula closes the Canonization Process.

2003
On May 18 Pope John Paul II canonizes Mother Ursula Ledóchowska in Rome.

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