Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska
(FranciscanMedia) Today we celebrate the life a woman who submitted to God’s will throughout her life.
Born Sophia Camille Truskowska prematurely on the 16 May, 1825 in Poland Kalisz, according to The Franciscan Family she was the eldest of 7 children. With care and love of her family, she grew up to be a lively, inquisitive child and observant of all people and events around her.
As a young girl, Sophia contracted tuberculosis, this forced a period of convalescence and gave her ample time for silent reflection and this is where she developed a spirit of contemplative prayer.
Sophia felt called to serve God by working with the poor, including street children and the elderly homeless in Poland Warsaw’s slums–In time, her cousin Clothilde Ciechanowska joined her in the work.
On 21 November, 1855 the two Women made private vows and consecrated themselves to the Blessed Virgin Mother. In this simple ceremony, the first Felician community came into existence–this date has remained the official founding date of the ‘Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice’ and became known as the Felician Sisters.
As their numbers grew, so did their work and so did the pressures on ‘Mother Angela’ –the name Sophia took in her religious life.
Mother Angela served as Superior for many years, until her health forced her to resign at the age of 44, she watched the Order of the ‘Felician Sisters’ grow and expand, including missions to the United States among the Sons & Daughters of Polish immigrants.
Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1993 at St. Peter’s Square and said that, “Blessed Mary Angela’s life was marked with love, she was concerned about all people, those hungry for bread, the heartbroken, the homeless and those hungering for the truth of the Gospel.”
Related: Felician Sisters Beginnings