Blessed Maria Karlowska
Blessed Maria Karlowska (Polish: Maria Karłowska; born September 4, 1865 AD in Słupówka, Poland; died March 24, 1935 AD in Pniewite, Poland) was a Polish religious, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd of Providence (Sisters of the Good Shepherd of Divine Providence), dedicated to the moral and spiritual rescue of women and girls who had fallen into prostitution or moral danger. She is venerated as a Blessed of the Church. Her feast day is March 24 (also kept June 6).
Moved by compassion for exploited and fallen women, Maria Karłowska devoted her life to seeking them out, sheltering them, and restoring their dignity and faith, founding a congregation for this "Good Shepherd" work. She was beatified in 1997.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Maria Karlowska
| Blessed Maria Karlowska | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 24 |
| Profession | Religious sister; founder of the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd of Providence |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Sisters of the Divine Shepherd of Providence (Good Shepherd Sisters) |
| Patronage | Women in moral danger; those rescued from exploitation; social workers; Poland |
| Attributes | Religious habit; the Good Shepherd; care of fallen women |
| Birthplace | Słupówka, Poland |
| Death Place | Pniewite, Poland |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; founder of the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd of Providence for the rescue of women; died at Pniewite |
| Primary Shrine | Poland |
Biography
Maria Karłowska was born on September 4, 1865, at Słupówka in Poland (then under Prussian rule), the youngest of many children in a devout family. Trained in dressmaking, she worked and was active in the life of the Church. Through her charitable work she came into contact with women and girls who had fallen into prostitution or were in grave moral and material danger—exploited, despised, and abandoned by society.
Moved by deep compassion, Maria resolved to devote herself entirely to the rescue and restoration of these women. She sought them out where they were, offered them shelter, work, education, and above all love and the possibility of a new life in Christian dignity and faith, in the spirit of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep.
To carry on and expand this work she founded, in 1894, the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd of Providence (Sisters of the Good Shepherd of Divine Providence). The sisters established houses—"Good Shepherd" homes—where rescued women could live, be cared for, learn trades, and be reintegrated into society and the Church. The work spread through the Polish lands despite many difficulties and the hostility or indifference of the surrounding society.
Maria Karłowska died at Pniewite, Poland, on March 24, 1935. She was beatified on June 6, 1997, by Pope John Paul II at Zakopane during his visit to Poland. Her feast is kept on March 24.
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Feast day
March 24
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