Klara Ludwika Szczęsna

Klara Ludwika Szczęsna (1863-1916)

Klara Ludwika Szczęsna [ klara ludˈvʲika ˈʂt͡ʂɛ̃snɨ ] (born July 18, 1863 in Cieszki , Poland ; † February 7, 1916 in Krakow , Poland) was a Roman Catholic religious and co-founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the Catholic Church she is venerated as a blessed.

Life

Ludwika was born in 1863 as the sixth of seven children of Antoni Szczęsny and Franciszka Skorupska. On July 24, 1863, she was baptized in the nearby parish of St. Andrew the Apostle in Lubowidz . In her childhood she did not go to school but was tutored by her mother at home. The family moved to the small town of Borczyny in the early 1870s . Her mother died there on September 25, 1875. The mother's death was probably an experience that made her recognize her vocation to the spiritual life, since at this time she began to pray more and to venerate the Blessed Mother more. Four months after her mother's death, her father married his second wife, Antonina Więckowska, who was only eighteen.

Her father wanted to arrange a wedding for Ludwika in 1880 at the age of 17. But Ludwika contradicted his plans and informed him of his plans to become a nun. She left her parents' home and went to Mława , where she made her living as a tailor. In August 1885 she took part in a retreat in Zakroczym , which was led by the Capuchin Father Honorat Koźmiński . The encounter with Father Honorat was crucial for her future life as he encouraged her in her desire to dedicate her life to God. On December 8, 1886, Ludwika entered the community of the Servants of Jesus, founded in 1884 by Father Honorat Koźmiński and Eleonora Motylowska, and began the novitiate in Warsaw. After the novitiate year and the promise of loyalty, she took her first vow on December 8th, 1889, but it was only of private nature, since the community belonged to the Third Order of St. Francis was not yet an independent congregation. Then she became superior in a community house in Lublin . There she continued to work as a tailor.

When in 1893 Father Honorat was asked by the priest Józef Sebastian Pelczar for sisters who were to run a house for maids and needy women in Krakow, Sister Ludwika and Sister Faustyna Rostkowska were selected for this task.

Inspired by the meeting with Józef Sebastian Pelczar, Sister Ludwika decided to found a new congregation with him. With the permission of Bishop Albin Dunajewski , the two founded the Congregation of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 15, 1894.

Ludwika herself became the first superior of the new community, but now she took the religious name Klara. On July 2, 1895, Sister Clare made her perpetual profession and also became a novice master. On the same day the foundation stone for a monastery building was laid. Eight days later, four other sisters made temporary vows.

On December 28, 1907, Sister Klare was elected Superior General of the community. On March 19, 1912, the community was recognized by the Holy See and at the General Chapter on December 27, 1913, Clare was confirmed as Superior General.

At this time the congregation continued to grow and took on new areas of responsibility. In addition to caring for servants, workers and the sick at home, there were work in hospitals and schools, sewing courses and religious instruction in small villages that did not have a priest.

Sister Clare was the superior of the community for 22 years. On February 7, 1916, she died of a lung tumor. She was buried in the Rakowicki cemetery.

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  Grave of Blessed Clare Ludwika Szczęsna in the Generalate of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Krakow

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  Exterior view of the chapel at the Generalate of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Krakow

beatification

Sanctuary of St. Pope John Paul II in Krakow

The process of beatification began in 1994 and was completed in 1996 at the diocesan level. The positio was given to the Congregation for the Canonizations in 2002.

On December 20, Pope Benedict XVI signed the decree on the heroic degree of virtue and gave her the title Venerable Servant of God.

The miracle necessary for beatification was recognized by Pope Francis by decree on June 5, 2015.

On September 27, 2015, Sister Clare was beatified by Cardinal Angelo Amato in the Krakow Sanctuary of John Paul II on behalf of the Pope .

Remembrance day

Her feast day in the liturgy of the Church is the anniversary of her death, February 7th .

Web links

• - Biography of Klara Ludwika Szczęsna on the homepage of the Congregation (pol.)
• - Biography of Klara Ludwika Szczęsna on santiebeati.it (ital.)