The Basics: Born August 5, 1878, in Poland; died September 23, 1940, in Poland; beatified June 6, 1997, by John Paul II; feast day, September 23. Woman religious.
The Story: Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal. Catholic history is full of strong working relationships between priests and women religious. This is one of those stories. In 1891, Brother Albert (born as Adam Chmielowski) had established the 
Congregation of Albertine Sisters to served the poorest of the poor women and children as a counterpart to the Albertine Brothers congregation he had founded a few years earlier. When Bernardina determined she was called to become an Albertine, there were two major obstacles: her father opposed her decision, and once she saw what true poverty in the large city of Krakow looked like, she wondered about the wisdome of her decision. Nonetheless, she persevered, and when she was twenty-third, Brother Albert named her the first official superior general of the Albertine Sisters, a role she would hold until her death thirty-eight years later. The Sisters continue Albert and Bernardina’s work in more than half a dozen countries in North America, Europe, and South America.
Bernardina’s Wisdom: “The suffering of my neighbor is my own.”
What We Can Learn from Bernardina: What decision are you reconsidering? Change is always difficult, especially at first. Pray for direction before you abandon a recent undertaking that is fostering doubts about your abilities.
To Learn More About Bernardina: Visit the Albertine Sisters’ site for her biography and to learn more about the congregation.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my books, Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith or Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
