Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Maria Angela Astorch

The Basics: Born September 1, 1592, in Spain; died December 2, 1665, in Spain; beatified May 23, 1982, by John Paul II; feast day, December 2. Mystic, woman religious. The Story: Maria Angela is called the breviary mystic because it was through the liturgy that she had her closest encounters with Christ. Legend has it that she… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Maria Angela Astorch

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Gaetana Sterni

The Basics: Born June 26, 1827, in Italy; died November 26, 1889, in Italy; beatified November 4, 2001, by John Paul II; feast day, November 26. Caregiver, woman religious. The Story: Gaetana never lived more than five miles from her birthplace in northeast Italy. But even if her locale changed little, her early life was full of… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Gaetana Sterni

Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska

The Basics: Born November 20, 1869, in Ukraine; died April 7, 1919, in Ukraine; beatified June 27, 2001, by John Paul II; feast day, November 20. Woman religious. The Story: The late 19th century was a time of rapid growth for the city of Lviv in western Ukraine. But in rural areas, there was much poverty and… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Frances Cabrini

The Basics: Born July 15, 1850, in Italy; died December 22, 1917, in Chicago; canonized July 7, 1946, by Pius XII; feast day, November 13. Woman religious, social worker. The Story: Frances was quite sure she was meant to be a missionary, taking the Word of God beyond her homeland. At age thirty, she was among the… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Frances Cabrini