The Basics: Born September 17, 1830, in Germany; died February 6, 1905, in Germany; beatified November 10, 2013; feast day, February 6; woman religious.
The Story: Contemplation vs. faith in action through charity. It’s a choice that many of us face; there never seems to be enough time to do justice to both. Maria Theresia, however, found a balance that worked for her and the Lord. She grew up in a relatively wealthy family, living next door to the local 
Catholic church. She studied with the Ursulines, and felt a vocation. However, her mother objected initially, and so became a lay Franciscan, caring for the sick in private homes and hospitals.
When Maria Theresia was in her early thirties, her mother gave her blessing to the daughter’s hopes to become part of a religious community. This led to the founding of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, based on a passion for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and on service in the way of St. Francis of Assisi.
Maria Theresia was honored by the Red Cross and by the royal family for the sisters’ work in particular during the Franco-Prussian War in the early 1870s. However, persecution of the Church followed the war’s end, and the congregation was prohibited from taking in new members. Maria Theresia felt a call to expand, and in 1875, accompanied six of the sisters to the United States, where they established themselves initially in Lafayette, Indiana, setting up hospitals and schools. She made two more trips to the United States before her death in 1905. (The community had been allowed to add members in Germany again in 1883). The congregation continues to practice its blend of contemplation and service today in the United States, Germany, Brazil, and the Philippines.
Maria Theresia’s Wisdom: “When our hearts are at peace, then our actions will also be peaceful.”
What We Can Learn from Maria Theresia: Sometimes, what God asks of us is not an either-or, but a both-and. Pray for the wisdom to recognize how He calls you to find balance in what He desires of you.
To Learn More About Maria Theresia: Her congregation’s web site provides a wonderful photo gallery and more information about Maria Theresia’s beatification. A lengthier biography can be found at the site of the congregation’s Immaculate Heart of Mary Province. Or, learn more about her at a site dedicated to her.
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.
