Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Maria Restituta

The Basics: Born May 1, 1894, in what is now the Czech Republic; died March 30, 1943, in Austria; beatified June 21, 1998, by John Paul II; feast day, October 29. Woman religious, surgical nurse. The Story: It certainly wasn’t safe to say no to the Nazis in Austria in the 1940s. But that didn’t concern this… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Maria Restituta

Defending the Communion of Saints

While I was out and about speaking on the women saints and blesseds this week, a woman asked a question. In essence, she wanted to know why anyone should care about a bunch of people who lived a long time ago, especially a bunch of people no one had ever heard of. I found the… Continue reading Defending the Communion of Saints

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Laura of St. Catherine of Siena

The Basics: Born May 26, 1874, in Colombia; died October 21, 1949, in Colombia; canonized May 12, 2013, by Pope Francis; feast day, October 21. Woman religious, teacher. The Story: It was not an easy early life. Laura Montoya y Upegui’s father died in a civil war when she was just two, leaving the family of three… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Laura of St. Catherine of Siena

Wednesday’s Woman: St. Teresa of Avila

The Basics: Born March 28, 1515, in Spain; died October 4, 1582, in Spain; canonized March 12, 1622, by Pope Gregory XV; feast day, October 15. Woman religious, author, Doctor of the Church. The Story: Today marks the beginning of Teresa’s fifth centenary year. What a life it was, one that confounds any stereotypical pigeonholing, one of… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Teresa of Avila