The Basics: Born about 1810 in Brazil; died June 14, 1895, in Brazil; beatified May 4, 2013; feast day, June 14; social worker. The Story: To many, Francisca was a nobody, a cipher. Her parents weren’t married, and the child was born into slavery and poverty, joining a half-brother who had a different father. She was… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Francisca de Paula de Jesus
Tag: women saints
Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Zofia Czeska-Maciejowska
The Basics: Born in 1584 in Poland; died in 1650 in Poland; beatified June 9, 2013, by Francis; feast day, April 1; woman religious and educator. The Story: At the age of thirty, Zofia found herself widowed and without parents. As part of his will, her father left her a share of a family house in… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Zofia Czeska-Maciejowska
Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Seraphina
The Basics: Born in 1238 in Italy; died March 12, 1253 in Italy; never formally canonized; feast day, March 12; laywoman. The Story: Seraphina’s early years were much like those of other girls in the town of San Gimignano. She was born into a family of the nobility that had fallen into hard times. The child… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Seraphina
Wednesday’s Woman: St. Etheldreda
The Basics: Born 630 in England; died 679 in England; canonized precongregation; feast day, June 23; noblewoman and woman religious. The Story: Etheldreda’s relatively short life was full of intrigue and conflict. The daughter of a ruling-class family (four of her sisters, including Withburga, also are saints), her first husband agreed to her condition of virginity,… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Etheldreda