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The Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth was Franciszka Siedliska (12.11.1842 - 21.11.1902), a Pole, coming from the wealthy family of a gentleman with patriotic traditions; she was beatified under the monastic name MarY of Jesus the Good Shepherd by the Holy Father John Paul II in April 23, 1989.
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Beginnings of the Congregation were very difficult but the heroic faith and the confidence of the Foundress triumphed after all. Soon the Congregation settled permanently in Rome having a small group of candidates already. Sisters devoted themselves to catechizing of children, teaching proselytes and leading retreats for women.
The life of Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd is epitomizing the motto "Thy will be done" which she chose for herself and handed over to her sisters. She drew her spiritual power from total immersion in God and of Love for his Will. She believed that the true holiness' base is fulfilling God's Will and that a different road to the excellence didn't exist.
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First community of the Congregation
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Came into existence in the Rome in 1875, where Franciszka Siedliska, as she wrote herself, went "desiring some visible sign of the will of Lord Jesus", and in order to introduce to the Holy Father Pius IX to the plan of establishing the institute. She made the beginning of this work conditional on his permission and the blessing. The Holy Father blest and he wrote a handwritten letter: "May God bless you and enlightening your minds so that you can walk with roads of the Lord. The Pope Pius IX. October 1, 1873".
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Mother Mary unreservedly surrendered herself to her spiritual daughters. When new candidates flowed into the Congregation, in 1881 she opened a house in Cracow, Poland.
In 1885 she sent eleven sisters to the United States where a great number of Polish immigrants required presence and help of nuns. In 1891 she opened a house in Paris, in France, and in 1895 in London, England. Gradually, the hardships she suffered weakened her health. Exhausted with the superhuman effort she died on the feast of the Offertory of the Virgin Mary, on November 12, 1902, in Rome. She left to the Congregation in the legacy her entire life, the Covenant of Love she wrote, letters and her last conference to sisters, during which she was talking about her favourite subject: mutual love.
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Prayer to obtain a grace through the intercession of Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd |
O Most Blessed Trinity, we praise and thank you for the example your servant, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, by imitating the life and virtues of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Grant us the grace we ask through her intercession for your greater glory, for the sanctification of souls and for the extension of your kingdom on earth. Amen.
Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd
pray for us
If you receive a grace through the intercession of Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, please contact the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, on the address of The Generalate or Provincial Houses.
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S i s t e r s o f t h e H o l y F a m i l y o f N a z a r e t h
Via Nazareth, 400 00166 Rome, Italy Tel (+39) 06.624.0929 Fax (+39) 06.624.1295 Email: info@generalate.org
_________________________ .:: © 2006 CSFN All rights reserved. Tutti diritti riservati. Wszystkie prawa zastrzezone ::. _________________________
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