Blessed Cecilia Schelingová

Biography

Blessed Cecilia Schelingová, also known as Zdenka Schelingová, was born on 25 December 1916 in the village of Krivá na Orave, in the ≈Ωilinsk√Ω kraj region of Slovakia. She was one of ten children born to Pavol Schelingová and Zuzana Pániková. From a young age, Zdenka displayed a remarkable piety and felt a strong calling to religious life.

At the age of 15, Zdenka sought admission to the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Holy Cross. On 30 January 1937, she made her first vows and took the name Zdenka, dedicating her life to serving God and others. She received her basic education locally and later pursued studies in nursing and radiology.

Zdenka began her nursing career at a hospital in Humenné before being transferred to Bratislava. It was during this time that the Communist regime seized power in Czechoslovakia and initiated a systematic persecution of the Church and its members. Despite the dangerous circumstances, Zdenka continued her work in radiology and attended to the medical needs of persecuted priests, who were often tortured and arrested for their faith.

In early 1952, Zdenka demonstrated extraordinary bravery when she helped a condemned priest escape from a certain death sentence in Siberia. Her courageous actions did not go unnoticed, and on 29 February 1952, she attempted to assist three priests and three seminarians in their escape. Regrettably, she was unsuccessful in this endeavor and was subsequently arrested by the Communist authorities.

Following her arrest, Zdenka endured a prolonged period of imprisonment characterized by regular beatings and torture. She was transferred between several prisons, and her wounds were deliberately left untreated, causing her great physical suffering. Despite the immense agony she endured, Zdenka remained unwavering in her faith.

After three years of captivity, Zdenka was unexpectedly released from prison on 16 April 1955, nine years prior to the completion of her original sentence. It is believed that the authorities feared she would die in their custody. However, upon her release, Zdenka faced further difficulties as she encountered police harassment, which prevented her from returning to her congregation's motherhouse or resuming her nursing profession.

Despite the hardships she faced, Zdenka's faith remained steadfast until the end. Unfortunately, her health had been severely compromised due to the physical abuse she endured during her imprisonment. Tragically, Zdenka passed away a few months after her release, on 31 July 1955, in Trnava, Slovakia. Her body may have succumbed to the effects of the abuse, but her spirit remained loyal and unwavering in her commitment to Christ.

Blessed Cecilia Schelingová's dedication to serving others, her extraordinary courage in the face of persecution, and her unwavering faith made her a true witness to the Gospel. Recognizing her martyrdom, Pope John Paul II venerated her on 7 July 2003 and, on 14 September 2003, beatified her during a solemn ceremony in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. Today, she is celebrated on her feast day, 31 July, and serves as an inspiration to all those who endure suffering for the sake of their faith.