Blessed Jadwiga Karolina Zak

Biography

Blessed Jadwiga Karolina Zak, also known as Hedvig Karolina Zak and Sister Maria Imelda of the Eucharistic Jesus, was a professed religious sister and martyr of the Catholic Church. She was born on 27 December 1892 in Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Poland, to a devout Catholic family.

On 13 May 1911, Jadwiga Karolina Zak joined the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, taking the name Maria Imelda of the Eucharistic Jesus. She dedicated her life to serving God and others, embracing the religious life with great fervor and commitment.

Sister Maria Imelda worked as a school teacher, sharing her knowledge and faith with the students in her care. Besides her profession, she was noted for her intense spiritual life and her ability to lead others spiritually in the lay community.

In 1936, Sister Maria Imelda relocated to Nowogródek, where she continued her work and spiritual endeavors. However, the region was under Nazi occupation during World War II, and she soon became a victim of their brutality.

Tragically, on 1 August 1943, Sister Maria Imelda of the Eucharistic Jesus was machine-gunned by a firing squad outside Novogrudok (Nowogródek) in Nazi-occupied Belarus. Her martyrdom was a testament to her unwavering faith and dedication to upholding the values of Christianity even in the face of persecution.

Sister Maria Imelda was buried in a common grave on the site of her execution. Fortunately, her grave was located by her surviving sister, Maria Malgorzata Banas, on 19 March 1945. Maria Malgorzata diligently tended to the grave until her own death in 1966.

Later, the relics of Blessed Jadwiga Karolina Zak were re-interred in a common sarcophagus in the chapel of the Novograd Farny Church (the Church of the Transfiguration), also known as Biala Fara or the White Church. Her resting place became a site of veneration and devotion for the faithful.

In recognition of her martyrdom and her exemplary life, Blessed Jadwiga Karolina Zak was venerated by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1999 with a decree of martyrdom. Later, on 5 March 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified her in Rome, Italy, acknowledging her as a blessed of the Catholic Church.

Through her life of dedication, faith, and martyrdom, Blessed Jadwiga Karolina Zak serves as an inspiration for all who strive to follow Christ with unwavering devotion and love. Her memory continues to be honored, and her intercession sought, as a model of holiness and courageous witness to the Gospel.