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Feast Day: March 24
Birth: April 19, 1875
Death: March 1, 24
Blessed Luczja Heymann, also known as Sister Maria Sapientia, Lucia Emmanuela, was born on 19 April 1875 in Lubiesz, Tuczno, Walcz, Poland. She grew up in a devout Catholic family and from an early age, Luczja felt called to serve God and others. She joined the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth in 1894, dedicating her life to the service of God through the care of the sick and the suffering.
After several years of formation and training, Luczja made her perpetual profession on 2 July 1906, fully committing herself to her vocation as a religious sister. Her compassionate nature and dedication to her chosen path led her to serve as a nurse in Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, and later in Nysa, Poland.
During the tumultuous years of World War II, Blessed Luczja found herself in Nysa, a city in Poland. Near the end of the war, in March 1945, the Soviet Red Army entered the city. Unfortunately, the soldiers, caught up in the chaos and violence of war, committed heinous acts against innocent individuals, including members of the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth.
In an act of great courage and selflessness, Luczja stood up to the soldiers who intended to harm her fellow sisters. She fearlessly confronted them, trying to protect her sisters and prevent them from being violated. Tragically, her heroic efforts were met with violence, and she was shot by the soldiers. Luczja, martyred for her faith and her unwavering commitment to defending the dignity of her sisters, died on 24 March 1945 at the monastery of the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth in Nysa. She was laid to rest in the garden of the Sisters' house, a testament to her sacrifice and devotion.
The life of Blessed Luczja Heymann, marked by her deep faith and dedication to serving others, serves as an inspiration to all who hear her story. Recognizing her extraordinary witness and sacrifice, Pope Francis proclaimed her venerable on 19 June 2021, and on 11 June 2022, she was beatified by Pope Francis, a joyful occasion that celebrated her martyrdom for the sake of Christ and His Church.
Blessed Luczja Heymann, a true model of faith, courage, and love, continues to inspire and intercede for all those in need. Her feast day is celebrated on 24 March, a day to remember her selfless sacrifice and to seek her intercession for strength, protection, and the grace to stand up against injustice. May her life and martyrdom forever remind us of the power of faith and the call to defend the dignity of every human person.