Blessed Malgorzata Szewczyk

Biography

Blessed Malgorzata Szewczyk, also known as Sister Lucja, Margherita Lucia Szewczyk, and the Mother of the Poor and Orphans, was born around 1828 in Szepetówka, Khmelnytskyi, Russian Empire (in modern Ukraine). She came from a deeply religious family but tragically lost both of her parents at a young age, with her father passing away when she was seven and her mother when she was nine. Despite this hardship, Malgorzata found solace and strength in her faith, particularly in the Eucharist, which would become the centerpiece of her spiritual life.

At the age of 20, Malgorzata became a Franciscan tertiary, making her initial vows on 24 August 1878. She became a spiritual student of Blessed Honorat Kozminski around 1880 and was deeply influenced by his teachings and example. Inspired by her own experience of suffering and loss, Malgorzata felt a calling to care for the sick and neglected elderly women. She began her personal ministry by opening her doors to homeless women, allowing them to move in with her.

Her selfless work soon attracted other women who wished to join her in this important mission. Alongside Blessed Honorat, Malgorzata organized these women into a religious congregation known as the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God, also known as the Seraphic Sisters. The congregation was formally founded on 18 April 1881, with Malgorzata taking on the name Sister Lucja.

In 1891, Sister Lucja moved to the Galicia region of eastern Europe and established a monastery in Oswiecim, Poland. This monastery served as the motherhouse of the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God and also became a hub for caring for abandoned and sick individuals, orphans, and providing religious education. Sister Lucja's compassionate and dedicated work led to the growth of the congregation, which continues its charitable efforts to this day, with hundreds of Sisters serving in numerous houses.

Sister Lucja's commitment to helping others extended beyond Poland. She spent two years in the Holy Land, where she cared for sick pilgrims, embodying her belief that service should reach every corner of the world.

Blessed Malgorzata Szewczyk was known for her profound humility, unwavering faith, and extraordinary dedication to the most vulnerable members of society. Her tireless efforts brought her recognition, and on 3 March 1953, Pope Pius XII granted the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God full pontifical approval.

Blessed Malgorzata Szewczyk lived a life of heroic virtue, and her reputation for holiness only continued to grow after her death. She passed away on 5 June 1905 in the convent in Nieszawa, Aleksandrów, Poland, at the age of around 77. Her cause for sainthood was officially opened, and on 19 December 2011, Pope Benedict XVI declared her venerable, recognizing her heroic virtues.

The beatification process reached its culmination on 9 June 2013, when Pope Francis beatified Malgorzata Szewczyk. The beatification recognition ceremony was celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Amato at the Sanktuarium Bozego Milosierdzia in Kraków-Lagiewniki, Poland. The beatification miracle attributed to her intercession involved the 1975 cure of severe pneumonia in a nun.

Blessed Malgorzata Szewczyk, known for her deep faith, selflessness, and unwavering dedication to those in need, continues to inspire countless individuals with her life and work. Her legacy lives on through the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God, who exemplify her spirit of compassion and service.