Blessed Sancja Szymkowiak

Biography

Blessed Sancja Szymkowiak, also known as Maria Sancja, was born on July 10, 1910, in Mozdzanów, Wielkopolskie, Poland. She was the youngest of five children and the only daughter of Augustine and Mary Duchalska. From a young age, Sancja displayed a strong dedication to her faith and a desire to help others.

After completing her high school education, Sancja went on to study languages and foreign literature at the University of Poznan in Poland. During this time, she became a member of the Sodality of Mary, where she developed a reputation for her genuine interest in anyone and everyone who had a problem. She also actively engaged in working with the poor, demonstrating her care and compassion for those in need.

Early on, Sancja felt a calling to religious life and sought to fulfill her desires during a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France in the summer of 1934. It was during this pilgrimage that she surrendered herself to the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Afterward, Sancja spent a year with the Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart at Montluçon, France.

In June 1936, Sancja returned to Poznan and joined the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God, also known as the Seraphic Franciscan Sisters. Taking the name Maria Sancja, she wholeheartedly embraced her religious vocation. Known for her unwavering adherence to her Order's rule, she eagerly volunteered for various forms of service, radiating joy in all she did.

On July 30, 1938, Maria Sancja made her first vows as a consecrated religious. She spent the subsequent year working in the nursery school of Poznan-Naramowice. Additionally, she had begun studying pharmacology, but the outbreak of World War II in September 1939 abruptly ended her studies.

With Poznan under German occupation, the Seraphic Franciscan Sisters were placed under house arrest and subsequently ordered to care for German soldiers and prisoners of war from England and France. Due to her language skills, Sister Sancja became a valuable translator, providing assistance to the prisoners, as well as fulfilling other forced labor requirements imposed by the Germans.

The intense physical and emotional strain of her wartime duties eventually took its toll on Sister Sancja. She contracted tuberculosis, a disease that attacked her pharynx, making breathing and swallowing extremely difficult. However, her faith remained unwavering, and despite her deteriorating health, she was able to make her solemn vows on July 6, 1942.

Tragically, Sister Sancja's condition continued to worsen, and just a few weeks after making her lifelong commitment to her religious order, she passed away on August 29, 1942, in Poznan, Poland.

Recognizing her heroic virtues, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable on December 18, 2000. Later, on August 18, 2002, Pope John Paul II beatified Sister Sancja Szymkowiak during a special ceremony held in Krakow, Poland. Her feast day is celebrated on August 29th each year.

Blessed Sancja Szymkowiak's life exemplifies her profound dedication to God, her selfless service to others, and her unwavering faith amidst challenging circumstances. She continues to inspire many with her example of love, compassion, and humble devotion to the Catholic Church.