Friendship, as has been said, consists in a full commitment of the will to another person with a view to that person's good.
-Pope Saint John Paul II
Friendships feed our souls in a very particular way. During these times of social distancing, fall out from a global pandemic, and the ensuring separation we've experienced from our friends and family, we have a special place to turn to for friendship.
The holy women of our Catholic Faith: the Saints, the venerables, the servants of God. We have reason to believe through the Church's guidance that these multitude of unique, relatable, remarkable women are worshipping before the throne of God, taking our intentions before Him. They want us to join them in Heaven, after all.
The Saints, Our Friends
We've assembled a grouping of a dozen women who fit this description, lived in the last century or so, and span all walks of life from vocation to nearly every continent, to a plethora of challenges they faced. Eleven are lay women!
The complete discussion of their lives and reflections on how they lived the Works of Mercy out is available in our Misericordia study.
Let's get to know our heavenly friends better and allow a beautiful friendship (or friendships!) to blossom.
Find more companionship with our sister Saints
and be inspired by their Works of Mercy in Misericordia!
Blessed Natalia Tulasiewicz
Natalia was born in 1906 in Poland and was a martyr in the Ravensbruck gas chamber in Germany during World War II. She was a single woman, a teacher, and an active leader in the lay apostolate. She was a member of the Polish Underground and volunteered to go along with the prisoners of work camps, intent on bringing them spiritual comfort. She taught them religion, singing, and music!
After a period of time, she was arrested, tortured, and condemned to death when they discovered her mission. Even while enduring torture, she did not feel humiliated by the Germans or tempted to give up her co-conspirators. Her love of God deepened in this unthinkably dark time.
One Good Friday in the camp she stood on a stool in the barracks, extolling the Gospel truths of Jesus dying and rising. On Easter Sunday, she was put to death in the inhumane gas chamber. Ravensbruck was liberated two days later. Her suffering did not make her bitter, instead, she experienced an increase in her love for God. Would that we could channel His grace and love in times of stress and suffering.
Friends with Saints Series // Natalia Tulasiewicz #BISblog //Click to tweet
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Blessed Natalia Tulasiewicz, pray for us!
Enjoying this litany of new friends? We have them here on the perfect ceramic mug for you!
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