St. Urszula Ledochowska (Julia Ledochowska)

Ø  Foundress  the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus Ø  Translated and published a catechism in Finnish
Born	On 17 April 1865 at Loosdoor, Austria as Julia
Died	29 May 1939 in the Gray Ursuline convent, Via del Casalet, Rome, Italy of natural causes
Venerated	On 14th  May 1983 by Pope John Paul II (decree of heroic virtue)
Beatified	On 20th  June 1983 by Pope John Paul II at Poznan, Poland
Canonized	On 18th  May 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Vatican Basilica
Feast	29th May

Daughter of Count Anthony Ledochowska, a Polish noble, and an Austrian mother. One of five children in a pious family. Her elder sister, Blessed Maria Teresa Ledóchowska, founded the Missionary Sisters of Saint Peter Claver and is affectionately known as the “Mother of Africa.”  Due to financial failure, the family moved to Saint Poelten, Austria in 1873. Her father died of smallpox in February 1885, and Julia’s uncle Cardinal Lebo assumed responsibility for them.   Julia felt a call to religious life, and became an Ursuline nun, taking the name Ursula. Founded the Ursulines of the Sacred Heart (Ursuline Sisters of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Gray Ursulines) in 1906 with the motherhouse in Pniewy, Poland. Missionary to Russia in 1907 by order of Pope Pius X. Expelled during the Communist Revolution, she continued her work throughout Scandanavia. Translated and published a catechism in Finnish (language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland ). At the request of Pope Benedict XV, she moved to Rome. From there she administered her Order, and inspired others. A noted orator, she frequently spoke before royalty and national leaders. Called for, and defended the right of Polish independence. The Gray Ursulines continue their work today in Poland, Italy, France, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Finland, Germany, Tanzania, Belarus, and Ukraine.    Throughout her life, during a difficult political period, including the First World War, Julia maintained a constant focus on helping the poor, displaced, and forgotten.  When questioned about her political views, often at risk to her own life, she simply and repeatedly replied, “My policy is love.”   In early May 1939 Ledóchowska traveled to Rome, where she died on 29 May 1939, aged 74, in the Gray Ursuline convent, Via del Casalet, of natural causes. Her incorrupt body was translated to the Gray Ursuline motherhouse in Pniewy, Poland in 1989.   Writings Of St. Ursula :    Ledochowska, Julia Ursula Maria: Besides the ‘Constitutions’ and the ‘Directory’ (Pniewy, 1923-1930), she wrote ‘Meditations for Sisters’, 4 vols. (Pniewy, 1930-1931); ‘The Monthly Retreat’ (Pniewy, 1933); ‘Examination of Conscience for Superiors’; and ‘Beneath the Star of the Sea’. The last work has been published in Polish, German, French, and Italian editions.