Blessed Bernardina Maria Jablonska

Bernardina Maria Jablonska (1878-1940)

Co-foundress of Albertine Sisters

 

Sister Bernardina Maria Jablonska was born August 5, 1878 in the small village of Pizuny at Narol, in today's Diocese of ZamoœæLubaczów. The beauty of the native landscape had a great influence on her sensitive and helped form a gentle personality and prepared the activity of God's grace Lively, intelligent, full of joy, grew up surrounded by the love of parents, staying for a long time only child. His parents were small landowners respected and esteemed by their neighbors. Since the school was located far from their home, her parents entrusted to a private tutor, which - however - being inexperienced was not able to "dominate" the little Marynia and after a few months had to leave teaching, little was therefore sent home by distant relatives where another teacher gave private lessons to children.

 

At age 15, his happy childhood was abruptly interrupted by the death of his mother. The girl completely changed, he felt alone and lost, he avoided the company of peers, appartava in search of solitude.

 

's mother, deeply religious, had a lot of influence on her daughter, sending in a special way the veneration of the Blessed Sacrament and filial attachment the Mother of God

Died earthly mother, the young man with all the ardor of his young heart clung to the heavenly Mother. A small chapel on the edge of the forest with the figurine of the Immaculate Conception, where she had always carried bouquets of wildflowers, became the favorite place of his meditations. There entrusted to Mary the problems of his young life.

 

Moreover He devoted much time to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the church of Lipsk, where she had been baptized. She read a lot, especially the lives of the Saints. More and more approaching to God whose call she felt deep in her soul, and I easily found himself in the beauty of nature, in solitude, in his heart. It stood in her the desire for a life completely devoted to God in the silence of the convent, and she began to practice various mortifications learned from books.

The decisive moment was his meeting with the festival of Friar Alberto Horyniec June 13, 1896. She decided to join his congregation founded by little, thinking that it was a monastic order. The father opposed the decision of the daughter, so Bernardina, once adult, he secretly left the house and went to Brusno, where he was the hermitage of Albertine Sisters. When asked about the reason of the Friar Alberto of its decision, said to belong to Jesus Christ and love him so much.

was necessary to give a demonstration of this love, so the young man was sent for the first test in the hospice for the homeless in Cracow. He found himself in an environment completely unknown to her, but until that time the poor was to her an old tramp to whom he offered a hot meal and a good word in exchange for his tales of a world away. He knew absolutely nothing about the physical and moral misery of the big city. She wished that the silence and prayer suddenly found herself in a house full of complaints of sick, screams of the mentally ill, of vulgar insults of marginalized people, earnestly inquiring aiuto.Rimase so upset to want to immediately drop everything. Brother Albert was awake, he explained, and above all taught by his example that these people were in need not only to be served, but above all to be loved as Christ suffering and love disprezzato.Questo was a very difficult but fascinating envisaged that the summit of sanctity. Only the Lord knows how much he had to suffer many internal fights, how many sacrifices had to affrontare.Il critical moment came on Holy Saturday in 1899 when he thought he could not resist not even for a moment.

 

Then Friar Alberto wrote for her heroic act trust in God, that Bernardina signed after praying for a long time. "Gift to Jesus Christ, my soul, my mind and all that I possess. I offer my person at all unsure, the rigors inner torments and spiritual sufferings, all the humiliation and contempt, to all body pains and diseases. I do not want anything in return either now or after my death, because I do all this for the love of Jesus Christ. "

 

From that moment ceased the doubts and was able to maintain his word and the Lord led her through magnanimemente mysticism to the heights of contemplation .

Friar Alberto, appreciating his great qualities, appointed in 1902, just 24 years before the Superior General of the Congregation of Albertine.

 

carried out this ministry until his death, acclaimed whenever the general chapters.

was a real mother for the sisters and for the poor. After a long life, full of suffering he died (in the aura of holiness) September 23, 1940 and was buried in the cemetery of Krakow Rakowicki. In his will he wrote to the sisters: "Do good to all." His cult began to spread from the beginning, who knew the need was addressed to her even after her death, with the deep conviction that it could do a lot with her intercession with the Lord. The graces received widened the circle of his worshipers.

 

On 23 May 1984, the Congregation of Albertine Sisters presented to the Archdiocesan Curia of Krakow, in the hands of the card. Franciszek, the request to start the process of information on Sister Bernardina Jablonska.

 

Meanwhile his earthly remains were transferred from the Ecce Homo in the church cemetery of Krakow in via Woronicza 10, where there are also the remains of Brother Alberto. On 25 April 1986, the documentation was sent to Rome and already 3 May 1986 was formally opened her canonization at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. The second stage of the process was the proclamation of the decree on the heroism of the life and virtues of the Servant of God Sister Bernardina, December 17, 1996. Currently the process is complete, expect the solemn beatification. spirituality and holiness of Sister Bernardina Sister Bernardina had inherited from his parents two very important qualities of character that you develop over a lifetime reached a dimension rare. From his mother he inherited a gentle kindness and his father a strong and determined. When the Lord predestines someone to an extraordinary mission usually provides the innate capacity that predisposes him wonderfully to the task. The lives of the saints is expressed in two directions: the inner life and external activity, the proportions are maintained. At the base of the inner life of Sister Bernardina as well as its activities are love and suffering. You can tell that he suffered much, beyond all limits, and she could take. At the beginning of his religious life, when he was about to give up, because he wanted to remain with God in solitude and silence, signed the heroic act of a complete renunciation of its aspirations to give themselves to God, accepting all the suffering of body and soul selflessly, not expecting rewards in life or after death. The Lord tried but it kept its promises. In return for this huge sacrifice gave her the ability to love with merciful love all human misery to the measure of His divine heart. He taught her to rediscover Christ's suffering and humiliated in every man, especially in the depraved, humiliated and rejected by all. His immense goodness amazed all who approached him. In their memories, each sister emphasizes this gift of Sister Bernardina. prayed intensely, especially at night, because during the day was engaged in the activities of the Congregation and the poor. He spent many hours in front of the SS. Sacramento: the Eucharist was the object of his constant love which drew its strength. He stimulated the sisters to make frequent visits to the chapel saying that "the divine prisoner can not remain alone." In his diaries he wrote this: "Jesus - Holy Host: How much happiness for me! Oh! If I could stay at his feet whole centuries. I would stay with the Lord here, in this valley of tears, until the day of judgment - stay at the foot of the altar, to love him, do not leave him alone, and compensate him live his life. I'm sorry that He will remain here only when I'm not there anymore. " May the Lord had given her a soul very sensitive to the beauties of nature, in which she found herself with ease his tracks, so she liked so much staying in the hermitage of Zakopane. There he poured his meditations on paper revealing the secrets of his soul. He wrote among other things: "I was very much impressed with the beauty of God that drew my soul to unknown worlds ... God and God only God, forever! I love the prayer, the silent nights outside under the sky is my happiness. I love nature that raises my mind and my heart to God I love you, Lord, in the gusts of wind, in the misty morning fog and in the waning twilight. You will bow to the end of our days, which are also yours. Oh, how beautiful our Lord in a sunny day, how beautiful the blue sky, how wonderful it is swirling in the wind, as it is powerful in the murmur of the brook, how great is God in his works. " May the Lord nell'elargire does not exceed the abundance of his gifts, accept the sacrifice of heroic Sister Bernardina and answers the longings of his heart through the painful experiences of the mystical night rises up to the highlands of contemplation and close union with The few remaining Him his notes reveal to us what she felt: "Desert sacred, deep desert, immense - beauty and wonders are in it. I have a feeling that God has left here to burn in sacrifice, I am consuming. "the soul flies to God as in a bottomless abyss; mutes everything: nature, creation and actions. God poured over my soul fire and ice. means that it must be so, I give myself to you, God, the Creator ... above me God, as the clouds on the earth, and all falls on the soul passive. " With regard to the activities of Sister Bernardina must say that the poor were his second love, saw in them Jesus Christ himself and served He in them. They devoted their lives. The concern continues to be missing the bread for the poor did unleash his energy that the suggested ideas to provide for their livelihoods. never doubted not of divine providence; ordered to give the last remaining flour to those requesting it, always trusting in God's experiencing the miracles of providence. said the sisters: "What an honor for us that the Lord Jesus gives us the poor and let us work for those he loves so much. Is it not a fortune to serve Jesus Christ Himself in the person of the poor? '. care of the poor devoted his whole soul. was particularly sensitive to the sufferings of others, and when he could not another way to alleviate their sufferings asked the Lord to suffer in their place. And so it was, in fact, he died with his whole body covered with festering sores, so deep that you could see the bones. Once escaped her confession that she had prayed to get those same wounds that had caused so much repugnance. spiritual exercises he wrote in his diary: "I would like to answer any queries, dry every tear, every comfort with the word suffering soul, always be good for all the best for the most unhappy. The pain of others is my pain. Jesus, is' who does not live for myself, my soul scatter on all fields of human misery. Fill it with Your goodness and mercy and give me the grace to feel like you are replacing here in this valley of tears, doing good to all. " The Foundress and the charism of the Congregation At 24 years Sister Bernardina was appointed by Brother Albert was the first superior general of the Congregation of Albertine Sisters and remained superior until his death. For 14 years, guided the congregation to the side of Friar Alberto following his example and learning to serve Christ in the poor. After the death of Friar, it took on his shoulders the full weight of the care of the Congregation and of the masses of the poor who crowded shelters albertini. were difficult times, the company was impoverished because of the war, there were many people homeless, many disabled and orphans. It took uncommon ability to be able to fulfill this task difficult. In addition Friar Albert was dead, leaving the congregation without legal stability, without written constitutions, without the written approval of the ecclesiastical authorities. Although he had sketched the first draft of the Constitutions according to the Franciscan Rule, he had stopped, disappointed by the new rules of the Congregation for Religious who did not admit the possibility of approving the existence of congregations without material basis and with simple vows. So the key issue concerned the radical poverty to which Friar Alberto did not want to give up, seeing it as the most precious treasure. After his death in 1916, this difficult task passed to Sister Bernardina, who began to work with commitment and a sense of responsibilities, required by the ecclesiastical authorities. had to summarize in sections of the Constitutions of all the spirituality of Brother Alberto without in any way misrepresent his ideals. He helped in this task P. Czeslaw Lewandowski, faithful friend of the Congregation. He worked during the night, he prayed a lot and wrote on his knees, the day dealt with the nuns and the poor. The Lord approved of this because the Constitutions drawn up by her faithfully reflect the ideal of Friar Alberto, clearly show the charism of service to the poor. ecclesial authorities after much dithering approved them without changing the section regarding poverty. What happened in 1926, 10 years after the death of Brother Albert and after a long period of intense prayer and various activities of Sister Bernardina who faithfully protecting this heritage preziosa.Che the decision of the Church was right it was found very early extreme poverty multiplied vocations for the Congregation growing numerically. Once the years of dispossession, the nuns were not afraid of anything, because political systems change, but the poor are always and will always be present the charism Albertine services to the poorest. The Congregation of Sister Bernardina legal stability, the Constitutions and the its dynamic development and is therefore regarded as the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters with Albertine. now The Congregation The Congregation of the Sisters Alberatine was founded in 1891 in Krakow by Brother Albert. The main feature of its activities were in shelters for the homeless, which have arisen in order to save people a great need, both from a moral point of view that material. were open day and night. According to information from Brother Albert, who arrived they fed him, dressed him, you ricoverava according to availability. The first shelters were built in Cracow, the other on the whole territory of the country. Gradually the activities of the Congregation grew: born residential homes for the incurably ill, children and youth abandoned and during epidemics is activated the care of the sick contagious. The administrative headquarters was in Krakowska Street 47 in Krakow, where he was also the novitiate and the shelter for women. Much importance were the hermitages where the sisters, tired of continuous hard work, they could restore their physical strength and renew spiritually. The first chapel was built in 1891 to Bruœno then transferred to Prusie (in the region of Przemýœl), and the second in 1902 in Zakopane. In times of totalitarianism, the congregation was forced to limit its activities at the state hospices and centers for patients can not be treated and mental, for adults and children. The Sisters, by order of the Church, also worked as catechists. Currently the Congregation gradually returns to the service of the poorest and the most needy. Branches in three provinces: Krakow, Warsaw and Poznań. Located in Krakow, in addition to the headquarters of the General House, in Woronicza 10, there is also the novitiate. The sisters are about 700 living in 73 houses, in Poland and abroad. activity of the Congregation regards shelters for women, homes for retired priests, houses for social assistance, childcare centers, and persons with disabilities and terminally ill, a home for unwed mothers entitled to Emilia Wojtyla, soup kitchens for the needy, parish centers with nursing service, catechesis, assistance to families in precarious conditions. Outside the country, the Congregation is located at the following locations: Rome: From 1972 seven sisters run a home for retired international (about 20 persons), USA, Hammond Indiana in the state: in 1974 ten sisters run a home for retired people (about 50 people) , Argentina, Martin Coronado since 1982, five sisters run a home for ex-combatants Poles (about 42 people); Bolivia, Montero Since 1991 six sisters carry out activities strictly missionary care for the sick around the neighborhood, they work 24 hours nell'ambulatorio 24; undertake for catechesis involving about a thousand children; prepare children and adults for the sacraments; organize religious functions in the pastoral center; periodically accompany the missionaries in their journeys to distant villages, helping in catechesis and in the health service, and give material aid and spiritual needs of the poor and the sick; Bolivia, Cochabamba: since 1997 three nuns working in a clinic for the poor and missionaries; Ukraine, Plebanówka at Szarogród: August 1992 three nuns helping the poor and play catechesis for children and adults. Slovakia, Brezno from August 1995 three nuns helping the poor in the parish catechesis and play. 's miracle Sister Lidia Gurgul of Albertine had a miraculous recovery from infectious tuberculosis, thanks to the intercession of the Servant of God Sister Bernardina. After hospitalization and resection of some vertebrae to increase the pressure on the left lung concerned, the state of the sick worse still, they were afraid of bleeding. As a serious and contagious sick was placed in the house of the Congregation in Zakopane. persisted a high fever and a persistent cough with blood and pus.Le upper informed Sister Lydia, still in probationary period, that because of the disease could not pronounce the first votes. The sisters invited Lydia, who was desperate to begin a novena to ask for a healing through the intercession of Sister Bernardina. The patient then began the prayers and at the same time swallowed a piece of wood from the coffin of Sister Bernardina, and he attacked another on the left side of the shirt he touched the body part operated on. On the same day at approximately 17 Sister Lydia felt better, disappeared cough and high fever. The next day the doctor or health care professional noted the improvement in the nun and ordered some tests that confirmed the total healing. Sister Lydia was able to participate in the retreat of 8 days in Krakow and was unable to deliver his first vows. healing took place in August 1950 and is still the sister is fine and works in various houses of the Congregation, tuberculosis has not come back ever again . This miracle was recognized during the process of beatification of the Servant of God Sister Bernardina. Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Sister Bernardina Almighty and Eternal God, source of holiness and goodness, we beseech Thee for the canonization of Blessed Sister Bernardina, because on his through his intercession and example, growing more and more in your love, we never cease to do good to our brothers. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Novena for the intercession of Blessed Sister Bernardina Lord Jesus Christ, that you wanted to form the core of Blessed Sister Bernardina the example of Thy Most Sacred Heart full of love and goodness, and you've made it sensitive to the needy, hungry and suffering, through his intercession obtain for me, O Lord, the grace ... that with humility and confidence I ask you. Blessed Sister Bernardina, pray for us. Our Father ... Hail Mary ... Glory be ...

Done