Bl. Angela Truszkowska

  Posted on November 9, 2020  by admin  No comments

Born: 16 May 1825 at Kalisz, Poland as Sophia Camille Truszkowska

Died: 12.45am 10 October 1899 of natural causes 

Beatified: 18 April 1993 by Pope John Paul II

Patronage: against sickness, exiles, sick people 

Feast day: October 10

Eldest daughter of Joseph and Josephine Truszkowski, Polish nobles. Well educated, Sophia was a pious, and lively youth with a frail constitution. She relocated to Warsaw, Poland in 1837, and attended the Academy of Madame Guerin. Due to respiratory illness, she and her tutor Anastasia moved to Switzerland in 1841 at age 16. On 26 June 1848, at age 23, she had a moment of extraordinary grace that she considered a conversion experience, and which led her to the religious life. Spiritual student of Capuchin Father Honorat Kozminski in 1854. Joined the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in 1855 to help the poor, aged and homeless of Warsaw. Housed homeless children into her own home. In November 1854, she and her cousin Clothilde rented a two-room apartment at 10 Church Street, Nowe Miasto, in Warsaw. There homeless children spent their days in class and Mass, and then stayed the night; it was known as the Institute of Miss Truszkowska. Sophia prayed with the children at the Shrine of Saint Felix of Cantalice in a nearby Capuchin church. People call the kids the “children of Saint Felix” and the women the Sisters of Saint Felix, the Felicians. Thus was founded the Felician Sisters who are devoted to service to the poor, orphaned, sick and elderly. In 1855 Sophia and Clothilde become Franciscan tertiaries, Sophia taking the name Angela. She was forced to withdraw as its leader due to increasing deafness.