Jun 30, 2021 | HISTORY, NEWS
Ordination of the presbyterate
Throughout his priestly life, Fr. Johannes Schneider followed the patron of the Wrocław cathedral both in terms of fidelity to his vocation and flawless priestly chastity. As his biographer, Fr. J. Schweter, thanks to his unblemished priestly chastity, “enjoyed the full happiness of a priestly vocation and had a heart full of compassion for the poor victims of passion and seduction.”
The day of priestly ordination was recognized by Fr. Johannes Schneider as the most important in his life. The goal he had pursued continuously for 12 years and which he had to pay with many sacrifices was finally achieved. Priestly ordination opened for him the possibility of fulfilling his vocation as a priest but also as a defender of the weakest and morally endangered and the founder of a new religious congregation. He never treated the priesthood as an opportunity to raise his social status or start a career.
He celebrated the first Mass on July 2, 1849 in the Wrocław cathedral in the 14th-century St. Mary’s chapel. Sermon during Holy Mass primition was delivered by his compatriot, Fr. Dr. Johannes Klein (1818-1890) vicar from Ścinawa, bachelor of canon law and member of many scientific societies. Fr. Schneider admired his older friend from school days. The primitions were very modest. It is also significant that they took place in Wrocław, and not in the family parish in Rudziczka. Probably the reason for this could be the situation in the neo-presbyter’s home parish. Former parish priest and great protector of Johannes Schneider, Fr. Antoni Hoffmann died in February 1847, and the parish after his death was managed by an administrator, unknown to him. Only on February 24, 1851, Rudziczka received a new parish priest in the person of Fr. Wilhelm Vogt. It also seems that Fr. Johannes Schneider also later, as a priest, did not identify strongly with his family parish. This can be proved by the record of Fr. Walter Schwedowitz, priest of Rudziczka in the years 1921-1945, author of a monograph on six parishes of the Prudnik deanery, including Rudziczka. He does not mention Fr. Johannes Schneider among the priests from the parish in the nineteenth century, but included his short biography at the end of his book, in which he presented Fr. Schneider as a priest from the Rudziczka parish and the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate. This fact may indicate that the author forgot to mention Fr. John in his book or that this figure was not strongly identified with the parish in Rudziczka.
Vicar in Wiązów
The first institution of Fr. Johannes Schneider was a parish in the town of Wiązów in the district of Strzelin. He worked in the church of St. Cross, St. Peter and Paul and St. Jadwiga – the patroness of Silesia.
To Wiązów, Fr. John Schneider hit most probably as a result of the interference of the rector of the Alumnate, Fr. doc. Dr. Joseph Sauer, who could have solicited that Fr. John worked in his native parish, finding him fit and able for this position. Fortunately for Fr. Schneider was that his first parish priest, Fr. Franz Elpelt was a priest very zealous and sensitive to the practical solutions of the then emerging problems related to the so-called a social issue. During his stay, Fr. John Schneider in Wiązów, the parish had about 3,500 believers. The zeal of Fr. Franz Elpelt made Fr. Schneider on the issue of solving the problems of poor people, especially the moral poverty among working women. In the town of Wiązów, many girls worked in a cigar factory. At that time, they fell into all sorts of addictions and bad company. Fr. Schneider organized meetings for them on Saturdays and Sundays, which were an opportunity for working girls to integrate with their peers and were a safe and valuable meeting environment. The young vicar Schneider cared for their fair entertainment and for deepening their religious and moral knowledge. A large number of female servants also worked on estates in fifteen rural centers belonging to the Wiązów parish. Dependent on their employers, they were often exposed to demoralization.
Fr. Johannes Schneider wanted to sensitize them to the matters of sacramental life, nurturing the life of prayer. With the help of his parish priest, with whom he got on well, he also influenced their parents and educators. In this field, he found help from the teacher and conductor of the parish choir – Depene. He took care of the level of church singing in the parish and encouraged young people to zealously participate in the services.
As a young curate, Fr. Schneider spent all his time working and helping those in need who were close to him.
Vicar in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Piasek Island
After two years of work in Wiązów, On September 9, 1851, Fr. John Schneider was sent to work in the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Piasek in Wrocław as a vicar. He took the place of Fr. Dr. Franz Lorinser, whom Bishop Bishop Dr. M. von Diepenbrock appointed priest in Alumnat. In 1851, the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wrocław had about 1,500 faithful.
The appointment of Fr. John Schneider to the position of vicar in the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Piasek in place of Fr. Dr. F. Lorinser, who was one of the most outstanding priests of the Wrocław diocese of his time, testifies to the fact that the bishop of Wrocław, Prince Cardinal Dr. Melchior von Diepenbrock, learned about his intellectual, spiritual and organizational skills. At that time, very talented priests, headed by Fr. doc. Dr. Józef Wick (1820-1903).
Fr. John Schneider first worked at the side of Fr. Franz Hoffmann, who was formally the parish priest in the years 1848-1852, and from November 12, 1852, Fr. Józef Wick. The appointment of Fr. Wicka for the post of parish priest in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Piasek was the last nomination of Prince Cardinal Dr. Melchior von Dipenbrock. Fr. doc. Dr. J. Wick took over the parish on January 4, 1853. At that time, the parish priest of the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Piasek administered the parish of St. Michael the Archangel.
Father Johannes Schneider, as a vicar, established a very cordial cooperation with Fr. Robert Spiske, founder of the Sisters of St. Jadwiga (1859), who worked in this parish from June 20, 1848, also as a vicar (from September 2, 1851 to January 18, 1852, he was the administrator of the parish of St. Michael in Wrocław), and from January 18, 1852 . was the curator of this parish.
The first parish priest, Fr. John Schneider, Fr. Franz Hoffmann was a conflict and tragic figure. He did not work long in the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Piasek. On March 16, 1852, he was suspended, and five months later dismissed by Cardinal Melchior von Dipenbrock, with whom he had unpleasant disputes.
Fr. Schneider not only did not have the slightest disagreement with his brothers in the priesthood, but was also able to establish very fruitful cooperation with the newly appointed parish priest, Fr Józef Wick and Fr. Robert Spiske. He made a good team in pastoral work with them. At the same time, thanks to this cooperation, he could learn about the ways of solving problems related to the spiritual and material poverty of the society at that time.
Fr. doc. dr hab. Józef Wick was not only an outstanding priest and learned preacher, but also a talented social activist and organizer. He belonged in Germany – next to August Reichensperger and Fr. Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler – to the promoters of the Vincentian movement. He took part in 1848 – alongside Silesian priests,John Baltzer, Henryk Förster and Franciszek Wittke – in the first congress of German Catholics in Mainz. After returning from Mainz, on 11 November 1848, he organized a congress of Silesian Catholics in Wrocław. In the years 1848-1849, Fr. doc. Dr. Józef Wick created about 120 Catholic organizations with the headquarters in Wrocław. On his initiative, among others, the Union of the Catholic East, the Catholic Craft Union, the Boarding House for Children, and the Catholic Library in Wrocław were established. In Germany, the Vincentian movement had an impact on the establishment of women’s organizations that looked after sick women, abandoned children, and girls at risk of prostitution. St. Vincent de Paul fought against tabloid literature, organized savings banks, libraries, and promoted good religious literature among the poor. They were the nucleus of the Catholic Action in Silesia.
On the principles of the Society of the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, the Union of Catholic Married Women and Virgin Mary under the invocation of St. Jadwiga included about 3,000 female members. It was dominated by teachers and educated people. Thanks to the good formation of this Association, provided by Fr. Robert Spiske, these women have mastered the plight of the poor people in the city; because they took care of sick people, prisoners, and neglected children. From this Society emerged in 1859 the female congregation of the Sisters of St. Hedwig of the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, based on the rule of St. Augustine for the Third Order.
In 1863, the parish priest Fr. Wick founded the periodical “Breslauer Hausblätter” transformed into the daily “Schlesische Volkszeitung”. Therefore, in this newspaper there is an extensive posthumous article about Fr. Schneider!
The work of Fr. Johannes Schneider in the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Piasek and contacts with the above-mentioned priests constituted an important pastoral formation. He prepared him for the tasks of the great Apostle of mercy and priest. In the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he gained the opinion of an excellent preacher, confessor and organizer. In this situation, it seems natural that Fr. Schneider was chosen to find another new association.
Pastoral care in the parish of St. Matthias
Successor of Prince Cardinal Melchior von Diepenbrock (+1853), Prince Bishop Dr. Heinrich Förster, on April 3, 1854, appointed Fr. John Schneider as a guardian in the parish of St. Matthias.
In 1853, this parish had 3,975 Catholics, while the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary had approximately 1,500 Catholics over the years 1851-1853.
After the death of the parish priest, Fr. Jonathan Hoffmann (+18 January 1857), Fr. John Schneider became the administrator of this parish. When Fr. Dr. Franz Lorinser withdrew in 1858 from his work as a priest in Alumnat, Prince Bishop H. Förster appointed him on July 5, 1858 – as an elder priest of Fr. Schneider parish priest of St. Matthias. Fr. J. Schneider became the guardian again, although in fact it was he, not Fr. Dr. F. Lorinser who was mainly concerned with the spiritual affairs of the parishioners. He accepted this external degradation in a spirit of obedience without any sign of any objection. Fr. Dr. F. Lorinser was a passionate scientist and devoted himself to research and literary work. Fr. F. Lorinser served as the parish priest until November 14, 1869. On this day, Prince Bishop Henrich Förster appointed Fr. Dr. F. Lorinser a member of the Cathedral Chapter and released him from the duties of the parish priest of St. Matthias. From 11 November 1869 until his death, the duties of the parish priest of St. Maciej was performed by Fr. Jonn Schneider.
Work in the parish
As a parish priest, he restored the parish church, renovated four altars, the pulpit, the tabernacle and the painting in the main altar. Most of the repairs were carried out by the Wrocław company of Karl Buhl, with whom Fr. John arranged the work and signed contracts.
Fr. John Schneider as the parish priest of St. Matthias administered the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in Wrocław, which, as a result of the liquidation of the Jesuit Order in 1773 and the secularization of Silesian monasteries in 1810, passed – along with the college – to the administration of the municipal authorities. Until 1819 it was the university and gymnasium church, and then the parish church of St. Matthias. Fr. John Schneider embellished the interior of this temple and carried out numerous renovation and restoration works there as well. He started these works in 1872. Before these repairs, the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus was – due to the lack of repairs – in a pitiful condition.
In 1869, when he was appointed parish priest of St. Matthias counted 5,850 Catholics. There were two churches on its territory: St. Matthias and the parish church of the Holy Name of Jesus. In 1876, in the parish, apart from Fr. J. Schneider were five priests. Fr. John Schneider was a very hardworking and energetic priest.
His duties as a parish priest were not only focused on the restoration and renovation of the temple. He was a very active priest, initiating many prayer and formation groups, organizing the spiritual life of the parish and taking care of many different groups existing in the parish.
It seems that such an intense priestly and pastoral life completely filled the activities of Fr. Schneider, but this is only an impression, because at the same time he led and organized help for girls in the association and devoted a lot of attention to the new religious community that was emerging on his initiative.
Fulfilling so many tasks and responsibilities can only be possible when you put yourself and your time at the total disposal of God, when you serve Him and do not look for your own interests.
sr. Sybilla Kołtan
Jun 21, 2021 | NEWS
Saint John the Baptist is one of the few saints who is mentioned many times in the liturgy. In the church year we celebrate both his birth – June 24, and martyrdom – August 29. He is also, next to Mary, one of the leading figures during Advent …
The Evangelists recall the story of his long-awaited birth, accompanied by signs of power from on high (Lk 1: 5 – 25, 39 – 40; 57 – 80). We see John on the Jordan instructing, baptizing, and pointing to the Messiah (Lk 3: 1-18; Mt 3: 1-12; Mk 1: 1-8; Jn 1: 19-31). He himself confesses that he is not and describes himself as “the voice of one crying in the desert.” As the Savior’s predecessor and the last of the Old Testament prophets, fully devoted to the mission entrusted to him, he participates in the revelation of the Three Divine Persons at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan (Lk 3: 21-22; Mt 3: 13-17; Mk 1: 9-11; John 1, 32-34). He is the greatest of women born, as Jesus himself described him. This prophet is a very humble man. Although he came from a priestly family, he lives simple, radical and ascetic. As a Nazirite of God, he feeds and dresses modestly. He moves away to the desert. His lifestyle didn’t seem very appealing. Yet “all the land of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were drawn to him.” When disputes and conjectures arise around the person of John in connection with the commencement of Jesus’ public ministry, he calls himself a friend of the Bridegroom and announces his departure: “He must increase and I must decrease” (Jn 3: 29-30).
The figure of St. John the Baptist is very close to the consecrated life. Today, we are a sign to the world as long as we live the mission to which the Lord called us. Through vows and community life, we show that it is possible to be together despite differences in age, characters, interests and abilities. Looking at our ordinary life in chastity, poverty and obedience, undertaken out of love for the Bridegroom, people can find God’s closeness in everyday life and open themselves to His graces in the Church, despite many difficult experiences. The prophetic dimension of our lives helps to recognize the primacy of God in obedience to his commandments and the newness of the Gospel. By living in chastity, we show lay people the value of fidelity in the family, marriage and the dignity of every human person. Life in poverty, on the other hand, directs the human gaze to God, the source of all good. In this witness of life, we also strengthen one another in communities. John the Baptist, although he seems to be a loner, created a community with his students. However, he did not tie them to himself, but sent them back to Jesus. Some of John’s disciples later became Apostles.
Looking at the figure of St. John the Baptist is especially troubled by the subject of admonition. It is Herod’s admonition, Herodias’ envy and naivety mixed with the demoralization of young Salome that lead to the death of the prophet (Mt 14: 1-12; Mk 6: 17-29). When reprimanding others, one can sometimes pay a very high price, even if we do it for the common good, for the good of the reproached person. It was not only John who rebuked the ruler, many prophets did so. Usually, reprimanding was associated with an unfavorable reaction of the addressees. King David reacted exceptionally to the words of admonition from the prophet Nathan when, after sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah the Hittite of the Ammonites with the sword, he heard the explanation of the parable about the rich man taking the only lamb from the poor, repented and took the trouble to convert (2 Samuel 12: 1-16). Much depends on the heart. The warnings of the Book of Wisdom proved correct in both cases: “Do not scold the mocker lest he hate you, rebuke the wise one and he will love you” (Wis 9: 8). Jesus himself teaches us about fraternal rebuke, in the sequence of actions taken – first in private, then in front of the witnesses, and finally by the superiors (Mt 18: 15-20). How much is this order to be kept in mind when practicing admonition, which in itself is never pleasant. It requires courage and delicacy, humility and love, clarity of expression, specific approach to facts and respect for the person rebuked. From the catechism we know the works of mercy in the body and in the soul. Each of them is of great value in the eyes of God. To admonish sinners is the first of the soul’s works of mercy – perhaps the most difficult. Unfortunately, neglecting it may expose us to share in other people’s sins, which are also mentioned in the catechism, for example: keep silent when seeing other people’s sins; to permit the sins of others; being able not to prevent someone else’s sins. We also deal with the issue of rebuke in our religious documents.
Working with children and young people, I have repeatedly found out about the value of admonishing with love in the care of the pupils. I also notice a beautiful feature of young people that we often lose with age – openness to the kind remarks of the educator and the ability to change. Thanks to this, I understand more clearly the words of the Lord Jesus, in which it is precisely children who are placed for us by a model to follow in faith and trust in God (Mt 18: 3). Coming back to John the Baptist, the last word of Jesus comes to mind: “Among those born of women, no greater has arisen than John the Baptist. But the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he ”(Mt 11:11). There is hope for us in these words …
Sr. Michaela Musiał
Jun 16, 2021 | FORUM, NEWS
On March 26, 2021 Our daughter, Bianca, was born at the hospital in Gliwice. As a result of perinatal complications, the child was diagnosed with acute circulatory and respiratory failure, meconium aspiration syndrome, DIC syndrome, collapsed left lung, and severe birth asphyxia. She was resuscitated twice: right after giving birth and in the ambulance during the transport to the neonatal intensive care unit in Zabrze. The child’s health was very serious, the doctors did everything they could to help her, and they were unable to do anything else. They said, “We are doctors, not God. Please pray.
Bianeczka’s parents, grandparents, friends and other relatives prayed for her. We asked the Sisters from the Monastery in Brzezie for a prayer and she was put in prayer and incorporated into the Novena, to the Servant of God, Sister Dulcissima. The grandparents went to Brzezie to visit the grave of sr. Dulcissima to ask for her intercession to God for the grace of health and life for Bianca.
Daily prayers led Bianca to throw off her respirator after Easter, began to breathe on her own, and began working hard for her life. The child’s condition was still severe, but the doctors said it was a miracle that the child had survived such a serious condition and one should thank God. The condition improved day by day and after a month Bianca left the hospital and we were able to celebrate our baby.
We believe that it was Sister Dulcissima’s intercession and prayers that led Bianca to be with us. Today we rejoice for our daughter, who still has a long way to go to her full recovery, but we do not forget to continue praying through the intercession of Sister Dulcissima.
Please keep on praying. God bless you
Grateful parents of Bianca.
Racibórz, May 30, 2021
Jun 6, 2021 | FORUM, NEWS
My name is Magdalena and I am 35 years old.
The Sisters of Mary Immaculate have always accompanied me in my life.
Already in kindergarten, the sisters taught me catechesis. While in primary school, Sr. Małgorzata ran a small community called “Children of Mary” to which I belonged. I remember wearing such blue capes back then. There were about 25 children of us We actively participated in Holy Masses – during Lent we led the Way of the Cross for children during the Rosary period, in October we led the rosary, and during Advent we went to the rorat.
Those were beautiful times.
Later, as a teenager, for several years I went on a retreat for girls in Bard Śląski or Wrocław, which were organized by the Sisters (I have contact with some of them who participated or led them). I remember the time of the retreat very well. It was an amazing time, a time of meeting new people, a time of integration with the Sisters and other girls, a time of getting to know the life of the Sisters. Daily Holy Masses, adoration, were extraordinary for me, I could come closer and get to know the love of the Lord Jesus, adore the Blessed Sacrament, be filled with God’s presence.
As a teenager, I was also a volunteer in the Nursing and Treatment Institution for children with mental and physical disabilities run by the Sisters. During the children’s visits, I also had the opportunity to go to the chapel to pray, sometimes I prayed the rosary and the breviary with the Sisters.
I was very eager to come to spend time with these children, play, cuddle them, make their time more pleasant, give them some love that they lacked, because they often did not have parents who would visit them.
This period was beautiful and at the same time difficult, because many of these children were seriously ill, but each was beautiful, because she was a child of God.
It was from there, from this voluntary service with the Sisters, that my vocation to work with sick people came to me. Currently, I have been working as a medical tutor for 13 years. Although sometimes my work is difficult, it gives me a lot of satisfaction because I can help another person in need, take care of him, smile, talk, do all the caring activities that they themselves are often unable to do on their own.
We do not really appreciate what we have until we ourselves are in the shoes of sick people, after accidents or strokes….
My motto in life is: “Treat another person as yourself would like to be treated “, so I try to take care of the people entrusted to me in the way I would like to be treated myself if I felt ill and needed constant care.
I am very happy that in my life I had the opportunity to meet the Sisters of Mary Immaculate. In the past, I even thought of becoming a nun, but I found out that my calling is to live in marriage life.
In retrospect, I can see that everything that I “sat up with” as a girl, later as a teenager by participating in the retreat organized by the Sisters, participating in volunteering, emanated on my further life.
The sisters taught me a lot, especially patience and empathy towards others.
Many people ask me this question: “Magda, where do you get your optimism from, you are always so smiling”. In fact, I get a lot from my faith and the work I do. I am a believer and it will never change!! I am happy with each new day given to me.
THE LORD’S LOVE IS GREAT! and more than once have experienced His presence in my life. Sometimes we complain that something went wrong … that we don’t have something. And do we wonder, Is it that important? Do material good count so much? Do positions, education constitute my value?
When Jesus took the cross on his shoulders – no one asked if he wanted to take it. He took the cross and then died for our sins. He did not complain that it was hard for him.
LET’S REMEMBER that everything that seems impossible to man with God everything is possible.
MAGDA
Jun 1, 2021 | NEWS
When the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord is approaching, many memories associated with the Blessed Sacrament come to my mind. There are so many documents, books, sermons and conferences on the Eucharist … I don’t remember where I came across this term: Sacrament of consecrated life. The author argued that since two states in the Church – priesthood and marriage – have their own sacrament, the Eucharist is the sacrament proper to consecrated persons, because in it they unite with their Bridegroom.
Most often, we have the opportunity to attend Holy Mass every day in our religious convents or parish churches. The time when, due to illness or other circumstances, I cannot participate in it is an unpleasant experience for me, a reminder of my own poverty and human limitations. Many believers have had similar experiences, especially today in an ongoing pandemic. Participation in the Holy Sacrifice is a daily source of grace and light coming through the Word of God or the texts of mass prayers, invitations or songs. Likewise, the bread and wine which Christ chose to become his body and blood,
in the simplicity of their matter, they remind us of God’s love for what is small, humble and fragile. The gesture of breaking the Bread before the rite of Communion reminds me of God’s humility and submission to man. And when the Lord Jesus comes in Holy Communion, He allows me to experience His transforming closeness and trust in me as a weak person. I am in communion with Him and with the Church, my community. Having contact with many people with different views, faith or lifestyle, when I come to church for the Eucharist, I feel more that I am at home. My Lord’s house is my home. Being at Holy Mass, I do not act individually, but in a community. The gestures, spoken words, and body postures lead to the transition from “I” to “we”. I discovered the unifying value of the Eucharist by spending many years in a small community when we could experience it together on Sundays, and as a community feast and distinction when the Holy Mass was celebrated in our community chapel.
Caring for a chapel with the Blessed Sacrament in each of our houses is an expression of the wisdom of the Church and Congregation. We really live under one roof with our Lord. His silent presence accompanies our daily affairs. When I remain in silent adoration in His presence, I am amazed by His love expressed in the sign of the Eucharistic Bread. I am to be His monstrance when I go to the sisters, to the apostolate in catechesis, always … and although I do not experience spiritual raptures, being in His presence is my peace, my strength. Daily communal adoration, which is on the agenda and faithfully practiced both in my old small community and nowadays, is of great value to me. By remaining with my sisters communally before the Lord, we strengthen each other with the testimony of faith and love.
Another form of Eucharistic worship is characteristic for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi – processions with the Blessed Sacrament. Since I was a child, I was aware that I was participating in the Eucharistic processions along the streets of my city in a particular form of manifestation of faith. I had a sense of distinction walking as if in the retinue of the Lamb, as St. John the Apostle: “They are those who accompany the Lamb wherever he goes; these men were redeemed as first fruits to God and the Lamb, and no lie was found in their mouth: they are blameless” (Rev 14: 4-5). And in another place: “And I did not see a temple in it: for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. And the city does not need sun or moon to illuminate it, for the glory of God has illuminated them, and the Lamb with his lamp. And the nations will walk in his light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour to him ” (Rev21: 22-24). The image of Christ the Lamb illuminating the city and the nations suited the crowds of processions stopping at the four altars and Jesus blessing us in the Blessed Sacrament.
The First Holy Communion celebrations usually fall on the time around Corpus Christi, and later their subsequent anniversaries. Finishing my reflections on such a day I will share one more memory. On the day of my First Communion after the celebration in the church in the family circle I was asked by someone from the guests who I would like to become when I grow up. Without thinking, I replied that I was to become a nun. There was consternation among those present because nothing foreshadowed it, nor did anyone expect such an answer. Time passed, and to this day I do not know where this answer came from, although … today I can repeat from St. Paul: “by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace was not in vain; on the contrary, I worked (…), not I, admittedly, but God’s grace with me” (1 Cor 15:10).
Sr. Michaela Musiał
May 17, 2021 | FORUM, NEWS
I am a Catholic newspaper journalist. I had a professional contact with the Servant of God, Sr. Dulcissima Hoffmann – one day I was just asked in the editorial office to write a text about this devout nun from Silesia. The editors responded to the request of Sr. Margret from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, who promotes the person of Sr. Dulcissima. I was also one of those people who had not heard about the Servant of God before. I didn’t even want to take up this topic too much, because I thought that a friend who was considered to be a specialist in promoting pious nuns would better elaborate it, which I don’t really “feel”. In the end, I got the topic and I started working on the text.
After the first look at the dulcissima.pl website, I felt a great sympathy for the nice Helena Hoffmann, who was looking at me with sharp and piercing eyes from numerous photos posted on the Internet. I was captivated by the maturity of this young girl in accepting a serious disease, and I was touched by the local cult of her person and the common belief in her holiness in Brzezie. I also saw numerous testimonies of graces and healings through her intercession.
At that time, in our family, we had a nervous period of waiting for the surgery to be scheduled for the damaged ulnar nerve of our eldest daughter, Mary. When I saw the intent box on the dulcissima.pl website, I immediately put a prayer request there for a quick appointment of the operation date and its successful course. A thought crossed my mind that maybe something deeper was that I was the one who received this topic in the editorial office … Brzezie included their daughter in their novena through the intercession of Sr. Dulcissima. On the second day after the afternoon, information about the scheduled surgery was delivered from the hospital. I informed Sr. Margaret about it immediately, because I had no doubts that Sr. Dulcissima had her part in it. We and the Sisters continued to pray through the intercession of Sr. Dulcissima for Mary’s health. I printed a large photo of Sr. Dulcissima from the time she was a postulant, I put it on the table so that the Sister would accompany us at that time as well. I personally clung to Sister Dulcissima hard and intrusively, because the thought came back to me that it was a gift from heaven, that I received a request for an article about her at this very moment…..
Four days after the surgery was scheduled for us, Sr. Margaret sent me photos of Sr. Dulcissima to be used in the newspaper, and referring to Mary’s health in the e-mail, she wrote: “A thought has appeared in me several times> I would not be surprised if Mary did not need an operation. May God lead and Dulcissima … ask for whatever is necessary … ”. I did not pay much attention to these words, except that I thought that Sister Margaret’s faith was great … I continued praying the novena with zeal and faith, but the intention was only good fruits of the operation …
Then the events happened very quickly. I received an e-mail from Sr. Margaret with the remark that the operation may not be needed on Monday, on Tuesday we were with my daughter at a new physiotherapist, who at one point asked her to show what exercises she had previously performed on her hand, because due to nerve damage she was not able to bring, lead away and straighten IV and V fingers. Imagine my surprise when Mary freely spread all the fingers of her hand, which were almost completely straight. In addition, I was touched by the fact that the physiotherapist at that moment remarked: “It’s not so bad with your hand, Someone is watching over you, because after such accidents it is often worse”. Before the operation, I looked at my daughter’s hand almost every day, I asked her to show me how to straighten and withdraw my fingers, because I was afraid of a deterioration before the operation. Mary was unable to make such easy movements.
After leaving the physiotherapist, I examined my daughter’s hand and confirmed that there was a clear improvement, which would also indicate an improvement in the condition of the nerve itself. But considering that both my daughter and I had already seen things – sometimes we saw some progress and then research didn’t confirm it, I approached the whole event with caution. I decided to wait another day or two and then repeat the nerve examination with the neurologist. Mary herself was not convinced whether to repeat this test, because as she said – probably nothing has changed, and I am not supposed to talk about the fact that perhaps an operation will not be needed, because the operation will certainly be.
On Thursday, we registered for another EMG examination by a neurologist. I entered the office with the proverbial “soul on my shoulder” because I was afraid of the disappointment associated with an unfavorable diagnosis. However, to our great luck, the examination showed a significant improvement in the condition of the damaged nerve, so large and quick enough (only a month has passed since the previous examination, which was an indication for surgery), that the doctor immediately said that he advised against surgery, because the nerve had started successfully regenerate. Also, the consultation with the neurosurgeon who was supposed to operate on the daughter confirmed that in this situation the operation is absolutely inadvisable, and the nerve should be given time for further regeneration.
Actually, all the time we do not fully understand not so much the improvement of the damaged nerve, but the circumstances in which it happened. We have already visited the grave of Sr. Dulcissima with the whole family to thank for the favors received and we also share with others a little “our” beloved Sr. Dulcissima. She herself came to us, ignited our hearts with great sympathy for herself and the faith that she could help us and in a few days changed our lives by 180 degrees. Thank you Sr. Dulcissima!
Beata with her family
