Saint Ursula Ledóchowska – 29 May – Saint Of The Day Iconography

Julia Ledóchowska (1865–1939), known by a religious name of Maria Ursula of Jesus, was a religious woman and founder of the Catholic religious institute of Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, known also as Grey Ursulines.

Julia was born into a nobel family in Austrian Empire. At the age of 21, in Kraków, Poland, she entered an enclosed religious order of women “The Ursulines” and took the religious name Maria Ursula of Jesus. At the age of 31 she was elected as the mother superior of the convent and remained in that position for three years.

Under her leadership, the order opened In Kraków a home for female college students which at that time was an unusual and even phenomenal thing. A couple of years later, with a special blessing of Pope Pius X, she went to St. Petersburg to build up the Saint Catharine House which was a residence for Polish children and adolescents that were living there.

From Russia Julia, now Ursula, goes to Finland where she translates songs and the catechism into Finnish for Finnish fishermen who were Protestants. Due to various political circumstances she moves to Sweden where she commits herself to ecumenism and to that end works alongside the Lutheran archbishop. In Sweden she also sets up a newspaper, opens language schools and a domestic science schools for girls.

In 1918 (she is 53), Ursula moves to Denmark where she founded an orphanage and a school of home economics. Two years later she returns to Poland where she founds the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus. Later she was managing her convent from Rome, following the will of Pope Benedict XV.

Ledóchowska was a prolific supporter of Polish independence. Saint Ursula Ledóchowska is the patron saint of Polish girls and orphans.

Iconography – An older woman with portrait similarities to the photographs of the saint. Wearing the nun’s attire, surrounded by children (mostly little girls). 

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