A few weeks ago, I was having a conversation with a fairly new Catholic about praying to our Guardian Angels. The conversation evolved into talking about Patron Saints. Being new to the Catholic faith, Carolyn doesn't know much about the Saints -- yet. So, today's post is for her - and for all the other Carolyns, Carolines, Carols and Carries in my list of friends.
Karolina Gerhardinger was born in Bavaria in 1797. She was an only child. As a young girl, she was encouraged by her parish priest to become a teacher. She took her teacher training as a lay teacher at a local monastery, until the monastery was closed - like all monasteries - when Bavaria was occupied by the Napoleonic Army. Karolina was able to obtain her teaching accreditation in 1812 and began her teaching career at a girls' school in Regensburg, although she felt a call to religious life.
In 1828, Bavaria reached an accord with the Holy See that allowed religious orders to re-establish themselves. Rather than join a previously established religious order, Karolina decided to begin an order of her own, dedicated to the education of poor children. She moved in with two companions on October 24, 1833, to begin living as a religious. This was the establishment of the Poor Teachers Sisters of Notre Dame. After some initial complications involving official recognition of the order, Karolina made her religious vows on November 1, 1835, taking the name Maria Theresia of Jesus. By 1847, the order had expanded to the United States to help the many German immigrants who were starting new lives there. By 1850, the order had spread to England and other European nations.
Karolina (Sister Maria Teresia) fell ill in 1877, prompting Pope Pius to send her a telegram with his blessings, and died on May 9, 1879, in the presence of her religious sisters and the Papal Nuncio.
As a side note, I was taught by Sisters of Notre Dame in elementary school, but I don't know if there were from St. Karolina's order.
St. Karolina is a patron of educators, and her Feast Day is May 9.
St. Karolina, pray for us.
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