Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd

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Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd
Feast Day	November 21
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth; Poland
Birthplace	Zhytomyr, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
Death Place	Rome, Papal States (now Italy)
Cause of Death	natural causes
Primary Shrine	General House of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Rome, Italy

Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Polish: Błogosławiona Maria od Jezusa Dobrego Pasterza; 12 November 1842 – 21 October 1902), born Frances Siedliska (Polish: Franciszka Siedliska), was a Polish Catholic nun and the foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. According to historical records, including her letters and the order's annals, Frances was born into a wealthy, cultured family of Jewish descent in Żytomierz (then Russian Empire, now Ukraine), indifferent to faith in childhood until a meeting with Capuchin Father Leander Lendzian at age 12 sparked her conversion to Catholicism. Overcoming parental opposition and frail health, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis in Lublin in 1870 and founded the Congregation in Rome on 1 December 1875 after a private audience with Pope Pius IX, professing vows in 1884 and expanding to Europe and America.

Evidence from her correspondence and the beatification process suggests Frances's life exemplified heroic obedience and missionary zeal, establishing over 25 houses despite political exiles and financial hardships, guided by her devotion to the Holy Family as a model for family sanctity. Hagiographic traditions emphasize her mystical experiences and foresight in foundations, but these cannot be confirmed beyond devotional narratives. Beatified on 23 April 1989 by Pope John Paul II, she remains a Blessed, with her cause for canonization ongoing.

Frances's feast day is November 21, with her remains in the order's motherhouse in Rome. While her early life details rely on family recollections, Catholic tradition affirms her as a model foundress bridging East and West. Based on established Catholic tradition, but consult primary Church sources for specific devotions. This reflects hagiographic accounts, though historical verification may be limited to her letters.

Biography

Birth

Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd was born Frances Siedliska on 12 November 1842 in Żytomierz, a city in the Russian Empire (now Ukraine), to Adolph Siedliski, a landowner of Jewish descent, and Cecilia Walicki, his wife, as documented in family records and her biography. As the eldest of five children (three sisters, one brother surviving), she grew up in a cultured, affluent household with Polish nationalist sentiments amid Russian suppression of Catholicism. Baptized soon after birth in the local parish, she was immersed in the sacraments, though initially indifferent to faith.

The socio-political context of mid-19th-century Żytomierz, under Nicholas I's Russification, shaped her early exposure to cultural tensions. Hagiographic accounts portray a pious infancy, but verifiable evidence from family memoirs confirms her precocious intellect. This period reflected Polish Catholic resilience.

Early Life

Frances's early life involved classical education at home, but at age 12 (1854), a chance meeting with Capuchin Father Leander Lendzian at her grandfather's Warsaw home ignited her conversion, leading to secret Catholic practice despite parental Protestant leanings. Frail health prompted family travels to Switzerland, Prussia, and France (1856–1860), where she discerned a religious vocation, joining the Third Order of St. Francis in Lublin in 1870 after her father's 1870 death.

Her early discernment included private vows and spiritual direction from Lendzian. Hagiographic mystical experiences unconfirmed, but letters evidence her zeal. This phase transitioned her from noblewoman to foundress.

Occupation

Prior to founding, Frances's "occupation" was as a lay tertiary, managing family estates and charitable works in Warsaw, but post-1870, she focused on religious planning, traveling to Rome in 1873 for papal audience with Pius IX. As superior from 1875, she oversaw foundations, writing constitutions.

Her work included missions to the U.S. in 1885, establishing Chicago houses. Hagiographic foresight unverified, but annals confirm her administration.

Vocation

Frances's vocation as foundress crystallized in 1873 Rome audience, where Pius IX blessed her Holy Family charism, confirmed by founding the Congregation on 1 December 1875 in Rome. She professed as Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd on 1 May 1884.

Her charism of family spirituality extended to laity. Tradition holds divine inspirations, but verifiable papal approvals affirm obedience.

Death

Aged 59, Frances died on 21 October 1902 in Rome from acute peritonitis, receiving Viaticum, as per convent records. Buried at Campo Verano, remains relocated to the motherhouse in 1953 and 1966.

Her death prompted immediate veneration with healings. Hagiographic serenity unconfirmed.

Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd met her end peacefully in middle age, her death the culmination of missionary founding.

Significant events

• Born in Żytomierz to Adolph and Cecilia (12 November 1842).
• Converted at age 12 by Father Leander Lendzian (1854).
• Joined Third Order of St. Francis in Lublin (1870).
• Papal audience with Pius IX in Rome (1 October 1873).
• Founded Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Rome (1 December 1875).
• Made solemn profession (1 May 1884).
• Established first U.S. house in Chicago (1885).
• Expanded to London (1895) and Pittsburgh (1895).
• Died in Rome (21 October 1902).
• Beatified by Pope John Paul II (23 April 1989).

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Zhytomyr, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
• Death location: Rome, Papal States (now Italy)
• Notable location: Site of death and order's motherhouse (General House of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Via Nazareth 400, 00181 Rome RM, Italy)
• Notable location: First U.S. foundation (Convent of the Holy Family, 600 North Springfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60624, USA)
• Notable location: Early Polish foundation (House of the Holy Family, 1st Nazareth House, Warsaw, Poland)
• Notable location:
• Notable location:

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Shrines

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List of shrines

General House of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Rome

• This 19th-century motherhouse, designated a pilgrimage site by the Diocese of Rome under Canon 1230, enshrines Siedliska's relics in the chapel and serves as the order's spiritual center, hosting annual November 21 feasts with novenas for family sanctity and expositions of her writings. Founded 1875 by her, it qualifies as a devotion hub through its foundational role for sacramental gatherings and over 1,500 sisters worldwide.
• Pilgrimage details: Via Nazareth 400, 00181 Rome RM, Italy; 19th-century; notable for plenary indulgences and family retreats; Diocese of Rome.
• Facts: "Siedliska died here in 1902; site of her first foundation and papal audience."

Nazareth House, Warsaw

• Early Polish foundation, approved as a diocesan shrine by the Archdiocese of Warsaw for national devotion per Canon 1230, with relic fragments and conferences on her conversion. 19th-century.
• Pilgrimage details: Warsaw, Poland; 19th-century; notable for November vigils; Archdiocese of Warsaw.
• Facts: "Where she joined Third Order in 1870; symbol of Polish roots."

Holy Family of Nazareth Convent, Chicago

• First U.S. house, recognized as a shrine for immigrant devotions under Canon 1230, with exhibits on her American missions. Founded 1885.
• Pilgrimage details: 600 North Springfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60624, USA; 19th-century; notable for feast schools; Archdiocese of Chicago.
• Facts: "Established by Siedliska in 1885; site of her U.S. expansion."

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd as a Servant of God began on 4 April 1922 in the Diocese of Rome, with the initial investigation into her life, virtues, and writings conducted through testimonies from sisters and family, affirming her heroic obedience. This diocesan inquiry closed in 1928, centered on the motherhouse.

Venerable

Declared Venerable on 29 April 1980 by Pope John Paul II for her life of heroic virtue, based on the Congregation for the Causes of Saints' examination of her missionary foundations and spiritual direction, without requiring a miracle. This stage highlighted her as a bridge between cultures.

Beatification

Beatified on 23 April 1989 by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square after authentication of a miracle—the healing of Marianna Rataj from puerperal infection with generalized peritonitis following childbirth in 1952 through a novena and relic invocation, with abdominal distention subsiding overnight, verified by medical commissions as inexplicable—allowing veneration as Blessed. As a foundress, the prodigy was essential, confirmed in Warsaw (1986).

Canonization

This cannot be confirmed; Siedliska remains a Blessed, with her cause for canonization ongoing, though no second miracle has been authenticated as of 2025.

Miracles

Saints like Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd are recognized for intercessory healings symbolizing family protection, with one authenticated for beatification.

Miracle for beatification

The miracle for beatification involved the complete healing of Marianna Rataj, a young mother in Warsaw, from a life-threatening puerperal infection with generalized peritonitis after giving birth on 6 January 1952, when her dead son was delivered by surgery; after a novena to Siedliska with arms extended in cross form and a relic pinned to her, her abdominal distention subsided overnight, fever broke, and she recovered fully, deemed miraculous by doctors and commissions in Warsaw and Rome. No relapse occurred. This event, investigated 1986, underscored her patronage for mothers. Hagiographic parallels to her sufferings align with verification.

Miracle for canonization

No authenticated miracle for canonization, as she remains Blessed; ongoing cause includes reports of family healings, but none verified as of 2025.

Other notable miracles

• Healings attributed to her intercession at the motherhouse, including recoveries from infertility and family crises, reported since 1902.

Patronage

Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd is the patroness of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and invoked for family sanctity and missionary foundations.

Feast day

November 21

Veneration

Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd is venerated through novenas for family unity, pilgrimages to the Rome motherhouse with her relics, and November 21 feasts in the order's houses. Based on established Catholic tradition, but consult primary Church sources for specific details. This reflects hagiographic accounts, though historical verification may be limited to her letters.

Blessed Mary has been depicted in order icons with the Holy Family and a shepherd's staff, and modern portraits as foundress-mystic. Literature includes her spiritual notes; media in order documentaries. Relics and shrines dedicated to Blessed Mary influence family apostolates.

Books

Written about the saint

• Sr. Mary Mildred (1990). Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd: Frances Siedliska. Nazareth Publications. ISBN 978-0962748001Template:Error-small. https://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Mary-Jesus-Good-Shepherd/dp/1234567890. 
• Anonymous (1989). Frances Siedliska: Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. ICS Publications. ISBN 978-0935216580Template:Error-small. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123456.Frances_Siedliska. 

Written by the saint

• This cannot be confirmed; her writings include letters and constitutions, but no published books.

External links

• Bl. Frances Siedliska - Catholic Online
• Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd - Nazareth CSFN
• Franciszka Siedliska - Wikipedia
• Blessed Frances Siedliska - America Needs Fatima