Testing Faith Through Illness: The Experience of the Ursuline Sisters. Evidence from the Past

Testing Faith Through Illness: The Experience of the Ursuline Sisters. Evidence from the Past

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Testing Faith Through Illness: The Experience of the Ursuline Sisters. Evidence from the Past
Photo: Outpatient clinic in Lubča near Navahrudak, which operated under the Ursuline nuns 

The work of the Ursuline nuns has always been defined by sacrificial service to people, including they often helped in the treatment of various diseases. In the 1930s in small towns, nuns opened dispensaries, where patients were treated by “sister-doctors”. Every day, more than ten people came to such institutions on Paleśsie (in Moładava, Iłask, Haradzišča, etc.) for help. Only in Iłask in the 1938/1939 academic year, the dispensary provided assistance in almost 1,700 cases.

In Moładava, (now Ivanava district), the Ursuline sisters even planned to found a hospital to treat bedridden patients. However, the beginning of World War II prevented the implementation of this plan.

The sisters covered the cost of treatment from their own funds, sometimes noble families helped (the Skirmunt family, the Radzievič family, etc.). Medicines were distributed free of charge to those in need. Sometimes the patients brought food as a thank you, although the Ursuline sisters did not ask for it and even refused. The abbess Uršula Leduchoŭskaja noted: “A characteristic feature of local people on Paleśsie is gratitude, a kind of noble, full of personal dignity confidence that good should be repaid with good. The nurse should accept at least one egg, even a piece of coarse linen, for the services rendered and the medicine, otherwise she would cause pain to these poor people.”

With great joy, the local residents of Iłask (now Šamiatoŭka, Kobryn district) met the nun Jadźviha Knichavieckaja (1890 – 1950), which started the mission in this place. The local people considered her a doctor “sent to them by Providence”. That is why they came to her for help as often as possible in their illnesses and any other needs.

And how did the Ursuline women themselves endure certain diseases? Wasn’t there despair when the disease became a difficult test for the sisters themselves?

Sister Juljana Drymiel (1904 – 1994) was a person of devoted work, who knew how to combine it with prayer. Quiet, focused, a person of few words, as if immersed in God, she also had a sense of humor. In her old age, she endured her illness and the need for leg amputation bravely, silently and very patiently. Through suffering and prayer, she prepared for a pious death.

It is also worth mentioning Franciška Michalak (1912 – 1983), who was said to have a special reverence for Divine Mercy and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She herself was frail and suffered from various diseases (asthma, heart disease), but she always remained cheerful, generous and kind.

Juljana Drymiel and Franciška Michalak are connected with Belarus because at the end of the 1930s served in Moładava. Sister Juljana was a specialist in church construction, an d Franciška worked on a dairy farm. They were soon forced to leave Paleśsie with the other sisters.

Among the “Moładava sisters” we can mention Habrieła Piatroŭska (1916 – 1999) and Julija Niezhadzinska (1909 – 1944). Sister Habrieła helped with the sewing business. But later, due to severe degeneration in the joints, she could not undertake such work. She accepted her disability with dignity and cheerfulness, tried to be self-sufficient. During her illness, she knew how to organize her time well, she helped other sisters in small matters handicrafts.

An emergency happened with Julija Niezhadzinska (1909 – 1944), who was wounded during the battles for the liberation of Poland in 1944. During she received a bullet wound from the shelling, they were able to take her to the hospital by ambulance. And although she suffered a lot, she endured the pain with dignity. Even the other wounded were impressed by her resilience. Having received the last sacraments, she died at the age of 36 and in her 7th year monastic vocation.

We can read the touching lines in the letter of the nun Maryja Kłaček (1916 – 1952), which she wrote to her relatives about her illness:

 Beloved mommy and family, here are a few words of my farewell to you on this earth. The Lord is calling me, I must hurry. I have been waiting for this moment for so many years of my monastic life, and the long-awaited hour is approaching. I know I will hurt your loving hearts, but pain is only on this earth and it passes so quickly. After receiving the news, let a hymn of gratitude to God be sung for all the graces with which God’s goodness has bestowed me. For me, monastic life was a place where I could love Jesus and marry him through monastic vows. Life is short, so remember that your life is not should be mindless, but used for the glory of God. This is what I ask, this is my last request from this earth… I say goodbye to you, mommy, for the last time on this earth, I kiss the loving hands of my beloved mommy – see you in heaven… May God keep you in his care, supports and blesses on this earth. And don’t let evil people tear your faith in God from your hearts. Thank you for everything. Your loving sister Marysia, the devoted sister Maryja Jakuba.

Maryja Kłaček was suffering from cancer. She died in the hospital a few minutes after receiving Holy Communion. She went to the Lord at the age of 36 and in the 17th year of her monastic vocation. In the 1930s, her ministry also took place on Belarusian land, in Moładava.

Photo: Ursuline sisters, about whom the story is told in the essay. Top row. From left to right: Jadźviha Knichavieckaja, Juljana Drymiel, Franciška Michalak. Bottom row. From left to right: Habrieła Piatroŭska, Julija Niezhadzinska, Maryja Kłaček.

The Ursuline women probably knew about one of the rules of the writer Maryja Radzievič, who created a kind of decalogue in her house in Hrušava (Kobryn district). This rule read as follows: “Do not show fear and calmly endure all God’s blows of fate, such as hunger, poverty, diseases and the invasion of unwanted guests.” The writer herself always supported the Ursuline women. Thanks to her persistent requests, the mission of the sisters in the Kobryn region began. Maryja Radzievič ended her earthly journey in poverty in Nazi-occupied Warsaw in 1944. We believe that she approached the last moment of her life with peace and hope in God. Just like many Ursuline sisters.

Prepared by Pavieł Karaloŭ, researcher of the Christian Social Center Mission of the Good Samaritan under the patronage of Saint Uršula Leduchoŭskaja.