Blessed Maria Franciszka Siedliska: A Citizen of the World – For Poles Abroad

Blessed Maria Franciszka Siedliska, London 1899r, photo: CSFN

“I close my eyes, look at nothing, and simply throw myself into the abyss of God, into the abyss of His love and endless mercy,” wrote Blessed Maria Franciszka Siedliska in her spiritual notes. These words encapsulate her life—one of total trust in God and boundless care for others. The feast day of Blessed Maria is celebrated on November 21 outside Poland and November 25 within the country.

Spirituality and the beginning of her mission

Blessed Maria Franciszka Siedliska was born in Mazovia, and spend her childhood in nearby Żdżary and in Warsaw (Poland). It was there that she discovered the profound gift of Jesus’s love for her. She longed to respond with her entire life, writing in her notes, “Jesus’ forever.”

In her youth, she spent five years living in various parts of present-day Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. Fluent in several languages—Polish, French, Italian, German, and English—she also had a working knowledge of Russian. The travels exposed her to contemporary spiritual movements, particularly in France. The 19th-century renewal efforts emphasized the Eucharist, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and the institution of the Feast of the Holy Family.

Through spiritual discernment and the guidance of spiritual directors, Siedliska felt called to found a new religious congregation inspired by the Holy Family, with a mission of supporting families “in collaboration with Christ and His Church.” She chose Rome as the congregation’s headquarters, referring to it as her “nest.” Yet her heart and mission extended far beyond Italy’s borders.

A mission to the Polish immigrants

She never held Polish citizenship—being born under partition rule. Later in life Siedliska became a U.S. citizen, though she never lived there permanently. Her ministry, however, was closely tied to the Polish communities in England, France, and the United States.

In 1885, she began her mission in America, serving Polish immigrants and later reaching out to Lithuanians and Americans. She dreamed of ministering to Native Americans and showed great concern for the marginalized. She adopted five Black girls, providing them with shelter and education in orphanages run by her congregation. By the time of her death in 1902, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth had established 20 homes in the United States.

Responding to a request from Fr. Władysław Witkowski, rector of the Polish Catholic Mission, Blessed Maria sent sisters to Paris in 1892 to educate Polish youth. These first outposts aimed not only to teach but also to preserve national identity among Polish emigrants.

A similar mission took her to London in the same year, at the invitation of Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, Archbishop of Westminster. Facing challenges in providing pastoral care to Polish immigrants, the Cardinal asked the sisters to help organize religious life. They served as translators, took on announcements before weddings, and sought priests willing to celebrate Mass. Over time, a permanent pastoral presence was established, and the sisters expanded their work to include running a school for English youth.

A Life on the Move and in Service

Blessed Maria Franciszka Siedliska was constantly on the move, visiting her congregation’s new establishments across Europe and the United States. She ensured that each operated in line with the Nazareth mission, balancing administrative tasks with the spiritual guidance of her sisters. Equipped with a portable writing desk that served as her mobile office, she wrote numerous letters and notes.
Despite her active missionary life, her greatest desire was for a contemplative existence devoted entirely to God. She carefully used every moment for prayer and spiritual reading.

Legacy and Remembrance

During her lifetime, Blessed Maria’s congregation opened homes in Kraków, Lwów, Wadowice, and Czestochowa. She also planned foundations in Warsaw, Saint Petersburg, and Kolomyia. Today, the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, operates in 14 countries across five continents.

Blessed Maria passed away on November 21, 1902, at the congregation’s motherhouse in Rome. Each year, the sisters gather in her room at the hour of her death to give thanks for the life and vocation of their Foundress. Her feast day is observed on November 21 outside Poland and on November 25 within the country.

Beatified by Saint John Paul II in 1989, Blessed Maria Franciszka Siedliska remains a model of boundless trust in God and service to others. Her life and the words captured in her spiritual notes continue to inspire:

“I close my eyes, look at nothing, and simply throw myself into the abyss of God, into the abyss of His love and endless mercy.”