Colomba Gabriel
Colomba Gabriel was a Ukrainian Roman Catholic professed religious and the founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Charity. She dedicated her life to teaching and religious service, eventually establishing her order in Rome. Her significant contributions led to her beatification.
Key Facts
- ›Colomba Matylda Gabriel was born in 1858 to noble parents.
- ›She received a diploma in teaching and worked at her old school under the Order of Saint Benedict.
- ›Gabriel entered the Benedictines in 1882, taking the religious name Janina.
- ›She was appointed prioress in 1889, novice mistress in 1894, and abbess in 1897.
- ›In 1900, she relocated to Rome and founded the Benedictine Sisters of Charity in 1908.
- ›Her order received diocesan approval on 5 March 1926 and was held in esteem by Pope Pius X and Pope Benedict XV.
Benedictine Sisters of Charity
About Colomba Gabriel
Colomba Matylda Gabriel, born on May 3, 1858, was a Ukrainian Roman Catholic professed religious and the founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Charity. She also adopted the religious name Janina. Gabriel's life was marked by her dedication to education and religious service, culminating in the establishment of her own order.
Life and historical context
Born into nobility, Colomba Gabriel began her formal education in 1869 at a school in Lviv operated by the Order of Saint Benedict. She earned a teaching diploma and continued to work at her alma mater. In 1882, she entered the Benedictine order, taking the name Janina. Her religious life progressed through various leadership roles, including prioress, novice mistress, and abbess, before she was forced to relocate to Rome in 1900.
In Rome, Gabriel received permission to join a Benedictine branch at Subiaco in 1902. Influenced by Father Vincenzo Ceresi, she founded the Benedictine Sisters of Charity, with the first house opening on April 25, 1908. The order received diocesan approval from the Cardinal Vicar of Rome on March 5, 1926. Her work was esteemed by prominent figures such as Pope Pius X, Pope Benedict XV, and Queen Elena of Montenegro.
Colomba Gabriel died in 1926. By 2005, her order had grown to include 121 religious in 18 houses across various countries, including Romania and Madagascar.
Beatification
The process for Colomba Gabriel's beatification commenced in Rome on June 16, 1983, with the "nihil obstat" from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which also declared her a Servant of God. After the diocesan process and validation, theologians and the Congregation assessed the "Positio." Pope John Paul II recognized her heroic virtue and titled her Venerable on July 10, 1990. A miracle attributed to her intercession was investigated and approved, leading Pope John Paul II to formally beatify Gabriel on May 16, 1993.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Colomba Gabriel born and when did she die?
Colomba Gabriel was born on May 3, 1858, and died on September 24, 1926. She lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
What was Colomba Gabriel's religious name?
Upon entering religious life, Colomba Gabriel took the religious name Janina. She was a professed religious within the Ukrainian Roman Catholic tradition.
What is Colomba Gabriel best known for?
She is primarily known as the founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Charity. Gabriel dedicated herself to teaching and establishing this religious order.
When and by whom was Colomba Gabriel beatified?
Colomba Gabriel was beatified on May 16, 1993, by Pope John Paul II. Her beatification process began in 1983.
Where did Colomba Gabriel found her religious order?
Colomba Gabriel founded the Benedictine Sisters of Charity in Rome. She relocated to Rome in 1900 and established the order, which received diocesan approval in 1926.
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