Saint Who?
Saints of the Ordinary
Blessed Natalia Tułasiewicz
Martyr († 1945)Feast: March 31
Natalia was born in a large city in Poland, and her father was a tax clerk. She grew up in a loving, patriotic family and was educated by nuns. When she was sixteen years old, one of her cousins died from drug addiction. Moved by this loss, she decided that she would make it her personal mission to serve others in need.
While in college, Natalia studied Polish language and philology. She also met a young man named Janek, and they became engaged. Janek was a communist. Although they dated for eight years, they eventually broke off their engagement.
By the time World War II broke out, Natalia had begun working as a teacher. During the Nazi occupation, Natalia became involved in the Polish underground resistance. She relocated to Germany and worked in a factory to encourage Polish women who had been forced into service, and she secretly taught them about the Catholic faith. She also reported back to the resistance about what she saw. When the Nazis discovered that she was a spy, she was arrested, beaten, tortured, and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. On Good Friday, 1945, she gave an impassioned speech about the crucifixion of our Lord to the women of her barracks, and two days later, she was executed in the camp’s gas chambers. The camp was liberated soon afterward.
Lord Jesus, show us how to share the Good News
with those who are tempted to give up hope.
