Saint Maria Katharina Kasper

Life story

Maria Katharina was born on 26 May 1820 in Dernbach, a small German village, to a farming family. From her youth she worked in the fields and split stones for road building, and she is described as strong and outgoing. Her father died in January 1842, and the family's circumstances became hard.

In 1845 the first nucleus of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ came together to welcome and support the poor. She regularly visited poor families unannounced so as to avoid praise, and travelled on foot in difficult conditions. According to one biography, the group's first vows were received by Bishop Peter Joseph Blum on 15 August 1851 at Wirges, and she took the religious name Maria.

By the time of her death in 1898 the congregation counted about 1,725 sisters in 193 houses. She served several consecutive terms as superior general. She died of a heart attack on 2 February 1898 in Dernbach. Pope Paul VI beatified her in 1978 and Pope Francis canonized her on 14 October 2018.

Works and witness

• Worked in the fields and split stones for roads from her youth
• Formed the first group of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ in 1845
• Visited poor families in their homes, often on foot
• Her congregation grew to about 1,725 sisters in 193 houses by her death
• Died on 2 February 1898; canonized on 14 October 2018

Saints from the same country

Saint Ambrose, Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Saint Bruno of Cologne

References

• Vatican Press Office, canonization biographies, 11 October 2018 (Maria Katharina Kasper)
• Deutsche Biographie (NDB), 'Kasper, Maria' (deutsche-biographie.de)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.