Angela Salawa

Who was Angela Salawa?

Angela Salawa was born on September 9, 1881 in Krakow, Poland. She was the 11th child and lived in a very religious family. She served in hospitals in World War I but became sick and died five years later in 1922. She was beatified by Pope John Paul in 1991.

Biography

Blessed Angela Salawa came from the village of Siepraw near Kraków, Poland. There were twelve children in her family, with Angela being the eleventh. Her father Bartłomiej was a blacksmith. Angela was baptized four days after her birth. The family was poor, and because she was weak and sickly, Angela was not as able help with chores as much as her more physically robust siblings. She was an obedient child who tried to do her best to help her family. From an early age she felt Christ's call on her heart.

At age 16, Angela left home to work as a maid in Kraków. While there, she became caught up in worldly pursuits and her religious fervor waned. She was much affected by the death of her sister Teresa, who had appealed to Angela to reconsider her worldly values. While dancing at a wedding reception, Angela perceived Christ standing nearby, asking her how she could prefer dancing to following Him.