At Rome, Blessed Columba (Joanna) Gabriel, abbess, who governed a monastery at Lwów (Leopolis) but, unjustly slandered, made her way to Rome, where, living poor and joyful, she founded the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Charity, as well as the social work called the Family House for poor working girls and for those far from their families.
Lifespan: 1858–1926
Beatified: 16 May 1993 by Pope John Paul II
Memoria liturgica: 24 September
From early adolescence she gave her full and sincere “yes” to Christ, resolved “to place nothing before His love.”
Joanna Matylda Gabriel was born at Stanisławów, Poland, on 3 May 1858, into a prosperous family of noble lineage. She received a thorough education: first within the family home, and later at schools in her native city and in Lwów.
Having qualified as a teacher, she taught in public schools and later in the internal schools of the Benedictine Order. Within that ancient Order she chose to pursue her aspiration to the religious life, entering the Benedictine sisters of Lwów. On 20 August 1882 she made her solemn profession, taking the name Colomba, and in time became abbess.
But Providence had disposed otherwise. Following internal disputes, she was obliged to relinquish her office and, on 24 January 1900, to leave the monastery itself. She went to Rome and from there entered the Benedictine monastery at Subiaco, remaining until 1902, when she returned to Rome.
Back in Rome, she devoted herself to the care of children in the parishes of Testaccio and Prati, and continued her social work among the needy. She established a family home with the aim of sheltering poor young women workers, assisted by a committee of Roman ladies presided over by Princess Barberini.
Counselled by her superiors, she gathered around her young women who wished to share in the work and be united in religious life. Thus was born the Institute known as the Benedictines of Charity, dedicated initially to abandoned young women, with its mission later extending to young women in general and to parish apostolates.
Sister Colomba was assisted by her co-foundress Placida Oldoini, who succeeded her after her death on 24 September 1926 at Centocelle, a suburb of Rome. Under her successor the Foundation continued to grow; by 1970 it numbered 118 houses in Italy alone.
The cause of beatification for Mother Colomba Gabriel reached its conclusion with the ceremony celebrated by her compatriot Pope John Paul II on 16 May 1993.