Teresa Demjanovich
Encyclopedia
Sister Miriam Teresa, born Teresa Demjanovich (March 26, 1901–May 8, 1927) was a United States
Roman Catholic Sister of Charity
.
Teresa Demjanovich was born in Bayonne, New Jersey
, on March 26, 1901, the youngest of seven children. At an early age she ardently desired to dedicate her life to religion.
Teresa completed her grammar school education at the age of eleven, she received her high school diploma in January 1917, from Bayonne High School
(at that time located in the present day Robinson School
).
At this time she wished very much to become a Carmelite, but the lingering illness of her mother kept her at home as nurse and housekeeper.
After her mother’s death in November, 1918, Teresa was strongly encouraged by her family to attend the College of Saint Elizabeth
at Convent Station, New Jersey
. She began her college career in September, 1919. She received her college degree with highest honors in June, 1923. As always, she longed for the religious life, but various circumstances made her uncertain regarding which community she should enter. Meanwhile she accepted a teaching position at the Academy of Saint Aloysius in Jersey City (now known as the Caritas Academy
). Not until December, 1924, was she certain that she should become a Sister of Charity
, and with her decision she knew she had very special work to do in this Community. Just what the nature of the work was to be she did not know until several months after her entrance, February 11, 1925.
Teresa’s spiritual director in religion, Father Benedict Bradley, a Benedictine
(died December 29, 1945), discerning her remarkable gifts, directed her, with the consent of the Mother Superior
, to write a series of conferences which, published posthumously, form the volume entitled GREATER PERFECTION.
Teresa’s life in religion was short, but filled with much work and suffering. Like Therese of Lisieux, she apparently lived a long time in a short space. She died May 8, 1927.
Since her death Sister Miriam Teresa has made many friends all over the world. Favors and cures attributed to her intercession are continually being reported.
In the latter part of 1945 a communication was received from Rome
authorizing Bishop McLaughlin of the Paterson Diocese
, in which diocese the General House of the Sisters of Charity
is located, to institute an ordinary informative process concerning Sister Miriam Teresa’s life and virtues. Rev. Stephen W Findlay, O.S.B
, Delbarton School
, Morristown, NJ, was appointed procurator, and the official investigation began early in 1946.
Dr. Silvia Correale is the present Postulator
for the Cause of Sister Miriam Teresa in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
. Sister Marian José Smith, S.C.
is the Vice Postulator.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Roman Catholic Sister of Charity
Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition
The Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition is an organization of 13 congregations of religious women in the Catholic Church who trace their lineage to Saint Elizabeth Seton, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac....
.
Teresa Demjanovich was born in Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
, on March 26, 1901, the youngest of seven children. At an early age she ardently desired to dedicate her life to religion.
Teresa completed her grammar school education at the age of eleven, she received her high school diploma in January 1917, from Bayonne High School
Bayonne High School
Bayonne High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey, operated by the Bayonne Board of Education....
(at that time located in the present day Robinson School
Robinson School
Dr. Walter F. Robinson School is a public coeducational primary school located in the U.S. city of Bayonne, New Jersey, run by the Bayonne Board of Education. It was originally opened in 1910 as Bayonne High School, and changed to an elementary school in the late 1930s when the present high school...
).
At this time she wished very much to become a Carmelite, but the lingering illness of her mother kept her at home as nurse and housekeeper.
After her mother’s death in November, 1918, Teresa was strongly encouraged by her family to attend the College of Saint Elizabeth
College of Saint Elizabeth
The College of Saint Elizabeth is a private Roman Catholic, four-year, liberal arts college for women. It is located in an unincorporated community called Convent Station, in Morris Township, New Jersey...
at Convent Station, New Jersey
Convent Station, New Jersey
Convent Station is an unincorporated area within Morris Township, Morris County, New Jersey, east of Morristown.-History:The community is named after, and contains, the railroad station established during the 1870s to serve the complex of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, a Catholic school operated...
. She began her college career in September, 1919. She received her college degree with highest honors in June, 1923. As always, she longed for the religious life, but various circumstances made her uncertain regarding which community she should enter. Meanwhile she accepted a teaching position at the Academy of Saint Aloysius in Jersey City (now known as the Caritas Academy
Caritas Academy
Caritas Academy was an all-girls private, Roman Catholic high school in Jersey City, New Jersey. It operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.-History:...
). Not until December, 1924, was she certain that she should become a Sister of Charity
Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition
The Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition is an organization of 13 congregations of religious women in the Catholic Church who trace their lineage to Saint Elizabeth Seton, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac....
, and with her decision she knew she had very special work to do in this Community. Just what the nature of the work was to be she did not know until several months after her entrance, February 11, 1925.
Teresa’s spiritual director in religion, Father Benedict Bradley, a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
(died December 29, 1945), discerning her remarkable gifts, directed her, with the consent of the Mother Superior
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
, to write a series of conferences which, published posthumously, form the volume entitled GREATER PERFECTION.
Teresa’s life in religion was short, but filled with much work and suffering. Like Therese of Lisieux, she apparently lived a long time in a short space. She died May 8, 1927.
Since her death Sister Miriam Teresa has made many friends all over the world. Favors and cures attributed to her intercession are continually being reported.
In the latter part of 1945 a communication was received from Rome
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
authorizing Bishop McLaughlin of the Paterson Diocese
Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, which includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. The city of Paterson, third-largest in the state of New Jersey, was chosen as the episcopal see, even though...
, in which diocese the General House of the Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition
The Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition is an organization of 13 congregations of religious women in the Catholic Church who trace their lineage to Saint Elizabeth Seton, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac....
is located, to institute an ordinary informative process concerning Sister Miriam Teresa’s life and virtues. Rev. Stephen W Findlay, O.S.B
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
, Delbarton School
Delbarton School
Delbarton School is a private all-male Roman Catholic college preparatory school in Morristown, New Jersey, educating young men from 7th to 12th grade. Delbarton is a Catholic independent school directed by the Benedictine monks of St. Mary's Abbey....
, Morristown, NJ, was appointed procurator, and the official investigation began early in 1946.
Dr. Silvia Correale is the present Postulator
Postulator
The person who guides a Cause for beatification or canonization through the judicial processes required by the Roman Catholic Church is known as the postulator. The qualifications, role and function of the postulator are spelled out in the Norms to be Observed in Inquiries made by Bishops in the...
for the Cause of Sister Miriam Teresa in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Congregation for the Causes of Saints
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
. Sister Marian José Smith, S.C.
Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition
The Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition is an organization of 13 congregations of religious women in the Catholic Church who trace their lineage to Saint Elizabeth Seton, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac....
is the Vice Postulator.
External links
- Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer - official website.