Saint Ursula Ledóchowska

Maria Ursula of Jesus, born Julia Ledóchowska on April 17, 1865, was a Polish Catholic religious sister who founded the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus. She was known for her support of Polish independence and often spoke about it at conferences in Scandinavia. For a time, she settled in Russia to open convents but was eventually expelled. Despite this, she continued to found convents across Scandinavian countries and even translated a Finnish catechism. At the urging of Pope Benedict XV, Ledóchowska founded her order from Rome. Her death on May 29, 1939, led to calls for a sainthood process, which was opened in 1981. She was named Venerable in 1983 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square in 2003.