Maria of the Apostles in Tivoli
Therese von Wüllenweber
Blessed Mary of the Apostles
Co-Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Savior
Jubilee – 100th Death Anniversary
+ December 25, 1907 in Rome
Born February 19, 1833 at Castle Myllendonk/Rhineland (Germany)
As a young woman of the nobility, she received a good education, which included learning French and English, as well as some Italian. Already then, her eyes were opened to see the worldwide needs of humanity.
Therese treasured being able to believe in God and in His love for humanity as a great gift. She was deeply moved by the mystery that God had become one of us in Jesus Christ. Full of gratitude and of joy in God, she found meaning and confidence for her life in faith.
Holy Scripture was her book of life. She was touched especially by the message about “women who, together with the Apostles, accompanied Jesus”. She wanted to be one of these apostolic women, at a time when the only possibility for women was to do charitable works. From that time onward, the profound desire of her heart continued to be to belong to those men and women who, as apostles, are on the way, together with Jesus, to the many people who do not know God’s love for humankind.
For this, she gladly renounced her inheritance as lady of the castle, for she had made her own the words of her patron saint, Terese of Avila: “God alone suffices”. Her longing urged her to work so that searching and suffering persons would experience the goodness and love of God.
Therese was convinced that it was God himself who had placed this desire into her heart. She remained faithful to it and tried to realise it, shunning no efforts. God led her on seemingly “tortuous paths”. As a religious, she received a good education, but was not able to remain. Alert and attentive, she continued to ‘search and search’, – until her glance fell on a small newspaper advertisement, and her heart knew: “This is it!” Finally, her certainty that God would show her the way, found fulfillment. By now, she was 49 years of age.
The advertisement led her to the encounter with Fr. Francis Jordan, the founder of the Salvatorian Fathers and Brothers. After other “detours”, on December 8, 1888 in Tivoli near Rome, with her he founded the Congregation of the Salvatorian Sisters. – Brothers and Sisters together, in the service of Jesus among human persons! From now on she was known as “Sister Mary of the Apostles”.
With great trust in God, at the age of 56, she undertook a life in Tivoli to which she was not accustomed, and which was marked by extreme poverty. She herself could not go out as a missionary, since she was needed as superior and as educator of those who were to follow. She now formed “Women Apostles of Jesus Christ” and sent them out. Mary of the Apostles did this with apostolic zeal and with a joyful, generous heart.
Already two years later, the first Sisters were sent to Assam, North East India. At her death, on December 25, 1907, the community had grown to 165 Sisters, living in 27 communities in various countries of Europe, in North East India and in North America.
Today, the Congregation numbers about 1250 Sisters in 28 countries. The Sisters live among the poor and suffering, in order to experience with them God’s goodness and love, and to give them a living hope.
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Maria of the Apostles in Tivoli |