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| St. Crescentia Hoess |
History
Things hardly ever went well for Sister Crescentia. Her family in
Bavaria was so poor that when she tried to enter the Order of Saint Francis at
the age of 18, her dowry wasn’t enough, and she was turned away. Eventually,
the mayor and all the residents of her town appealed to the superior and
Crescentia was admitted. The sisters treated her like a beggar. She was given
the worst chores, but she did them cheerfully and well. Once she was even told
to fetch water with a sieve, and through a miracle, she was able to succeed. In
time, she became respected and loved throughout the convent. At the end of her
life, she lost the use of her limbs and could only lay in great pain on her
bed, curled up like a baby. But she kept her eyes on Jesus and remained joyful
until she died on Easter Sunday.
Activity
Saint Crescentia Hoess learned to endure any difficulty without
complaining – and even cheerfully. Today, pray this “Prayer of Love to God”
that she wrote.
Grant, O God, that love and suffering may grow hand in
hand in me, so that I may love you more and more with the cheerful disposition
which is the fruit of love. O Lord, only grant me love for you, and I shall be
rich enough. I desire only that you leave me to my nothingness and that you
alone, if I may say so, be all in all and loved and honored by everybody. I
wish to take pleasure in nothing but only in you and your love. Amen
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