On September 9, 2022, the liturgical memorial of Blessed Aniela SALAWA, a Mass was celebrated to conclude the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of her death. The Mass was held at the Conventual Franciscan basilica in Cracow, Poland.

The presider was the Most Reverend Damian MUSKUS, OFM, Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow. Others attending included the faithful, devotees of Blessed Aniela, particularly members of the Secular Franciscan Order, and the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), Friar Marian GOŁĄB.
In his homily, Bishop MUSKUS noted how hard it is to understand and accept the lifestyle of this maid from Siepraw, Poland. “Aniela teaches us to appreciate the ordinary life, the simplicity and plainness of the here and now. She teaches us to celebrate life as it is, with all its pains and joys, in our meetings with others, in our work, in our prayer and in our suffering.” The bishop also asked everyone to pray for the canonization of Blessed Aniela, so that, “our ordinary daily life may become a path towards our personal holiness.”
Aniela SALAWA (1881-1922) worked as a maid throughout her life. She was a member of the Secular Franciscan Order and often prayed at the basilica in Cracow. She was blessed with mystical experiences. Her mortal remains repose in the basilica’s Chapel of the Passion.
Her beatification ceremony took place on August 13, 1991, in Cracow’s Main Square, and was presided over by Pope John Paul II, who said of the new Blessed: “It is an immense joy for me to have been able to beatify Aniela Salawa in Cracow today. How many times have I prayed in front of her relics, how deeply have her words impressed themselves in my mind and heart: ‘Lord, I live because You command it, I will die when You command it, save me because you can.’”
In 1992, on the 70th anniversary of her death, Blessed Aniela was declared the Patroness Saint of the Secular Franciscan Order in Poland. Her feast day coincides with her birthday, September 9.

Friar Jan M. SZEWEK