Blog Template Theology of the Body: St. Zedislava Berkiana (1221-1252) of the 3OP

Monday, February 09, 2009

St. Zedislava Berkiana (1221-1252) of the 3OP


... that's Third Order Dominican. Yours truly has been thinking about becoming a lay third order Dominican for some time, and I finally decided to take the first plunge over the weekend.

I'm particularly inspired by St. Zedislava, a Bohemian wife and mother who was also a third order Dominican. She carefully raised four children and founded 2 Dominican priories. The hagiographies record that her charities, at times miraculously confirmed, abounded for the needy, the sick, and indigent families. In 1989, through her intercession, a doctor was healed from a lengthy coma by a miracle. She was canonized by John Paul II May 21, 1995.

Apparently there are more saints in the third order than in the regular discipline of the Dominican profession; these lay saints include St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Rose of Lima, and St. Louis de Montfort.

More about the Third Order Dominicans here. Our motto: to contemplate and to give to others the fruits of contemplation.