Teresa Demjanovich

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College yearbook picture of Sister Miriam Teresa

Sister Miriam Teresa, born Teresa Demjanovich (March 26 1901–May 8 1927) was a United States Roman Catholic Sister of Charity.

Teresa Demjanovich was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on March 26, 1901, the youngest of seven children. At an early age she ardently desired to dedicate her life to religion.

Teresa completed her grammar school education at the age of eleven, she received her high school diploma in January 1917, from the Bayonne High School.^[1] At this time she wished very much to become a Carmelite, but the lingering illness of her mother kept her at home as nurse and housekeeper.

After her mother’s death in November, 1918, Teresa was strongly encouraged by her family to attend the College of Saint Elizabeth at Convent Station, New Jersey. She began her college career in September, 1919. She received her college degree with highest honors in June, 1923. As always, she longed for the religious life, but various circumstances made her uncertain regarding which community she should enter. Meanwhile she accepted a teaching position at the Academy of Saint Aloysius in Jersey City (now known as the Caritas Academy)^[2]. Not until December, 1924, was she certain that she should become a Sister of Charity, and with her decision she knew she had very special work to do in this Community. Just what the nature of the work was to be she did not know until several months after her entrance, February 11, 1925.

Teresa’s spiritual director in religion, Father Benedict Bradley, a Benedictine (died December 29, 1945), discerning her remarkable gifts, directed her, with the consent of the Mother Superior, to write a series of conferences which, published posthumously, form the volume entitled GREATER PERFECTION.

Teresa’s life in religion was short, but filled with much work and suffering. Like Therese of Lisieux, she apparently lived a long time in a short space. She died May 8, 1927.

Since her death Sister Miriam Teresa has made many friends all over the world. Favors and cures attributed to her intercession are continually being reported.

In the latter part of 1945 a communication was received from Rome authorizing Bishop McLaughlin of the Paterson Diocese, in which diocese the General House of the Sisters of Charity is located, to institute an ordinary informative process concerning Sister Miriam Teresa’s life and virtues. Rev. Stephen W Findlay, O.S.B, Delbarton School, Morristown, NJ, was appointed procurator, and the official investigation began early in 1946.^[3]

Dr. Silvia Correale is the present Postulator for the Cause of Sister Miriam Teresa in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Sister Marian José Smith, S.C. is the Vice Postulator. ^[4]

1 References

[edit] References

^ In 1917, Bayonne High School was located in what is now the Robinson School.
^ See CARITAS ACADEMY TO OPEN IN JERSEY CITY, SEPTEMBER, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-25.
^ Demjanovich, Teresa (1979). A Blueprint for Holiness: Selections From the Writings of Sister Miriam Teresa. Convent Station, New Jersey: Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer, 29-31.
^ Sister Marian José Smith (October 2003). "The Director's Column". Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer Bulletin 57 (3): 2.

[edit] Other Publications by Sister Miriam Teresa

[1928] Edited by Charles C. Demjanovich: Greater Perfection: Being the Spiritual Conferences of Sister Miriam Teresa. New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons.
(1954) Edited by Charles C. Demjanovich: The Seventieth Week. Paterson, New Jersey: St. Anthony Guild Press.
Mediations on the Stations of the Cross. Convent Station, New Jersey: Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer.
The Sacrifice of the Mass: The Greatest Means of Sanctification. Convent Station, New Jersey: Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer.

[edit] Biographies

Harris, Elizabeth [1959] (1979). Sister Miriam Teresa. Convent Station, New Jersey: Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer.
by a Sister of Charity [1936] (1957). Sister Miriam Teresa. New York: Benzinger Brothers.
Conklin, Margaret [1946] (1981). An American Teresa. Long Island City, NY: Color Graphic Press.
Chambre, Renée (1970). Soeur Miriam Térèsa, Apôtre de l'unité (in French).
Chambre, Marie-Thérèse (1971). Sister Miriam Teresa, Apostle of Unity. Mahwah, NJ: The Unity League.
Maynard, Theodore (1957). Great Catholics in American History. Garden City, NY: Hanover House, 235-242.
Blaško, Štefan (1984). Miriam Teresa - Faithful in a Little. Toronto: Maria - Magazine.
Šencik, S.J., Štefan (1974). Kvet z Bardejovskích Záhdnov (Flowers of the Fields of Bardejov) (in Slovak).
Šencik, S.J., Štefan (1981). Ne Ceste Za Väcšou Dokonalostóu (Towards Greater Perfection) (in Slovak).
Middleton, Kathleen M. (2000). Bayonne Passages (from the "Images of America" Series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 72-75. ISBN 0-7524-0563-2.