Blessed Pauline
-
-
Pauline von Mallinckrodt was born on June 3, 1817 in Minden, Germany. Her father, Detmar, was of the Lutheran faith and held positions in the German government. Her mother, Bernardine, was Catholic and proved to be a loving wife and mother. Pauline’s parents provided an excellent education for their four children and afforded them wonderful traveling experiences throughout Europe.
Pauline’s love for the poor and those in need began at an early age. Picking up pieces of broken glass from the streets so that poor children without shoes would not cut their feet and sharing her allowance with the poor and needy were signs that this child born into an aristocratic family would not allow social status, prestige, power and wealth to deter her from serving Christ in each person, and easing the lot of those less fortunate. Grief entered the hearts of the Mallinckrodt family when Pauline’s mother died in 1834. Pauline was just 17 years of age and now had the responsibility for her two younger brothers, George and Hermann, and her sister Bertha.
-
-
-
Pauline also cared for the household and servants, and accompanied her father to social gatherings and on his travels. Pauline’s unbounded love for the poor and her interminable energy on their behalf had as its source a deep and intimate union with Jesus in the Eucharist. At a time when daily reception of the Eucharist was not the norm Pauline sought and received permission for daily Holy Communion.
In the future, when discerning whether or not to take a mission, Pauline always had as a prerequisite that the Eucharist be reserved in the convent chapel, and that the Sisters attended Holy Mass daily. For Pauline the Eucharist was the center of her life and from there flowed her enduring love for others.
The Industrial Revolution of the 1800s had a monumental effect on the lives of the poor as their poverty intensified and the number of indigents expanded to those who once were self-sufficient.
-
-
-
Pauline and other women responded to Christ’s call to alleviate the conditions of the poor in Aix-la-Chapelle. It was here that Pauline cared for the sick and the dying. Upon moving to Paderborn, Pauline was particularly involved with the poverty-stricken families on the outskirts of Paderborn. She nursed their sick and brought them food. The formation of a kindergarten in 1840 was Pauline’s unique idea to provide safekeeping and a nurturing environment for children who had no one to care for them during the day. This undertaking also brought to her attention the needs of blind children, leading to the foundation of a school for the blind; their care proved to be the central reason for the founding of the Congregation.
-
