At work and in suffering (Aniela Salawa)
There is such a place in the Franciscan church in Krakow, where you can see people praying at any time of the day. This is the Chapel of the Passion, and in it a plate with the inscription : "Servant of God Aniela Salawa". And a round photo of a woman with dark hair and soft-eyed eyes. It's for her, to this Angela, whose body from the Rakowice cemetery was moved here, different people come to pray and ask her to intercede with God. And they are often listened to. Then they write their thanks on a piece of paper and either leave it at the record, or they give it to the Franciscans for safekeeping. They testify to this, that Angela's soul is pleasing to God. Apparently, Angela could live like this on earth, that she had obtained favors from God. Now her intercession with God is so effective.
And she lived relatively soon, because only 41 years. She came from the village of Siepraw, distant 18 kilometers from Krakow, to which she moved in 16 years old working as a maid, i.e. domestic help. Because the family home was not rich. Aniela was already 11 baby and father, little farmer, little blacksmith, he could hardly earn his way to feed such a large family. Therefore, everything was saved at home, even on eating. Anielka herself spoke later, that mom taught them to eat little, work and pray a lot. She had a very good and pious mother. She was concerned not only with feeding the children, but also about their Catholic upbringing. On Sunday afternoons, she would read and explain good religious books to them. These home religion lessons helped Aniela in her later years. Until the end of her life, she kept her passion for reading religious books.
In Siepraw, Anielka completed only two years of primary school, because there were no more classes there. When she grew up and was old 16, her parents wanted to marry her off, but she resisted it. She secretly dreamed of it, to enter a monastery. But for now she had to go looking for work and earnings outside the home. So she went to Krakow, because her sister Teresa worked there. It was she who found Aniela the first service. It was hard work at first. The demands were high, the payment is poor. So she changed duty a few times, until she came to such a house, where she felt very well. And she worked almost there 11 years. The lady of the house soon met her, she liked her, she trusted and rewarded handsomely. Aniela could earn a little and secure a peaceful old age. Meanwhile, things turned out differently. After several years of service, her beloved lady died, who trusted her so. The master of the house was good too, but some time after his wife's death he accused Aniela of theft and dismissed her from work. It was very painful for her. She did not speak up or explain herself, although it was not true. She packed her things and left this house. Then she worked a little more, but soon. She fell ill. Various sufferings had robbed her of her strength, so that she could not earn for herself. Initially, she found shelter in the hospital of the St.. Alive, but she stayed there for a short time. She rented a tiny room in the basement (as if in the basement) at Radziwiłłowska Street 20 and there she lived for the last four years of her life. She suffered a lot then. She was abandoned and at human grace. She died 12. III. 1922 r., and her body was buried in the Rakowice cemetery. From there after 27 years they were transferred to the Franciscan church, where she rests to this day and where people so often ask her to intercede with God.
So the life of Aniela Salawa passed very normally. It is strange, why it was not forgotten, how about so many other dead. To understand it, you have to look into her soul, consider, what she thought about herself and God, and what she deserved human memory and that, that God listens to her. When she left the family home, she was an ordinary country girl, like so many of her peers. Then in Krakow, as soon as she was better, began to take more care of her appearance and outfits. She also liked fun and entertainment. She treated work ,,with mousse " : must be done, to earn. In vain, Sister Teresa warned and instructed her, that she would not spend money thoughtlessly and not run the risk of poverty. Only when Teresa suddenly fell ill and died, Aniela understood; that she had acted wrongly by disregarding her sister's warnings. She began to think more about herself. She has become more economical in spending and more cautious in her behavior. She was praying more now, she guarded confession and Holy Communion. In addition, she began - like her mother before - to buy religious books and read them. Older thoughts about the monastery also returned. But the priest, who confessed her, he did not approve of this intention. He told me to wait, meditate and pray. She obeyed and did well. In time she understood, that God does not call her to the monastery, but I want, to stay in the world. Then she decided not to get married, but remain a maid all my life. She once said : ,,I chose the status of a servant voluntarily… despising happiness, which happened to me, ufna, that in this state, so humiliating, I will answer God's request ". This was her inspiration in prayer and she remained faithful to him to the end. Because Angela's prayers were now getting longer and hotter. And at such times God spoke to her most willingly. And she was getting better and better under the influence of these inspirations. She was already working not only for earnings, but for love of people. She was less concerned with herself, and more fellow men. All her money went to meet the needs of various people seeking help from her. Therefore, she had no savings. She trusted, that God would not forsake her. When the First World War came, Many wounded soldiers were brought to Krakow from the front. There were also prisoners of war. Aniela is the first, spontaneously, not summoned by anyone, visited hospitals, she looked after the sick, she brought food and comforted. The injured soldiers talked about her : ,,It's a real angel ".
A thought also came to her while praying, that it will please the Lord Jesus best, when she is willing to accept all suffering and unpleasantness. And they were not lacking in Angela's life. She was always in poor health and was constantly troubled. She endured it patiently. With time, she fell ill for good and suffered a lot. Already in her youth she suffered from a stomach and a hernia. Added to this was bone tuberculosis, larynx and lungs, paralysis of the right arm and leg, and finally stomach cancer. All these diseases caused her many pains. The worst was the last 4 patch, when she lay in her dark room, lonely and abandoned. But she never complained, yes - she willingly offered her sufferings for sinners and for her homeland. She knew, that they cleanse her soul, and they can also help others. In the notes, what she left behind, we read :
,,Oh Jesus, you only know one… how much I wish to suffer for you… God, one I fear most, so that the zeal for suffering would not leave me… O, I just want to suffer ".
She lived with this desire for several years until her death. Interesting things are told about some of her diseases : that they passed on to it from other people. In this way, she wanted to help them and free them from pain. One day there, where she worked, she met a young official, whose paralysis took over the right side of his body. The sick man felt terrible despair - he wanted to take his own life. Then Angela began to pray : ,,Jesus, give me that madman's sickness, he is so scared by your treasure - the cross…”And Jesus heard her : the young man recovered, and Angela's right hand and foot were paralyzed. It was supposed to be the same with her stomach disease.
In addition to these physical suffering, she suffered a lot from people. The most painful thing was the accusation of theft and unfair dismissal from work. She took it bravely. Because despite so many diseases, she looked healthy, many people did not believe, that she was suffering so much, and accused her of pretending and hysteria.
And she patiently accepted these unpleasantness. At the end of her life, the worst torments came upon her. Terrible doubts seized her. It seemed to her, that God did not accept her sacrifice. Violent satanic temptations attacked her. The evil spirit tried her faith, hope and love. These spiritual torments lasted three months. But she also survived this victoriously. Then everything calmed down and when the day of death came, Angela, silent and looking far away, departed to God.
This was the life of Aniela Salawa, longtime servant. Ordinary on the outside, and full of great love and sacrifice inside. It turns out, that God likes such a man, who knows how to receive his inspirations and fulfill them even then, when they are heavy and painful. Such people, even if they did very little work here on earth, Lord God rises high in heaven and does not allow them to be forgotten on earth. Many people from those times are not mentioned for a long time. Aniela Salawa is still alive in human memory, books write about her, they are praying to her, and God hears and confirms these petitions, that he loves this soul and repays her handsomely for everything, what she suffered for Him on earth.