St. Marianne Cope

"Let us make the very best use of the precious moments and do all in our power for His dear sake and for His greater honor and glory."
- St. Marianne Cope (1838 - 1918)

Today is the feast day of St. Marianne Cope. Marianne was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on January 23, 1838. When she was only a year old her family emigrated to the United States and settled in Utica, New York. She went to the parish school up until the eighth grade, and left after that to go work in a factory because her family needed money. In 1862, her father died and she was then permitted to enter into religious life. She entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Francis, which was based in Syracuse, New York. By 1877, Marianne had become Superior General of her order. In 1883, she received a letter from the Hawaiian government which asked for religious to take care of the lepers on the island of Molokai. Over 50 religious orders had already refused the government's offer. When first told, 35 of the sisters in Syracuse volunteered immediately. On October 22,1883, Marianne and six sisters set out for Hawaii. Marianne helped set up and maintain hospitals, schools, and homes on Honolulu, Oahu, Maui, and Molokai. On August 9, 1918, Marianne died, and was canonized on October 21, 2012. 

St. Marianne Cope, pray for us!

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Picture Of And Information About St. Marianne Taken From:

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saintofday/

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=7727

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne_Cope