Blessed Dorothea of Montau

Saint Dorothea of Montau is a 14th century recluse from Poland. I am lucky to be named after her, and I have lived more than half of my life in the same region of Poland. Since almost all information available about her is in Polish, probably not many people in Canada know how a special person she is.

Dorothea had a religious vocation from a very young age, but she was forced to marry an abusive man named Adalbrecht. Under her influence, he converted to Catholicism and became a very devoted husband. They had nine children, but eight of them had died (the remaining daughter became a Benedictine nun). After the death of Adalbrecht, Dorothea decided to follow her religious vocation.

She had a very close relationship with Jesus Christ, she was a mystic and stigmatist. Unfortunately she was misunderstood by the people of Pomerania (the region where she lived in Poland), including the clergy. After some time she met a great theologian Jan of Kwidzyn, who became her spiritual director and confessor. She grew in faith under his care and guidance. Her biggest wish was to leave the world behind and focus only on her relationship with God.

She became an anchoress, which means she lived in a tiny cell built next to the Kwidzyn cathedral. She was walled up there until her death 14 months later. During that time she didn't need any food except Holy Communion, she also had visions and continued to have hidden stigmata. She sometimes talked to pilgrims and supported them with advice and prayer.

After her death, the church quickly started gathering information for her beatification process. Unfortunately due to many historical disturbances it took almost 600 years for her to became a Saint.

Saint Dorothea inspired me to think deeper about my obligation as a wife to strive to get my husband to heaven. Her example led to the conversion of her husband, who became a very religious man. Also, Saint Dorothea's need to distance herself from the world to be able to better hear the voice of God made me wonder, what can I do to better hear God's voice in my life?

Submitted by Dorota M.