Servant
of God Marija of the Crucified Jesus Petkovic was
born December 10, 1892. in Blato. She was the sixth
of thirteen children born to Marija Marinovic and
Antun Petkovic. From an early age she was a lively
and happy soul, showed strong natural abilities and
displayed a propensity towards Godliness, obedience
and mercy. At the age of fourteen she took the vow
of chastity. She participated actively in the church
and the elderly. To the poor, orphaned and young girls
she offered spiritual and physical help. At the request
of Dubrovniks bishop Msgr. Josip Marcelic the Order
of Daughters of Mercy was founded October 4, 1920.
the Franciscan Order with the purpose to spread for
the good of all her instructions. She took responsibility
for the education and upbringing of nuns, establishing
help for young ladies, children in need and the sick.
She founded kindergartens, day-care centres, Home
Economics and sewing classes.
Since
1936 the Order continued its work in Argentina with
her living there from 1940 to 1952, promoting upbringing
and charity work in many countries in Latin America.
She settled in Rome where she lived in the new Headquarters.
In 1954 she suffered a stroke which left her permanently
paralyzed. Exhausted from serving God and the poor
for whom she did spiritual and earthly good with all
her heart, he called her to Him on July 9, 1966.
The
process of beatification began in Rome in 1989. The
Holy Father Pope John Paul II confirmed the request
of the Holy Commission for the beatification and decreed
that her heroic virtues be publicly declared.
On
July 5, 2002. The Holy Commission made a Decision
of heroic virtues of Servant of God Marija of the
Crucified. On December 20, 2002. it made also a Decision
of approved miracle of saving 20 sailors from the
sunk Peruan navy submarine Pacocha by
which all conditions for beatification were fulfilled
and it is expected to be in June.
