Saint of the Day – 17 January – Blessed Euphemia Domitilla OP (c1299-1359) Prioress and Religious of the Order of Preachers, an Ascetic and a devout Penitent. Euphemia displayed a deep devotion to the Passion, the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. She ruled as Prioress consistently and practised great service to the Convent and construction of a new Church. She was ever disposed to teach the young and assist the needy. Her Cause is ongoing. Born in c1299 in Silesia in modern Poland and died on 17 January 1359 in Racibórz, Poland of natural causes, Also known as – Eufemia of Racibórz, Ofka (a pet name).

In the Castle of Racibórz (a town in Silesi – modern Poland), in 1299, Euphemia was born, the 2nd daughter of Duke Przemislaus of Racibórz and his wife Anna, daughter of Konrad II Czerski. The child took the name of her paternal grandmother, with the diminutive Ofka.

Her father made a vow to God and the Virgin Mary that he would found a Dominican Convent where one of his daughters would become a Nun of that Order. In 1306, the promisebecame the truth, with the construction of the Convent of the Holy Ghost.

Ofka spent her childhood at Court, receiving a deeply religious education. She studied at the Convent of St Catherine, spending many hours of the day in prayer. She loved to meditate ,in particular, on the Passion of the Lord, even with night vigils. She had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and carefully prepared herself to participate in the Divine Mass. She added penitential acts to her prayers – fasting and a hair shirt.

The first biographer narrates a miraculous event which confirmed her vocation – one night she saw the Dominican Church of Racibórz illuminated by three rays and in a glow the dove of the Holy Ghost. Thus her father’s vow was fulfilled, even though her marriage was being arranged, to take place in 1311, with the Duke of Brunswick. This event had to be cancelled and at the age of 14, Ofka donned the Religious Habit, with a solemn ceremony, becoming Sister Domitilla Euphemia.

She lived the rest of her life in seclusion, holding the position of Prioress several times, at least in the years 1341, 1344 and 1349-1359. There are thirty-one legal Decrees signed by her,. We also know that she dedicated herself to the construction of the Church and to the expansion of the Convent thanks to the generous donations she was able to obtain.

Nicholas II of Przemyśl was so benevolent towards the Convent that he entrusted his three daughters Agnieszka and Elżbieta, who later became Nuns, to the Nuns for their education, while one sister entered after being widowed.

Sister Euphemia Domitilla managed to obtain approval on 6 June 1344 by Papal Bull, for the strict observance, from Pope Clement VI. She also had a strong Marian devotion, so much so that, she was always depicted with the Rosary in her hand. She led her Nuns to live an authentically contemplative consecration, in the spirit of the Order of Preachers. She also took care of the education of girls in the Convent as boarders. Help was never lacking for the poor and needy who knocked on the door of the Convent, even in times of economic hardship, due to war or natural disasters.

Over the years, Sister Euphemia Domitilla intensified her ascetic practices, her life of self-denial was well known beyond the walls of the Convent. After about a year of illness, she died on 17 January 1359 and was buried in the crypt under the Chapel of St. Dominic, the mausoleum of the Dukes of Racibórz.

Her memory remained alive, some portraits were circulated. An increasing number of people, praying to her, obtained graces and miracles. The Beatification process was started in 1606 and a biography was published. In 1659, on the 300th Anniversary of her death, the crypt was renovated and her mortal remains were examined. In 1737, the Chapel and the Tomb of Euphemia were rebuilt. In 1734-1735 the Beatification process was resumed, interrupted by wars and in 1810 by the suppression of the Convent due to the heretics. In 1821 the Relics were transferred to the Polish Chapel of the Parish Church. In 1936 the Sarcophagus was restored, but unfortunately, in 1945, when the Red Army conquered Racibórz, it was involved in a fire.

Sister Euphemia Domitilla is venerated by the people as Blessed, a local Confraternity considers her as their Founder. In more peaceful times the Cause for Blessed Euphemia has been renewed and continues in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.