May 9 - Blessed Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger

Quick Facts
  • Working class family.
  • Educated by the Canonesses of Saint Augustine until 1809 when religious orders were closed by decree of the Bavarian government.
  • Caroline decided to start a new religious order devoted to God and Christian education.
  • In 1828 the Vatican got concessions from the Bavarian government, and many religious communities reopened.
  • Caroline and other sisters moved into a refurbished convent, and started the order that was to become the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
  • Caroline took the name Teresa in religious life but was soon called Teresa of Jesus because of her devotion to the True Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
  • The sister's Rule and Constitutions were approved by the Vatican on 23 January 1854 and the Order began to quickly spread.
  • Teresa spent the rest of her life devoted to the work.