Blessed Dorothy of Montau

Also known as

• Dorota z Matowów
• Dorothea of Montau
• Dorothea Swartz
• Dorothea von Montau
• Dorthea von Montau

Memorial

• 30 October
• 25 June

Profile

Peasant, one of nine children. Married at age 17 a wealthy swordsmith named Adalbert or Albrecht of Prague (in modern Czech Republic). Bore nine children, only one of whom survived; the girl became a Benedictine nun. Difficult marriage; she suffered abuse from her husband, but she encouraged him in his trade and his faith. Went on a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy in 1389, fell ill, and was forced to stay for many weeks, during which time her husband died at home. Widow. Nun at Marienwerser. Great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament; the absorption of the Eucharist “agitated her like boiling water; had she been allowed, she would willingly have torn the host from the priest’s hands to bring it to her mouth….” Lived in a 6×9 foot cell. Visionary. Prophetess. Miracle worker.

Born

• 6 February 1347 at Groß Montau, Prussia, one of the states of the Teutonic Knights (modern Matowy Wielkie, Poland)

Died

• 25 January 1394 at Marienwerder, Kwidzyn, Prussia (in modern Poland) of natural causes

Beatified

• 9 January 1976 by Pope Paul VI (cultus confirmed)

Representation

• nine children
• lantern
• Rosary

Patronage

• brides
• death of children
• difficult marriages
• parents of large families
• Pomerania
• Prussia
• widows

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
• Oasis in the parish of Our Lady Queen of Torun
• Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Blessed Dorothy of Montau“. Saints.SQPN.com. 31 March 2013. Web. 19 May 2013. <>