Saint Zedislava Berka

Also known as

• Zdislava Berka
• Zedislava Berkiana

Memorial

• 1 January
• 4 January (Dominicans)

Profile

Born to the Bohemian nobility. Married laywoman, and mother of four. Hers was not a happy marriage, and her largesse to the poor put her in frequent conflict with her husband. Dominican tertiary. Founded the Dominican priory of Saint Lawrence near her castle where she received Communion daily, an unusual practice at the time.

Born

• c.1220 in the diocese in Križanov, Ždár nad Sázavou, Vysocina kraj (modern Czech Republic)

Died

• 1 January 1252 at Jablonné, Ceská Lípa, Liberecký kraj (modern Czech Republic) of natural causes

Beatified

• 28 August 1907 by Pope Pius X (cultus confirmed)

Canonized

• 21 May 1995 by Pope John Paul II

Patronage

• difficult marriages
• people ridiculed for their piety

Representation

• Dominican tertiary with a crucifix wound with roses
• taking a sick person’s place in bed

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Wikipedia

Prayers

Faithful God, by her married life and works of charity you taught Saint Zedislava to pursue the way of perfection. By her prayers, may family life be strengthened and be a witness to Christian virtue. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers

MLA Citation

• “Saint Zedislava Berka”. Saints.SQPN.com. 17 December 2012. Web. 22 May 2013. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-zedislava-berka/>