St. Maria Crescentia Höss

Anna Höss was born Oct. 20, 1682 in Bavaria. Her father was a weaver, and the family had little money. Anna trained to be a weaver as well. She wanted to join the local Tertiary Franciscan convent, but the family could not pay the expected dowery. The convent was in financial straits and depended on local patrons and doweries of novices.

The mayor of Kaufbeuren, a Protestant, donated a building to the convent. In compensation, he asked that Anna be accepted as a candidate. Even as a Protestant, he recognized Anna’s piety and knew she would be a benefit to the convent. She was admitted in June of 1703 and took the name Maria Crescentia.

However, the community resented Anna’s admittance, considering her a “parasite,” who did not financially contribute. She was treated poorly and given the most menial tasks. She did not have a cell of her own and has to ask other sisters to sleep in the corner of their cells.

In 1707 a new superior was elected who was more sympathetic to Maria Crescentia. Maria Crescentia began receiving better assignments, eventually becoming mistress of novices in 1717. She became known both in and out of the convent for her wisdom and good advice.

In 1741 she became the mother superior. She cultivated deep devotions in the convent, telling sisters that “God wants the monastery rich in virtue, not in temporal goods.”

In her final years, she suffered great pain in her body, slowly losing mobility. St. Maria Crescentia died on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1744. Her feast day is April 5, though due to Easter falling on the same day this year, her feast is celebrated on April 6.

An Empty Sepulchre

Due to the current conflict, the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has been closed since Feb. 28. It, along with other major religious sites, were closed for security concerns as Iran began retaliatory strikes against Israel. A government statement said that "all holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Western Wall, the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, will remain closed … for security reasons in light of the current tensions in the region."

On March 12, a missile struck a few hundred meters from the Old City. The closed remain citing security risks of high-target areas and mass gatherings.

As Muslims celebrated the end of Ramadan on March 15, they were prevented from entering al-Aqsa Mosque. As Holy Week begins, it looks like Christians will similarly be unable to celebrate the holiest days of the year at the tomb of Christ.  

It’s so sad to think of the Holy Sepulchre closed off from worshippers. Even though I wasn’t going to be there, it feels like I’m being denied something. I want the holiest site to be reverenced on our holiest day. Here Christ was buried. Here He rose. A historical moment. In a real place. And when we commemorate it, I want to know that some of my brothers and sisters can stand in that place.

The Becket Way

The new Archbishop of Canterbury has been on a pilgrimage to her installation. Sarah Mullally, the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury, has been walking from London to Canterbury over the past six days. Upon her arrival today, the Feast of the Annunciation, she will be installed as the top clerical figure in the Church of England.

This path from London to Canterbury has long been a pilgrimage path for English Christians, but this is the first time in modern history that an Archbishop of Canterbury has taken the pilgrimage in lead up to their installation. The 140km route includes stretches of the Via Britannica and the Augustine Camino, the pilgrimage route celebrating the conversion of English-speaking people to Christianity.

It is sometimes called the Becket Camino as it mimics the journey of Thomas Becket before his murder in 1170. As a common pilgrimage path, it served as the inspirational setting for The Canterbury Tales.

I think it is a beautiful way to start off an episcopy, with prayer and humility, as a pilgrim. For the first woman to hold the office, I think it is also a great way of showing continuity, tying herself to this ancient path and the archbishops who have made this pilgrimage before her.