Group of fifteen religious sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Catherine martyred in 1945 by Red Army soldiers in East Prussia.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
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Biography
Presentation of Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and her 14 companions, Sisters of Saint Catherine martyred in 1945 by the Red Army.
Blessed Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and her 14 companions form a group of religious sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr, who were martyred in 1945 by soldiers of the Red Army during the invasion of East Prussia at the end of the Second World War. Faced with the advance of Soviet troops at the beginning of 1945, they deliberately chose to remain at their posts so as not to abandon the sick, the orphans, and the elderly. Between January and November 1945, they suffered extreme violence, torture, and rape. Some were murdered on the spot while defending their chastity, while others succumbed to their wounds or died of exhaustion and typhus in Soviet labor camps.
Life and work
The dedication of the fifteen religious sisters within the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Catherine in various locations.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr, founded in 1571 in Braniewo by Blessed Regina Protmann, combines contemplative life and charitable action. The fifteen martyrs embodied this charism in various ministries: In Olsztyn, Sister Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and Sister Maria Liberia Domnick were killed on January 22, 1945, while Sisters Maria Maurycja Margenfeld, Maria Leonis Müller, and Maria Tiburtia Mischke died in deportation in the USSR. In Kętrzyn, Sisters Maria Sekundina Rautenberg and Maria Adelgard Bönigk were tortured and killed on January 27, 1945. In Lidzbark Warmiński, Sisters Maria Aniceta Skibowska, Maria Gebharda Schröter, and Maria Sabinella Angrick were shot on February 2, 1945. In Orneta, Sisters Maria Bona Pestka, Maria Gunhilda Steffen, and Maria Rolanda Abraham died from the effects of abuse in May and June 1945. In Gdańsk, Sister Maria Caritina Fahl died of her wounds on June 5, 1945, after protecting young nuns. In Piła, Sister Maria Xaveria Rohwedder died on November 25, 1945, after being beaten on a train.
Path to holiness
The beatification process, the archaeological research of the IPN, and the recognition of martyrdom.
The beatification process opened on March 18, 2003, in the Archdiocese of Warmia. After hearing 60 witnesses, the diocesan phase concluded in 2006. In 2020, the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) carried out exhumations that allowed for the identification of the remains of six of the martyr sisters. On March 14, 2024, Pope Francis approved the decree recognizing their martyrdom.
Beatification and canonization
The beatification ceremony celebrated on May 31, 2025, in Braniewo by Cardinal Semeraro on behalf of Pope Leo XIV.
The solemn beatification ceremony for Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and her 14 companions took place on May 31, 2025, in Braniewo, Poland. The liturgy was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, on behalf of Pope Leo XIV. Their common liturgical memorial is set for May 30.
Spirituality and legacy
The spiritual significance of their sacrifice, the transfer of their relics, and the academic impact of their testimony.
Their sacrifice is celebrated as a testimony of faith, charity, and forgiveness in the face of hatred. On June 8, 2025, their relics were deposited in the chapel of the Olsztyn Municipal Hospital. In October 2025, the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome dedicated an international symposium to their historical and theological testimony.
Frequently asked questions about Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and 14 companions (15)
Who was Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and 14 companions (15)?
Group of fifteen religious sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Catherine martyred in 1945 by Red Army soldiers in East Prussia.
How did Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and 14 companions (15) die?
Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and 14 companions (15) suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith (20th century).
Which saints were contemporaries of Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and 14 companions (15)?
Contemporaries include: Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Felipe de Jesús Munárriz and 50 companions, Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos and Teresa of Jesus of the Andes.
What are the other names of Maria Krzysztofa Klomfass and 14 companions (15)?
Other forms of the name: Marta Klomfass and katarzynki.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1945
- Beatification in 2025 by Leo XIV