Honoring Hanna Chrzanowska: Beatified Lay Nurse

Article by Roxanna Stevens, R.N., Faith Community Nurse, Coordinator of Health Ministry


Hanna Chrzanowska is a Lay Nurse who was beatified on April 28, 2018. It marks almost 5 years since her beatification.

Polish Nurse, Hanna Chrzanowska of Cracow Poland, organized Parish Nursing home care for the chronically ill in “Extremely degrading human dignity” circumstances. Over the years of 1957-75 she worked closely with the priest, and later a bishop, archbishop and cardinal Karol Wojtyla, a future pope, St. John Paul II. As her spiritual advisor he helped her discover “the greatest of all secrets of her soul."

I am inspired to and strengthened by her story to persevere in my desire to be the most faithful Catholic woman possible and live the virtue of charity ever more in providing a safe space of hospitality in all aspects of my life, especially my profession as a Faith Community nurse.

I invite you to learn about Blessed Hanna as told on the Catholic Nurse Association web site. May her story inspire you to new heights in your spiritual journey with the aid of the Holy Spirit.

Please pray for those who need healing through her intercessory prayer found on the website. May the gifts of the Holy Spirit profoundly call you to seek god’s holy will for you.