The Role and Importance of the Eucharistic Crusade and the Sodality of Our Lady in the Process of Religious Education according to St Ursula Ledóchowska (1865-1939)

The article is an attempt to present the educational work undertaken by Ursula Ledochowska (1865-1939) in the context of her creation of groups of the Eucharistic Crusade (addressed to children up to 15 years old) and The Sodality of Our Lady (for youth). Mother Ledochowska established the first detachment of the Eucharist Crusade in Poland in 1925 in Pniewy. In addition to the Crusade circles, she also founded sodality groups in Poland as well as in Russia and Scandinavia. Ledochowska was aware that by bringing young people together in religious organisations it would be possible to shape their characters, hearts and consciences. She perfectly understood that only formation work is able to build the foundations of the Catholic Church and, in turn, the Polish society she dreamed of – religious God-oriented, patriotic, devoted to her homeland, and hardworking. The Eucharistic Crusade and the Sodality of Our Lady would become ‘educational tools’ in achieving this goal.