Mary of the Divine Heart, born Maria Droste zu Vischering, was a German noblewoman and religious sister of the Catholic Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. She is best known for having influenced Pope Leo XIII to consecrate the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pope Leo XIII called the solemn consecration "the greatest act of my pontificate".
Portrait of Blessed Sister Mary of the Divine Heart, Mother Superior of the Good Shepherd Convent in Porto, Portugal
Erbdrostenhof Palace (in Münster, Germany), the birthplace of Maria Droste zu Vischering
Castle of Darfeld, where Maria Droste zu Vischering spent her childhood
Sister Mary of the Divine Heart as Mother Superior of the Convent in Porto, Portugal (1896)
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a state district capital. Münster was the location of the Anabaptist rebellion during the Protestant Reformation and the site of the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia ending the Thirty Years' War in 1648. Today, it is known as the bicycle capital of Germany.
Aerial view of Münster
View from the south-west of Münster in 1570 as seen by Remigius Hogenberg. On the left is the Überwasserkirche, in the centre is St. Paul's Cathedral and to its right St. Lamberti, and on the far right is the Ludgerikirche.
Photo of the Prinzipalmarkt in 1900
Photo of part of the Prinzipalmarkt area around St. Lambert's church in 1945