Maria was born into an important royal family in Madrid, Spain in 1891. Her father was also Spain’s ambassador to the Vatican. The family was very religious and Maria was always encouraged to put God first in her life. She prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide her in knowing how God wanted her to serve him. God blessed Maria with a religious vocation.
She joined the Carmelite order in Madrid in 1920. Before she took her final vows, she and three other nuns were chosen to open another Carmelite monastery in central Spain. It was a true house of prayer and helped many people turn their lives to God. Maria became the Superior of the house and the nuns called her “Mother.” She saw the growth of the convent as a sign from God to establish more Carmelite houses wherever they were needed.
The opportunity to expand came quickly. The bishop asked her to open a monastery in India, the first of many that were founded because of Maria’s work among the people. Shortly after she returned to Spain, the Spanish Civil war broke out. Maria and her sisters were arrested because some people blamed Catholics for Spain’s problems. The nuns lived under house arrest and threats for over a year. When they were freed, the sisters had to rebuild the first house they have founded. It had been completely destroyed in the war. In many cases, the convents the nuns established were just the beginning. Houses for the poor, schools, churches, and medical centers were added. The communities were like small towns, because Mother Maria and her sisters recognized the needs of the people they served in Jesus’ name.
We celebrate St. Maria’s feast day on December 11. Her entire life was spent loving God and her neighbor. We, too, can look for practical ways to show our love for God by helping others.
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