St Maria Antonia de San Jose
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Pope Francis canonises Argentina's first woman saint
Thousands of Argentinians have visited Rome for the canonisation of their country's first woman saint.
Sr María Antonia de San José was canonised on 11 February in a special Mass in St Peter's Basilica. Among the five thousand present in St Peter's for the occasion was Javier Milei, the newly-elected president of Argentina. |
St Maria Antonia de San Jose
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Known as 'Mama Antula', Maria founded the Daughters of the Divine Saviour and dedicated her life to evangelisation and care of the poor. At a time when the Jesuit order had been expelled from Argentina, she made it her mission to spread Ignatian spirituality throughout the country.
His Holy Father Pope Francis at St Peter's
Towards the end of his homily, Pope Francis spoke off-the-cuff and said:
"Today we think of María Antonia de San José, 'Mama Antula'. She was a wayfarer of the Spirit. She travelled thousand of kilometres on foot, crossing deserts and taking dangerous paths, bringing God with her."
"Today she is a model of apostolic fervour and audacity for us. When the Jesuits were expelled, the Spirit lit a missionary flame in her based on trust in providence and perseverance."
"Let us pray today to María Antonia, Santa María Antonia de Paz de San José, that she may help us very much."
The Litany of All Saints rang out under Michelangelo's dome and the Pope spoke the canonisation formula. A deacon consecrated the relics of "Mama Antula", and the Gospel was recited in Greek, as is customary on such occasions.
During the offertory, Claudio Perusini and his family brought gifts to the altar. He had been healed by a miracle that took place through the intercession of the new saint and paved the way for her canonisation.
The Pope had honoured the new saint in detail on Friday. In his sermon today he reflected on the Gospel, which described Jesus healing a person with leprosy (Mark 1:40-45). The man not only suffered from leprosy, but above all, from being marginalised.
During the offertory, Claudio Perusini and his family brought gifts to the altar. He had been healed by a miracle that took place through the intercession of the new saint and paved the way for her canonisation.
The Pope had honoured the new saint in detail on Friday. In his sermon today he reflected on the Gospel, which described Jesus healing a person with leprosy (Mark 1:40-45). The man not only suffered from leprosy, but above all, from being marginalised.
Fear, prejudice and false religiosity: these are three causes of a great injustice, three 'leprosy infections of the soul' that make the weak suffer because they are treated like rubbish. Brothers and sisters, let us not think that this only happened in the past. How many suffering people we encounter on the pavements of our cities! And how many fears, prejudices and incongruous behaviours, even on the part of those who believe and call themselves Christians, continue to hurt them! Even in our time, there is much marginalisation, there are barriers that need to be broken down, there are 'leprosy infections' that need healing. And how does such healing take place? Not by keeping our distance."
Pope Francis pointed out that Jesus made the first move and touched the sick man, although he knew he was violating the ideas of purity at that time.
More than 5,500 pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Basilica for the celebration, among them thousands of Argentinians, including bishops, priests and pilgrims from the archdiocese of Portiña, where Pope Francis was once a pastor.
Link to official text of Pope Francis' address
More than 5,500 pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Basilica for the celebration, among them thousands of Argentinians, including bishops, priests and pilgrims from the archdiocese of Portiña, where Pope Francis was once a pastor.
Link to official text of Pope Francis' address
St Maria Antonia de San Jose
María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa (religious name María Antonia of Saint Joseph; 1730 – 1799) was an Argentine Catholic religious sister who established the Daughters of the Divine Savior. She later became known as Mama Antula.
On account of her Christian life of heroic virtue she was proclaimed to be venerable in 2010. A miracle required for her beatification received the approval of Pope Francis on 3 March 2016. Her beatification followed in Santiago del Estero on 27 August 2016. On 11 February 2024, Pope Francis canonised her.
María Antonia was born in 1730 in the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata, formerly the Spanish Empire, today Argentina. She was descended from an illustrious family of rulers and conquerors. Her childhood was spent living a devout life and at the age of fifteen she decided to devote her life to God. At that time there was no active cloistered religious life and so she chose to wear a black robe and live with other women in a small community.
Guided by the Jesuit priest Gaspar Juarez, she devoted her time to teaching and caring for the sick and the poor. In 1767, Charles III of Spain expelled the Jesuits, prompting her to restore the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. She invited people to retreats throughout Argentina and their great success took her to Buenos Aires. There, in September 1779, she met with imperial officials, who refused her the task of restoration.
But by 1780, the retreats in Buenos Aires had met with such success that the Archbishop of Buenos Aires Sebastián Malvar y Pinto gave his support to her work. She became well-known not only in Argentina, but in other countries and Europe. Letters she wrote during this period were translated into English and German, and were sent for inspiration to various countries. She also established the Daughters of the Divine Saviour.
María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa (religious name María Antonia of Saint Joseph; 1730 – 1799) was an Argentine Catholic religious sister who established the Daughters of the Divine Savior. She later became known as Mama Antula.
On account of her Christian life of heroic virtue she was proclaimed to be venerable in 2010. A miracle required for her beatification received the approval of Pope Francis on 3 March 2016. Her beatification followed in Santiago del Estero on 27 August 2016. On 11 February 2024, Pope Francis canonised her.
María Antonia was born in 1730 in the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata, formerly the Spanish Empire, today Argentina. She was descended from an illustrious family of rulers and conquerors. Her childhood was spent living a devout life and at the age of fifteen she decided to devote her life to God. At that time there was no active cloistered religious life and so she chose to wear a black robe and live with other women in a small community.
Guided by the Jesuit priest Gaspar Juarez, she devoted her time to teaching and caring for the sick and the poor. In 1767, Charles III of Spain expelled the Jesuits, prompting her to restore the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. She invited people to retreats throughout Argentina and their great success took her to Buenos Aires. There, in September 1779, she met with imperial officials, who refused her the task of restoration.
But by 1780, the retreats in Buenos Aires had met with such success that the Archbishop of Buenos Aires Sebastián Malvar y Pinto gave his support to her work. She became well-known not only in Argentina, but in other countries and Europe. Letters she wrote during this period were translated into English and German, and were sent for inspiration to various countries. She also established the Daughters of the Divine Saviour.
Beatification
Her beatification started in Buenos Aires in a diocesan process under Archbishop Mariano Antonio Espinosa on behalf of Pope Pius X on 23 October 1905 and it concluded on 29 September 1906. Her spiritual writings were approved by theologians on 9 August 1916. The formal introduction of the cause came under Pope Benedict XV on 8 August 1917 and it conferred upon her the title Servant of God.
The declaration of "nihil obstat" (nothing against) to the cause was granted on 26 January 1999 and a second diocesan process commenced in May 1999 and concluded on 18 July 1999 allowing for the formal decree of ratification to be granted on 3 December 1999 and for the cause to proceed to the "Roman Phase."
The Positio was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome in 2005 for further evaluation. Pope Benedict XVI recognized that she had lived a model Christian life of heroic virtue and on 1 July 2010 proclaimed her to be Venerable.
Her beatification started in Buenos Aires in a diocesan process under Archbishop Mariano Antonio Espinosa on behalf of Pope Pius X on 23 October 1905 and it concluded on 29 September 1906. Her spiritual writings were approved by theologians on 9 August 1916. The formal introduction of the cause came under Pope Benedict XV on 8 August 1917 and it conferred upon her the title Servant of God.
The declaration of "nihil obstat" (nothing against) to the cause was granted on 26 January 1999 and a second diocesan process commenced in May 1999 and concluded on 18 July 1999 allowing for the formal decree of ratification to be granted on 3 December 1999 and for the cause to proceed to the "Roman Phase."
The Positio was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome in 2005 for further evaluation. Pope Benedict XVI recognized that she had lived a model Christian life of heroic virtue and on 1 July 2010 proclaimed her to be Venerable.
