Saints of the Day & More

Born in Spain in 1542, John learned the importance of self-sacrificing love from his parents. His father gave up wealth, status, and comfort when he married a weaver's daughter and was disowned by his noble family. After his father died, his mother kept the destitute family together as they wandered homeless in search of work. These were the examples of sacrifice that John followed with his own great love -- God. When the family finally found work, John still went hungry in the middle of the wealthiest city in Spain. At fourteen, John took a job caring for hospital patients who suffered from incurable diseases and madness. It was out of this poverty and suffering, that John learned to search for beauty and happiness not in the world, but in God. After John joined the Carmelite order, Saint Teresa of Avila asked him to help her reform movement. John supported her belief that the order should return to its life of prayer. But many Carmelites felt threatened by this reform, and some m...

Born in Madrid on 4 November 1891. From his childhood he wished to devote himself to God and devoted his youth to help the needy. Attracted by the spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, and moved by his love for the Virgin Mary, entered the Caramel of El Escorial on October 12, 1919. In 1924 he founded a monastery of Carmelite nuns in El Cerro de los Angeles, the geographical center of the peninsula, near the monument of the Sacred Heart, as a place of prayer and sacrifice for the Church and Spain. During the religious persecution Mother Maravillas was noted for its spirit of reparation, strength, serenity and trust in the Lord. Under the sign of fidelity to Santa Teresa founded ten places Carmels recovering Teresa and John of the Cross tradition. Prioress for many years, taught his sisters testified about their virtues and distinguished himself by his mystical life, apostolic zeal and kindness combined with firmness against those who had the real mother. He die...