Candida Maria of Jesus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintCándida María de Jesús |
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| Born | 31 May 1845 Andoáin, Gipúzkoa, Kingdom of Spain |
| Died | 9 August 1912 (aged 67) Salamanca, Kingdom of Spain |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 12 May 1996, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonized | 17 October 2010, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Benedict XVI |
| Feast | 9 August |
| Attributes | Religious habit |
| Patronage |
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Saint Cándida María de Jesús (born Juana Josefa Cipitria y Barriola on May 31, 1845 – died August 9, 1912) was a Spanish nun. She is famous for starting a group of nuns called the Daughters of Jesus. This group, founded in 1871, focused on educating children, especially in Salamanca, Spain.
Cándida María de Jesús was officially recognized as a saint on October 17, 2010.
Her Early Life
Juana Josefa Cipitria y Barriola was born in 1845. She was the oldest of seven children. Her parents, Juan Miguel Cipitria and María Jesús Barriola, were weavers. Instead of going to school, Juana helped take care of her younger brothers and sisters.
She received her Confirmation in 1848 and her First Communion in 1855. When she was still young, she moved to Burgos to help her family. She worked as a helper in different homes. Juana saw how difficult life was for many poor people during the Industrial Revolution in Spain. This experience deeply affected her.
Starting a New Path
In 1868, Juana met a Jesuit priest named Miguel José Herranz. He helped guide her on her spiritual journey. With his advice, she began to set up programs to help people and offer education.
Juana believed she had a special vision of Jesus Christ on March 26, 1869. This experience inspired her to do more. On December 8, 1871, she and five friends started a new religious group. They called themselves the Daughters of Jesus. At this time, Juana took her religious name: "Cándida María de Jesús".
The main goal of this new group of nuns was to educate children and help women grow. The local church leader in Salamanca officially approved the group on April 3, 1873. Later that year, on December 8, 1873, Cándida María made her final promises as a nun.
Saint Cándida María based her spiritual life on the teachings of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Father Herranz helped her write the rules for her new group. Pope Leo XIII gave his approval to the rules in 1901. After her death, Pope Pius X gave full papal approval in 1913. Cándida María was a very prayerful person. She spent many hours praying in front of the tabernacle, finding peace even during hard times. Her life's motto was: "I am for God alone."
Cándida María de Jesús passed away in 1912. By 2005, her religious order had grown to include 1,116 nuns in 114 houses. They were working in many countries, like the Dominican Republic and the Philippines.
Becoming a Saint
The process to recognize Cándida María de Jesús as a saint began many years after her death.
First, the Church looked into her life and writings. On July 6, 1993, Pope John Paul II declared her "Venerable". This means the Church recognized her as living a life of great goodness and faith.
For someone to become "beatified" (the step before becoming a saint), a miracle must be proven. A miracle linked to Cándida María was investigated. After doctors and church experts studied it, Pope John Paul II approved this miracle on April 6, 1995. He then beatified her on May 12, 1996, in Saint Peter's Square.
To become a full saint, another miracle is usually needed. A second miracle was investigated in Spain. After careful study by medical experts and church officials, Pope Benedict XVI approved this miracle on July 3, 2009. Finally, he officially made her a saint on October 17, 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Cándida María de Jesús para niños
