Consuelo Barcelo y Pages Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Venerable Consuelo Barcelo y Pages OSA

Born	July 24, 1857 Barcelona, Spain
Died	August 4, 1940(1940-08-04) (aged 83) Manila, Philippines

Consuelo Barcelo y Pages (born Joaquina Maria Mercedes Josefa Barcelo y Pages) was a Spanish Roman Catholic nun. She helped start a group of sisters called the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation in the Philippines, along with her sister, Rita Barcelo y Pages. Consuelo was born in Spain on July 24, 1857, and passed away in Manila, Philippines, on August 4, 1940, when she was 83 years old.

Life and Mission of Consuelo Barcelo
Death of Mother Consuelo
Legacy of Mother Consuelo
Veneration
Gallery
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Life and Mission of Consuelo Barcelo

Consuelo Barcelo y Pages was born on July 24, 1857, in Sarriá, Barcelona, Spain. Her parents were Salvador Barceló y Roces and Maria Pagés y Campanya. She had several siblings, including her sister Ignes Joaquina Vicenta, who later became known as Mother Rita Barceló.

Consuelo studied for fourteen years at a school in Barcelona. Even though she was very outgoing, she felt a strong desire to live a quiet, religious life, much like her older sister, Ana Maria.

Becoming a Nun

She first joined a monastery in Barcelona. However, she had to leave because of a recurring health issue with her knee. Later, when some Augustinian nuns were asked to go to the Philippines, her wish to live a religious life came back. They were needed to care for young girls who had lost their parents due to a sickness.

So, Consuelo joined the Augustinian community in Barcelona. She traveled to Manila, Philippines, with a second group of nuns, arriving on October 5, 1883.

On November 21, 1883, she officially became an Augustinian novice. This means she began a trial period before becoming a full nun. She was given the name Sor Maria de la Consolacion, but everyone called her Sor Consuelo.

Helping Orphans in the Philippines

Despite some questions from church leaders, Sor Consuelo made her first promises as a nun on December 26, 1884. She was the first Spanish woman to become a nun in the Philippines. At the orphanage, she gave the children food, shelter, clothes, and an education. She also spent a lot of time teaching music. She had a special way of making the girls feel comfortable and happy.

The group of nuns later split into two. Sor Consuelo chose to stay at the orphanage in Mandaluyong with her sister, Sor Rita, and two other nuns. Life in Manila was hard. Of the first seven nuns who came from Barcelona, only the two Barceló sisters remained.

To get more nuns for the orphanage, Sor Rita and Sor Consuelo suggested two ways to find new members. One was to start a training center in Spain, and the other was to train local Filipino women in the Philippines. Filipino women were accepted into the religious life as early as 1885. Mother Consuelo became the leader who trained these new nuns.

Challenges and Return to Spain

When a revolution began in 1896, Mother Consuelo and the Filipino nuns prayed for safety. Luckily, nothing bad happened near the orphanage.

In 1898, during the Filipino-American war, Mother Consuelo, the sisters, and nearly 200 orphan children had to leave the orphanage. They fled towards Manila for safety.

When the Americans arrived, the Augustinian leaders officially closed the sisters' community and their school-orphanage. Mother Rita and Mother Consuelo had to obey and left the Philippines for Spain on March 13, 1899. The Filipino nuns were left without a home or money, but they decided to stay together.

Return to the Philippines

The Filipino sisters asked to be part of the Augustinian Order. Their request was approved on May 31, 1902, thanks to Mother Rita's recommendation before she passed away in Barcelona.

Back in Spain, Mother Consuelo fit in so well with the Spanish nuns that they chose her as their leader in February 1903. This was very unusual because she was not originally from that community. It was also rare for a nun to lead two different communities (Mandaluyong and Barcelona).

On June 18, 1904, Mother Consuelo returned to the Philippines alone. Mother Rita had died before she could come back.

Upon her return, Mother Consuelo first led a new training house for nuns. Later, she became the head of the Colegio de la Consolacion in Manila. In 1915, she was chosen as the first Superior General, which means the main leader of all the sisters. She served in this important role for 25 years until her death.

The college was destroyed by fire in 1909. But on February 12, 1910, Colegio de la Consolacion became the first private school to be officially recognized by the government during American rule.

Death of Mother Consuelo

On July 31, 1940, Mother Consuelo had two serious heart attacks and was taken to the hospital. A church leader named Michael J. O'Doherty visited her when she was unconscious. Seeing the sisters crying, he said, "Why do you weep? You should be glad to have a saint in heaven to pray for you. If Sor Consuelo is not a saint, then there is no saint in heaven."

Mother Consuelo passed away on the morning of August 4, 1940, at 83 years old. Her body was placed in the chapel of Colegio de la Consolacion in Manila. Hundreds of girls and women came to show their love and thanks. Her burial felt more like a celebration than a sad funeral.

Legacy of Mother Consuelo

Mother Consuelo Barceló is remembered most for her great love for God and for other people. Her words and actions showed how much she cared. She especially showed her love by helping her fellow nuns, other religious groups, church leaders, orphans, working girls, teachers, and her own family. She always had a special concern for the poor.

She also lived a life of fairness and wisdom. She wanted to give everyone what they deserved. She gave her best to God, the church, and her community. Her wisdom helped her make good decisions for the needs of her sisters and the congregation.

She was a great example of living the religious promises of obedience, poverty, and purity, along with humility. She was very loyal to the rules of her order and loved living in a religious community. She always reminded her sisters that they were called to be united in mind and heart, focused on God.

Veneration

Consuelo Barcelo y Pages is being considered for sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church. On June 18, 2002, she was declared a Servant of God. Later, on December 20, 2012, she was declared Venerable. This means the Church recognizes her heroic virtues and that she lived a holy life.