Maria Micaela Desmaisieres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintMicaela Desmaisières López de Dicastillo |
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| Religious | |
| Born | 1 January 1809 Madrid, Kingdom of Spain |
| Died | 24 August 1865 (aged 56) Valencia, Kingdom of Spain |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 7 June 1925, Saint Peter's Basilica, Kingdom of Italy by Pope Pius XI |
| Canonized | 4 March 1934, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Pius XI |
| Feast | 25 August |
| Attributes | Religious habit |
| Patronage | Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament |
Micaela Desmaisières López de Dicastillo (born January 1, 1809 – died August 24, 1865) was a Spanish Catholic nun. She was also known by her religious name, María Micaela of the Blessed Sacrament. She founded a group of nuns called the Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament.
Micaela grew up around important European leaders. Her brother was an ambassador, and she traveled with him. Later, she chose to help poor girls and women. She also cared for people who were sick.
Her journey to becoming a saint began in 1902. Pope Leo XIII gave her the title of Servant of God. Later, Pope Pius XI called her Venerable in 1922. The same pope made her a blessed person in 1925. Finally, he declared her a saint in 1934.
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Micaela's Early Life
Micaela Desmaisières López de Dicastillo was born in 1809 in Madrid, Spain. This was during the Peninsular War, a time of conflict. Her parents were Miguel Desmaisières Flores and Bernarda López de Dicastillo Olmeda. Her brother was named Diego.
Her father was a high-ranking army officer. Her mother worked for Queen Maria Luisa de Parma. Sadly, Micaela's mother passed away when Micaela was a child. Her niece, Maria Diega, was her brother's daughter.
Education and Social Connections
The Ursulines, a group of nuns, were in charge of Micaela's education. Because of her family, she knew many important people. She had good relationships with the leaders of France, Spain, and Belgium.
Micaela spent much of her childhood with her brother Diego. He was the Spanish ambassador to different countries. She often attended dances and social events. Horse riding was also a common activity for her. She even received the title "Viscountess of Jorbalán."
Helping Others During Sickness
In 1834, a serious illness called cholera spread. Micaela helped care for sick people during this time. This experience made her think about how she could best use her life.
Micaela had a strong and determined personality, like a "warrior." This helped her face challenges later on. She was also very kind and caring. Her mother had taught her to help the poor and the sick. She balanced this charity work with her normal social life.
She loved spending time praying before the Eucharist, also called the Blessed Sacrament. This is a special part of Catholic worship. Her deep love for Jesus Christ in this way inspired her future work. From 1857 until her death, Antonio María Claret was her spiritual advisor.
Founding a New Order
Micaela saw many girls and women who needed help. Their difficult experiences convinced her that something had to be done. She used her social connections to start a safe place for these women.
This shelter opened on April 21, 1845. Many girls and women came to its doors, looking for assistance. This showed a great need in society. Because of this, Micaela decided to create a new religious group.
She founded the Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament on April 21, 1845. The local church leaders approved her group on April 25, 1858. Later, Pope Pius IX gave it official approval on September 15, 1860. Between 1847 and 1848, Micaela traveled to France and Belgium. She thought about joining another group of nuns, the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, in Paris. However, her spiritual advisor did not agree, so she did not join them.
Later Life and Legacy
Micaela Desmaisières passed away in Valencia on August 25, 1865. She became sick with the cholera epidemic while caring for others. She was helping women and fellow nuns who were infected in the area.
Her religious order grew and spread to many places. It reached countries like the United Kingdom and Japan. In 2011, there were 1119 nuns in 158 houses around the world. In 1891, her remains were moved to the main house of her order.
Becoming a Saint
The process to declare Micaela a saint began on August 19, 1902. Pope Leo XIII gave her the title of Servant of God. Later, on June 11, 1922, Pope Pius XI recognized her heroic virtue. This meant she had lived a life of great goodness, and he named her Venerable.
The same pope also confirmed two miracles that were believed to have happened because of her prayers. Because of these miracles, he declared her "Blessed" on June 7, 1925. After two more miracles were confirmed, Pope Pius XI officially made her a saint on March 4, 1934.
See also
In Spanish: María Micaela del Santísimo Sacramento para niños
