María de las Maravillas de Jesús facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintMaría de las Maravillas de Jesús OCD |
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Painting of the Saint in the Almudena Cathedral
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| Born | 4 November 1891 Madrid, Kingdom of Spain |
| Died | 11 December 1974 (aged 83) La Aldehuela, Madrid, Francoist Spain |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 10 May 1998, Saint Peter's Square by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonized | 4 May 2003, Columbus Plaza, Madrid, Spain by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 11 December |
| Attributes | habit of a Discalced Carmelite, holding the rule of the order |
María de las Maravillas de Jesús was a Spanish nun from the Discalced Carmelites order. She was born as María de las Maravillas Pidal Chico de Guzmán on November 4, 1891. She passed away on December 11, 1974. She is also known as Maravillas de Jesús.
She started many convents for her order, even one in India. She had to leave Spain for a short time during the Spanish Civil War. Pope John Paul II declared her a saint in 2003 during his visit to Madrid.
Contents
Her Life Story
María de las Maravillas Pidal Chico de Guzman was born in Madrid on November 4, 1891. She was the youngest of four children. As a child, her family called her "Mavi". Her father, Luis Pidal i Mon, was an important government minister. He was also an ambassador to the Pope.
Her grandmother told her stories about saints. In 1896, María decided to live a pure life, like Saint Agnes. In 1903, she chose a Jesuit priest, Juan Francisco Lopez, as her spiritual guide. He helped her until she joined the convent.
Becoming a Nun
María received her confirmation in 1896. She had her first communion in 1902. In 1918, her mother gave her permission to become a nun. On October 12, 1919, María joined the Discalced Carmelites in Madrid. She took the name María de las Maravillas de Jesús.
She made her first promises as a nun on May 7, 1920. In 1923, she decided to start a new convent in Getafe. This place was near the center of Spain. The Bishop of Madrid liked her idea very much.
On May 19, 1924, she and three other nuns moved to a house in Getafe. They waited there for the new convent to be built. On May 30, 1924, she made her final promises as a nun. In June 1926, she became the leader, or prioress, of the new convent. It opened on October 31, 1926.
Founding Convents and Challenges
In 1933, the Bishop of Vijayapuram asked her to start a Carmelite convent in India. Eight nuns went there to begin it. María wanted to go, but her leaders did not allow her.
In 1931, religious groups faced difficulties in Spain. María spent many hours praying. She asked Pope Pius XI for permission for her nuns to risk their lives. This was to protect holy images if they were attacked.
On May 1, 1936, armed people tried to attack the convent. The mayor warned María that she and the nuns should leave. On July 22, 1936, the nuns were forced out of their convent. They found shelter with the Ursulines in Getafe.
María then moved to an apartment in Madrid for 14 months. In September 1937, she and her group left Madrid. They went to Lourdes in France. On September 28, 1937, they returned to Spain. They settled in Las Batuecas in Salamanca. There, she started another new convent.
Later Years and Legacy
In March 1939, she went back to the Cerro de los Angeles. She helped rebuild the convent there. She also started new convents in Toledo in 1960 and Málaga in 1964.
She founded several other convents. These included one in Mancera de Abajo in 1944. Others were in Duruelo in Ávila in 1947, and Arenas de San Pedro in 1954. She also started convents in San Calixto in 1956 and Aravaca in 1958. In 1961, she founded a convent in La Aldehuela, Madrid. She lived there as prioress until she passed away.
In 1972, she started the "Association of Saint Teresa". In 1967, she had pneumonia and had to rest in bed.
Mother Maravillas passed away on December 11, 1974, at her convent. Her last words were: "What happiness to die a Carmelite!" She had heart attacks in 1962 and 1972. These made her weak until her death. Her body is buried at La Aldehuela.
Becoming a Saint
The process to declare María a saint began on June 19, 1980. The Church officially recognized her as a "Servant of God". A special investigation took place in Madrid from 1981 to 1983. In 1994, a detailed report about her life was sent to Rome.
Church experts studied her life and approved her case in 1996. On December 17, 1996, Pope John Paul II declared her "Venerable". This meant she had lived a life of great goodness.
Beatification
For her to be declared "Blessed" (beatified), a miracle was needed. A special investigation into a miracle happened in Spain in 1984. Medical experts and Church theologians approved this miracle.
On December 18, 1997, Pope John Paul II confirmed the healing was a true miracle. He then beatified Mother Maravillas on May 10, 1998. This ceremony took place in Saint Peter's Square in Rome.
Canonization
For her to become a full saint, a second miracle was needed. This investigation took place in Argentina. It was approved by medical experts and Church theologians.
On April 23, 2002, Pope John Paul II approved this second miracle. He then declared María de las Maravillas a saint. This happened on May 4, 2003, in Columbus Plaza in Madrid, Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Maravillas de Jesús para niños
