Peregrina Mogas Fontcuberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedPeregrina Mogas Fontcuberta |
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| Born | 13 January 1827 Corró de Vall, Granollers, Barcelona, Kingdom of Spain |
| Died | 3 July 1886 (aged 59) Fuencarral, Madrid, Kingdom of Spain |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 6 October 1996, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 3 July |
| Attributes | Religious habit |
| Patronage | Franciscan Missionaries of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd |
Peregrina Mogas Fontcuberta (born January 13, 1827 – died July 3, 1886) was a Spanish Catholic nun. She was known by her religious name, "María Ana." She founded a special group of nuns called the Franciscan Missionaries of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd. Before starting her own group, she was part of the Capuchin order. She was guided by a priest named Josep Tous Soler.
The process to declare her a "Blessed" person began in 1977. Pope John Paul II officially beatified her on October 6, 1996.
Contents
Early Life and Calling
Peregrina Mogas Fontcuberta was born in Granollers, Spain, on January 13, 1827. Granollers was a city known for textiles and farming. It was about 30 miles from Barcelona. She was the third of four children. Her parents were Llorenç Mogas and Magdalena Fontcuberta.
She was baptized just hours after she was born. She received her First Communion when she was six or seven years old. Her father passed away when she was seven. Her mother died six years later. After her parents died, her aunt, Dona Maria Mogas, raised her. Her aunt was also her godmother.
Joining the Capuchin Order
As a teenager, Peregrina was very active in her local church. She attended many parish activities at Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona. The parish priest, Mosen Gorgas, became her spiritual guide.
In 1848, there was political unrest in Barcelona. During this time, Peregrina met two Capuchin nuns. They were living in a rented apartment. Through them, she met Father Josep Tous Soler. The Bishop of Vic had allowed these nuns to open a school in Ripoll. Peregrina was impressed by Father Soler and the nuns. They were all dedicated to the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi. Peregrina decided to join them and dedicate her life to God. She left everything she had to follow this path.
In 1850, Peregrina went to Ripoll. She formally received the habit, which is the special clothing of the Capuchins. The school opened on May 27, 1850. Even though she was still new to the order, she was named the school's superior. This happened less than a month later, on June 13, 1850. She officially became the superior in September 1851.
She returned to a quiet life in October 1851 to finish her training. On January 25, 1851, she made her official promises to the order. She received her teaching diploma in March 1853. Then, on June 25, she took her new religious name, "María Ana."
Founding a New Order
María Ana also met and talked about teaching with Antonio Maria Claret. On December 10, 1865, she helped Antonia de Oviedo Schöntal start a new religious group. In 1868, María Ana led a group of nuns to Madrid, the capital of Spain. There, they opened a kindergarten.
Even with political problems, they continued their work. They wanted to educate poor children and help the sick. The Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo, Cirilo de Alameda y Brea, officially approved María Ana's new religious order. This happened on January 16, 1872. The new group was called the Franciscan Missionaries of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd.
Later Life and Legacy
María Ana Mogas Fontcuberta passed away at midnight on July 3, 1886. She had been suffering from seizures since 1878. These seizures caused her to retire to Fuencarral in May 1886.
Her religious order grew significantly after her death. It became connected with other Franciscan Orders on June 19, 1906. By 2005, the order had 669 nuns in 105 houses. They were located in many different countries, including Benin, Argentina, and Portugal.
Path to Beatification
María Ana's order worked to have her recognized by the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIII formally approved the start of her cause for sainthood on August 8, 1899.
In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, several sisters from her order were killed for their faith. The official investigation into María Ana's life began in Madrid in 1949. It finished in 1963. Church experts studied all her writings. They confirmed that her writings were in line with Catholic teachings.
Pope Paul VI declared María Ana a "Servant of God" on June 11, 1977. This was the first step in the process. A special historical group investigated her life from 1978 to 1988. On December 15, 1994, Pope John Paul II declared her "Venerable." This meant he recognized her heroic virtues.
The Church then investigated a miracle linked to her prayers. This investigation took place from 1989 to 1990. Medical experts and theologians approved the miracle. Finally, Pope John Paul II approved the miracle on June 25, 1996. He beatified her on October 6, 1996. This means she is now called "Blessed."
A church in Madrid is named in honor of María Ana Mogas Fontcuberta.
See also
In Spanish: María Ana Mogas Fontcuberta para niños
