Candida Maria of Jesus

For the Italian nun, please see: Maria Candida of the Eucharist

Saint Candida Maria of Jesus
Born	May 31, 1845(1845-05-31) Berrospe, Andoain, Guipuzcoa, Spain
Died	August 9, 1912(1912-08-09) (aged 67)
Honored in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	May 12, 1996, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II
Canonized	17 October 2010, Vatican City by Pope Benedict XVI
Feast	9 August

Saint Candida Maria of Jesus, F.I., (Spanish: Cándida María de Jesús; May 31, 1845 – August 9, 1912), was a Spanish Religious Sister and educator. She founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus on December 8, 1871 in Salamanca, Spain.

Life

She was born Juana Josefa Cipitria Barriola in Berrospe, Andoain, Guipuzcoa, in the Basque region of Spain. Her father was a weaver, and the family was poor. Due to her family's need, she moved to Salamanca while still very young to find work. It was to remain her home for the rest of her life.

While living there, she was effected by the dire poverty she saw around her in that city and felt drawn to be of service to her neighbors in greater need, even at the risk of her employment. She declared at the time that “where there is no room for the poor, neither is there room for me”.

In 1868, when she was 23, she met Jesuit Father Miguel José Herranz, who later helped her in her call to form a congregation.

The congregation spread throughout all of Spain. By 1911, she was able to establish a school in Brazil, the first foundation outside of Spain. She died on August 9, 1912.

Canonization

On May 12, 1996, Mother Candida was beatified, together with another member of her congregation, Sister María Antonia Bandrés y Elósegui, by Pope John Paul II. In July 2009, a meeting took place between Archbishop Angelo Amato, the Prefect for the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and Pope Benedict XVI. In that meeting, the Pope formally approved a second miracle that the Congregation (first its medical panel, then the theological panel, then the prelate members) had reviewed and voted to approve.

On October 17, 2010, Pope Benedict celebrated a Mass of canonization to declare that she and five other men and women were saints. In the homily he gave, Benedict praised her inspiration for other Sisters to dedicate themselves to education and the promotion of women.^[1] She was canonized at St. Peter's Square.

References

1. ^ "Papal Homily at Canonization Mass". ZENIT. Oct. 17, 2010. http://www.zenit.org/article-30679?l=english. 

External links

• Official website of the congregation
• Patron Saints Index page

Persondata
Name	Jesus, Candida Maria De
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 31, 1845
Place of birth	Berrospe, Andoain, Guipuzcoa, Spain
Date of death	August 9, 1912
Place of death