This Tuesday, May 7, marks 29 years since the beatification of Mother Mary of Saint Joseph.
On this day, but in 1995, Pope John Paul II decreed the beatification of Mother Mary of Saint Joseph.
The church and parishioners remember the ceremony held in San Pedro Square in Rome, which was filled with Venezuelan flags as a gesture of joy upon learning of such important news.
With this decree, Venezuela was filled with joy because she was the first blessed woman in the country.
After that spiritual appointment, for the glory of God, Venezuelan holiness continues to make history by adding three more blessed: Candelaria de San José, Mother Carmen Rendiles and Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, for whom Mother María de San José prayed daily, in private and in community, so that God would grant him to be elevated to the honor of the altars.
A saint
Mother Mary of Saint Joseph was a humble woman who throughout 92 years of her existence was at the service of the poor and the helpless.
“I want to be a saint, but truly a saint,” she wrote in her spiritual notes and constantly encouraged her Augustinian Recollect daughters to do so: “Forward and always forward, beloved daughters! Do not forget that this earth is for working and heaven is for resting and enjoying eternally; that things, no matter how great they are, are nothing in comparison to the happy eternity that awaits us; “That the world, although it offers much, can give nothing,” expressed part of her spiritual notes.
Biographical summary
On April 25, 1875, Laura Evangelista Alvarado Cardozo, better known as Mother María de San José, the first Blessed of Venezuela, was born in Choroní, Aragua state.
She was a nun belonging to the Order of Augustinian Recollects.
From his childhood he led an exemplary Christian life.
At the age of five he moved with his family to live in the city of Maracay.
At the age of 13, she consecrated herself to the Lord when in her First Communion on December 8, 1988, the day of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Holy Mary, she made her vow of virginity. From here until his death he lived only for himself, in poverty and humble simplicity.
In 1892, at the age of 17, the holy scapular of the Virgin of Carmen was imposed on him. Then in 1893, the priest Justo Vicente López Aveledo founded the Society of the Daughters of Mary, and Laura became part of it, thus renewing her first vows of perpetual virginity, also on December 8.
From the age of 18 onwards, advised by her spiritual director, Fr. López Acevedo, she began to dedicate herself to the service of the poorest.
The same Fr. In 1893, he founded the San José Hospital, the first in Maracay, for the benefit of the dispossessed class and his work began there.
Nearing her 24th birthday, Laura received the direction and administration of the hospital from Father López. She also founded Father López the religious congregation of the Augustinian Recollects in Venezuela, becoming part of it and whose head Laura Evangelista joined in 1903 as Superior of the community, since then she was called Mother Mary of Saint Joseph.
There were many works carried out by this congregation in the country, directed by Mother María de San José, from orphanages to beggars’ homes, maternity homes, hospitals, schools, shelters, hospitals, anti-tuberculosis hospitals, leprocomiums, night schools for domestic workers and others.
After a fruitful life of sacrifice, charity and fervent love for Jesus the Eucharist, Mother Mary died holy in Maracay on April 2, 1967, at 92 years of age.
She was buried in the Chapel of the Augustinian Sisters of the “Inmaculada Concepción” Home in Maracay where she spent most of her life.
beatification process
The process of his beatification began in 1978.
In 1982, Sister Teresa Silva was cured, disabled by a painful illness, to whom the Mother had prophesied her healing years before. This miracle, obtained from the Mother herself, was approved by papal decree of John Paul II in 1993. In 1994, her body was transferred intact to the glass sarcophagus for the veneration of her spiritual and faithful daughters.
As a requirement for Beatification, the mortal remains of the Venerable María de San José were exhumed on January 19, 1994, and her body was found intact.
On May 7, 1995, the ceremony of his Beatification took place.
Venezuelans pray for his prompt Canonization.
Since 1967, numerous people visit the sanctuary of our Mother Mary, in Maracay (in front of the Immaculate Conception Asylum) daily in an attitude of supplication or thanksgiving for continuous favors received. EDG With information from the Augustinian Sisters Recolecta
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