|
During the religious persecution of the Church in Spain in 1936, the Capuchin Poor Clare sisters Mary of Jesus, Mary Veronica, and Mary Felicity Masiá Ferragut, from the Monastery of Agullent; Elizabeth Calduch Rabira from the Monastery of Castellon; and Milagro Ortells Gimeno from the Monastery of Valencia, faithful to their religious consecration, offered their lives in witness to the faith, thereby joining the crown of martyrdom to that of virginity. They were beatified by Pope John Paul II in March 2001. Maria Teresa Ferragut Roig was born Jan. 14, 1853, in Algemesi, Spain. She married Vicente Silverio Masià, a man of deep faith and constant prayer, on Nov. 23, 1872. They had nine children, three of whom became Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns (Maria Jesus, Maria Veronica, Maria Felicidad), and a fourth became a discalced Augustinian nun (Josefa de la Purificación). Maria Teresa went to Mass every day and was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She promoted charitable works, especially through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, of which she was also president. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and the religious persecution that spread throughout Spain in the 1930s, Maria Teresa had her four religious daughters at home. They were discovered, and their mother was imprisoned with them because she refused to leave them on their own. On Oct. 25, 1936, they were all slain near Cruz Cubierta. Maria Teresa asked to be shot last so as to be able to encourage her daughters in their faithfulness to the Lord. They all cried, "Long live Christ the King!" and forgave their slayers.
|
Religious and MartyrsPrayer
Almighty God, you gave to Blessed María Jesús and her companions the double crown of virginity and martyrdom. Grant that through their intercession we may preserve in genuine charity and experience the power of the resurrection of Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.