Angela of the Cross

Angela of the Cross, born María de los Ángeles Guerrero González on January 30, 1846, in Seville, Spain, was a Spanish religious sister and the foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross. This Catholic religious institute was established with the specific purpose of assisting the abandoned poor and the ill who lacked any form of care.

Early Life and Religious Awakening

Born into a humble family, Guerrero's early life was marked by limited schooling and significant responsibility. She began working in a shoe repair shop at the age of 12 to contribute to her family's income, a role she maintained for nearly two decades. Her spiritual life was deeply influenced by her supervisor at the shoe shop and later by her spiritual director, José Torres y Padilla. Despite health challenges that prevented her from entering contemplative orders, she was accepted into the Daughters of Charity, though she eventually had to leave during her novitiate. During this period, she kept a detailed spiritual diary that outlined her life ideals.

Founding the Sisters of the Company of the Cross

In 1875, at the age of 29, Guerrero left her secular work and, with the support of three other women, established a religious community. With initial funding, they rented a small room in Seville and began organizing a day and night support service for the local poor and ill. It was at this time that she adopted the religious name Mother Angela of the Cross. The community received official approval in 1876 from the cardinal archbishop of Seville. The institute expanded, with new communities founded in Utrera and Ayamonte, and later establishing 23 communities across western Andalusia and southern Extremadura.

Death and Canonization

Angela of the Cross died of natural causes in Seville on March 2, 1932, at the age of 86. Her cause for sainthood was opened in 1952. She was declared venerable in 1976 by Pope Paul VI and beatified in 1982 by Pope John Paul II. Her canonization took place on May 4, 2003, in Madrid, declared by Pope John Paul II. Her body was transferred to Seville Cathedral for a week of public veneration as part of the canonization celebrations.