Joaquina Vedruna de Mas
Joaquina Vedruna de Mas was a Spanish Catholic religious sister and the founder of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. Despite a desire to become a nun, she married and raised nine children before becoming a widow and founding her congregation dedicated to education and charitable works. She is remembered for her founding of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity and her canonization.
- Century
- 19th century
- Country Or Region
- Spain
Key Facts
- ›She was born on April 16, 1783, in Barcelona, Spain.
- ›She married Teodoro de Mas in 1799 and they had nine children.
- ›Following her husband's death in 1816 after Napoleon's invasion, she pursued her religious inclinations.
- ›She founded the Carmelite Sisters of Charity in VIC, Spain, in 1826.
- ›Her congregation was inspired by Carmelite spirituality and dedicated to education and charitable works.
- ›She was canonized on April 12, 1959, by Pope John XXIII.
Joaquina of Saint Francis of Assisi
Carmelite Sisters of Charity, Third Order of Saint Francis
About Joaquina Vedruna de Mas
Joaquina Vedruna de Mas (1783–1854)
Joaquina Vedruna Vidal de Mas, also known as Joaquina of Saint Francis of Assisi in religion, was a Spanish Catholic religious sister and the founder of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. Born in Barcelona on April 16, 1783, to noble parents, she initially harbored a desire to become a nun but instead married the barrister and landowner Teodoro de Mas on March 24, 1799. The couple had nine children, and both husband and wife later became members of the Third Order of Saint Francis.
Life and Ministry
Joaquina's life took a significant turn with Napoleon's invasion of Spain, which led her to flee with her children while her husband remained to fight as a volunteer. He died on March 6, 1816, leaving Joaquina widowed and free to pursue her religious inclinations. She moved with her children to their estate in Vic and began her charitable activities, caring for the sick and women. Encouraged by her spiritual director, she founded an apostolic congregation devoted to education and charitable works. The Bishop of Vic guided her institute to have a Carmelite inspiration, and she made her vows on January 6, 1826. On February 26, 1826, she and eight other women professed their vows, officially founding the congregation on that day.
During the First Carlist War, she had to flee to Roussillon, France, due to the threat to a hospital she had founded in Berga. Her congregation received papal praise in 1857 and was aggregated to the mainstream Carmelites in 1860, eventually receiving official papal approval in 1880. Despite facing challenges, her institute spread throughout Spain and Hispanic America.
Sainthood and Legacy
Joaquina Vedruna de Mas died during a cholera epidemic in Barcelona on August 28, 1854, after suffering from paralysis since 1850. Her beatification was presided over by Pope Pius XII on May 19, 1940. She was canonized by Pope John XXIII on April 12, 1959, in Saint Peter's Basilica. Her remains are venerated at the motherhouse of her congregation in Vic. The Carmelite Sisters of Charity continues to operate in nations such as Japan and Eritrea, demonstrating the enduring legacy of Joaquina Vedruna de Mas's work in education and charitable service.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Joaquina Vedruna de Mas born and when did she die?
Joaquina Vedruna de Mas was born on April 16, 1783, and died on August 28, 1854. She lived primarily in the 19th century.
What religious order did Joaquina Vedruna de Mas found?
She founded the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. This congregation was established with a Carmelite inspiration and is dedicated to education and charitable works.
What significant life events led Joaquina Vedruna de Mas to found her religious congregation?
Despite a desire to become a nun, she married and had nine children. After Napoleon's invasion and the death of her husband, she was widowed and free to pursue her religious inclinations, leading her to establish her congregation.
When was Joaquina Vedruna de Mas canonized?
Joaquina Vedruna de Mas was canonized on April 12, 1959, by Pope John XXIII in Saint Peter's Basilica.
Where did Joaquina Vedruna de Mas establish her congregation?
She founded the Carmelite Sisters of Charity in Vic, Spain. The institute later spread throughout Spain and Hispanic America.
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