Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa
Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa, also known as Nazaria of Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a Spanish Roman Catholic nun and the founder of the Missionaries of the Crusade. She is remembered for her missionary work, particularly in Bolivia and Argentina, and for her dedication to re-Christianizing the world. Her life of heroic virtue led to her canonization.
- Century
- 20th century
- Country Or Region
- Bolivia
Key Facts
- ›She was born in Madrid, Spain, on January 10, 1889.
- ›She founded the Missionaries of the Crusade on December 12, 1926.
- ›Mesa immigrated from Spain to Mexico and ministered in Bolivia.
- ›She later lived and died in Argentina.
- ›She was beatified on September 27, 1992, and canonized on October 14, 2018.
- ›Her religious name was Nazaria of Saint Teresa of Jesus.
Nazaria of Saint Teresa of Jesus
Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly, Missionaries of the Crusade
About Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa
Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa (1889–1943), known in religion as Nazaria of Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a Spanish Roman Catholic professed religious and the founder of the Missionaries of the Crusade. Her life was dedicated to missionary work and the establishment of a religious order focused on re-Christianizing the world.
Life and Ministry
Born in Madrid, Spain, Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa experienced a profound spiritual calling from a young age. Despite initial opposition from her parents, she pursued a religious life. She immigrated to Mexico with her family and later joined the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly in 1908. Her service with this order took her to Oruro, Bolivia, where she ministered to the elderly and ill from 1908 to 1920.
During her time in Bolivia, she met Filippo Cortesi, with whom she discussed the idea of founding a new religious congregation. This inspiration arose from a spiritual retreat she attended in 1920. Mesa left her original order on June 16, 1925, to pursue this vision. She rallied ten Bolivian women to join her, and with Cortesi's approval, founded the Missionaries of the Crusade on December 12, 1926. The order received diocesan approval in 1927 and later a decree of praise from Pope Pius XI in 1935.
Mesa served as the first Superior General of her order. She traveled to Madrid in 1935 to establish a home for spiritual exercises but had to leave due to the Spanish Civil War. She later moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1938, where she continued her work before succumbing to pneumonia and dying in 1943.
Canonization
The process for Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa's beatification began in Buenos Aires in 1966. She was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on September 1, 1988, after his confirmation of her heroic virtue. Pope John Paul II beatified her on September 27, 1992, in Saint Peter's Square. A miracle attributed to her was confirmed by Pope Francis in 2018, leading to her canonization on October 14, 2018, also in Saint Peter's Square.
Legacy
Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa is remembered for her unwavering faith, her dedication to the poor, and her foundational role in establishing the Missionaries of the Crusade. Her order continues its mission, operating in countries such as Portugal and Equatorial Guinea.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa born and when did she die?
Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa was born on January 10, 1889, and died on July 6, 1943.
What religious order did Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa found?
She founded the Missionaries of the Crusade.
Where did Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa minister?
She ministered in Bolivia for most of her life and also served brief stints in Spain and Argentina.
When was Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa beatified and canonized?
She was beatified on September 27, 1992, and canonized on October 14, 2018.
What was Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa's religious name?
Her religious name was Nazaria of Saint Teresa of Jesus.
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