St Maravillas of Jesus, Virgin

St Maravillas was born in Madrid in 1891. There she entered Carmel on October 12, 1919. In 1924 she founded a Carmel at Cerro de los Angeles, alongside a monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From this foundation followed nine others in Spain and one in India. She always gave first place to prayer and self-sacrifice. She had a true, passionate zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Even while living a life of poverty in the cloister she helped those who were in need, initiating apostolic, social and charitable works. In a particular way she helped those of her own Order, priests, and other religious congregations. She died in the convent of La Aldehuela, Madrid, on December 11, 1974. She was canonized on May 4, 2003 by Pope John Paul II in Madrid.

The first reading from the Song of Songs (8:6-7) speaks of the strength of love telling us that “Love no flood can quench, no torrents drown” while in the Gospel story of Martha and Mary Jesus reminds us that it is not necessary to “worry and fret about so many things” as few are needed “indeed only one.”