Friday, April 11

Lives of the Saints

St. Mother Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, “Mother Lupita” (1878–1963)

Pope Francis continues to call each of us to work with and for the poor, and we are reminded of that call in a special way by the example of one of the first saints the Holy Father canonized: St. Mother Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, known as Mother Lupita.

Maria, born in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, developed a special devotion to Our Lady of Zapopan at a young age, often visiting the basilica near the store where her father sold religious items. Despite making plans to marry, she broke off her engagement at age 23-she recognized that Jesus was calling her to serve the poor and sick as a religious sister.

Inspired by her spiritual director, Maria co-founded the Handmaids of St. Margret Mary Alacoque and the Poor. As a member of the new congregation, Maria served as a nurse, caring for the physical and spiritual needs of the sick regardless of their poverty or lack of material wealth.

When asked to become the Mother Superior General of the order, Maria accepted the challenge, though she never forgot what it meant to live a simple and humble life-often, when the order was in need, Mother Maria herself would take to the streets to beg in order to support her sisters and their patients. Mother Maria lived what she taught: Only by being poor can one be with the poor.

When the Catholic Church faced persecution in Mexico during the early 1900s, Mother Maria risked her own life to hide priests in her hospital. Even the Archbishop of Guadalajara sought Maria’s protection during this dangerous time. Though she died in 1963, her congregation continues to thrive and now has 22 foundations throughout Mexico, Peru, Iceland, Greece and Italy.