Laura Vicuña
Encyclopedia
Blessed Laura Vicuña is a blessed
person in the Roman Catholic Church
. She is the patron of abuse victims.
, Chile
. She was the first daughter of the Vicuña Pino family. Her parents were José Domingo Vicuña, a soldier with aristocratic roots, and Mercedes Pino. Her father was in military service and her mother worked at home.
At the very end of the nineteenth century, civil war erupted in Chile. A key figure in one of the warring factions was a kinsman of José Domingo, Claudio Vicuña. Claudio Vicuña did not achieve his goal of becoming president; his enemies began pursuing the whole Vicuña family, which obliged them to flee their homeland. In 1894, after the birth of a second daughter, Julia Amanda, José Domingo died, leaving his wife and daughters penniless and in great peril. Mercedes decided to travel to Argentina
to hide from those who wanted her family dead.
. In search of a way to finance her daughters' education, she took a job in the Quilquihué Hostel. The owner of the Hostel, Manuel Mora, propositioned Mercedes, promising to pay for Laura's education in exchange. Laura soon entered the “Hijas of Maria Auxiliadora” (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) School, where she was taught a love for religion. Following her father's example, and with the care of the nuns, she began to take a deep interest in the Catholic faith.
.
started Laura's canonization process in the 1950s. The congregation commended that duty to the nun Cecilia Genghini, who spent many years collecting information about Laura's life. But she did not see the completion of her work; she died the same year the process began.
One incentive for the congregation was the beatification of Saint Dominic Savio
(March 5, 1950) and the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti
(June 24, 1950). The progress began in the city of Viedma. But Laura could not be considered a martyr, and because of her young age, there was not much hope for her beatification. Nevertheless, in 1981, the application process was completed by the congregation, and on June 5, 1986, she was declared Venerable.
Every candidate for beatification, except in the case of martyrs, must be shown to have obtained a miracle from God when their prayers were invoked. In Laura's case, the requisite miracle concerned the nun Ofelia del Carmen Lobos Arellano. In August 1955, doctors told Sister Ofelia that she would die of lung cancer
in a few months, but when she confidently invoked Laura's prayers, the disease disappeared. September 3, 1988 saw Laura's beatification by Pope John Paul II
. Her feastday is celebrated on January 22.
was inaugurated and dedicated to her memory.
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
person in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. She is the patron of abuse victims.
Escape from Chile
Laura del Carmen Vicuña was born on April 5, 1891 in SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. She was the first daughter of the Vicuña Pino family. Her parents were José Domingo Vicuña, a soldier with aristocratic roots, and Mercedes Pino. Her father was in military service and her mother worked at home.
At the very end of the nineteenth century, civil war erupted in Chile. A key figure in one of the warring factions was a kinsman of José Domingo, Claudio Vicuña. Claudio Vicuña did not achieve his goal of becoming president; his enemies began pursuing the whole Vicuña family, which obliged them to flee their homeland. In 1894, after the birth of a second daughter, Julia Amanda, José Domingo died, leaving his wife and daughters penniless and in great peril. Mercedes decided to travel to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
to hide from those who wanted her family dead.
Early years in Argentina
Mercedes and her daughters moved to the Argentine province of NeuquénNeuquén
Neuquén is the name of the following things:* Neuquén, Argentina* Neuquén Province* Neuquén River* Neuquén Group...
. In search of a way to finance her daughters' education, she took a job in the Quilquihué Hostel. The owner of the Hostel, Manuel Mora, propositioned Mercedes, promising to pay for Laura's education in exchange. Laura soon entered the “Hijas of Maria Auxiliadora” (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) School, where she was taught a love for religion. Following her father's example, and with the care of the nuns, she began to take a deep interest in the Catholic faith.
Vocation
Laura made her First Communion on June 2, 1901; at this time she expressed her vocation of love towards God, her desire to serve the poor and needy, and also to die sinless. Because of her deep religious interest, she was not well liked among her classmates. She spent most of her time "rezando" (which means repetitive praying), in the school's chapel. She had one good friend, Mercedes Vera, to whom she expressed her deepest feelings, such as her desire to become a nun. Even when very young, Laura was mature enough to understand her mother's problems, which included, as she saw it, Mercedes' distance from God. This motivated her to "rezar" (which means, ritually praying) every day for her mother's salvation, and to help her to leave Manuel.Problems at home
During one of her school vacations, Laura was beaten twice by Manuel Mora, who wanted her to forget about becoming a nun. Even when he stopped paying for her education, she held to her desire to become a nun. When the nuns at her school learned of the conflict, they gave her a scholarship. Although she was grateful to her teachers, she still worried about her mother's situation.The sacrifice
One day, remembering the phrase of Jesus: “There is no one greater than the one that gives his life for his brothers," Laura decided to give her life in exchange for her mother's salvation. As time passed she became seriously ill with pulmonary tuberculosis. Before she died, Laura told her mother: “Mama, I offer my life for you, I asked our lord for this”. Before I die, Mother, would I have the joy of seeing you repent?” Mercedes tearfully answered: “I swear, I will do whatever you ask me! God is the witness of my promise!" Finally Laura smiled and said to her mother: "Thanks, Jesus! Thanks Mary! Goodbye, Mother! Now I die happy!" On January 22, 1904, Laura died of her disease, weakened by the physical abuse she previously received from Mora, having offered her life for the salvation of her mother. From 1937 to 1958, Laura's remains lay in the Nequén graveyard, after which they were moved to Bahía BlancaBahía Blanca
Bahía Blanca is a city located in the south-west of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, by the Atlantic Ocean, and seat of government of Bahía Blanca Partido. It has a population of 274,509 inhabitants according to the...
.
Beatification process
The Salesian Sisters of Don BoscoSalesian Sisters of Don Bosco
The Salesian Sisters of St John Bosco or Daughters of Mary Help of Christians are the sister order of the Salesians of Don Bosco. They were founded by Saint Maria Mazzarello in 1872 to work alongside Saint John Bosco in his teaching projects in Turin and continue to be a teaching order worldwide.On...
started Laura's canonization process in the 1950s. The congregation commended that duty to the nun Cecilia Genghini, who spent many years collecting information about Laura's life. But she did not see the completion of her work; she died the same year the process began.
One incentive for the congregation was the beatification of Saint Dominic Savio
Dominic Savio
Dominic Savio was an Italian adolescent student of Saint John Bosco. He was studying to be a priest when he became ill and died at the age of 14, possibly from pleurisy....
(March 5, 1950) and the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti
Maria Goretti
Maria Goretti is an Italian virgin-martyr of the Roman Catholic Church, and is one of its youngest canonized saints. She died from multiple stab wounds inflicted by her attempted rapist after she refused him...
(June 24, 1950). The progress began in the city of Viedma. But Laura could not be considered a martyr, and because of her young age, there was not much hope for her beatification. Nevertheless, in 1981, the application process was completed by the congregation, and on June 5, 1986, she was declared Venerable.
Every candidate for beatification, except in the case of martyrs, must be shown to have obtained a miracle from God when their prayers were invoked. In Laura's case, the requisite miracle concerned the nun Ofelia del Carmen Lobos Arellano. In August 1955, doctors told Sister Ofelia that she would die of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in a few months, but when she confidently invoked Laura's prayers, the disease disappeared. September 3, 1988 saw Laura's beatification by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. Her feastday is celebrated on January 22.
Photograph
No photograph of Laura was known until recently, when a group photograph taken at her school was discovered showing her true appearance. A likeness of her had been painted by Italian artist Caffaro Rore based on descriptions by her sister Julia, depicting her as a dark-haired girl with European features. Church depictions have been changed to more accurately portray her as a serious-looking Mestizo child.Sanctuary
Laura's sanctuary is located at Renca Hill, 30 hectares in Santiago, Chile. The chapel has a capacity of 100. On December 9, 1999, a shrine in the city of Junín de los AndesJunín de los Andes
Junín de los Andes is a village in the province of Neuquén, Argentina. It has 10,592 inhabitants as of the , and is the head town of the Huiliches Department...
was inaugurated and dedicated to her memory.
External links
- Laura Vicuña Foundation, Inc.
- LAURA VICUñA (1891–1904): DYING FOR EVERY WOMAN's DIGNITY
- Blessed Laura Vicuña at Patron Saints Index
- Catholic Online
- Salesians of Don Bosco UK
- Savior.org
- Sodality of Our LadyLaura Vicuña FoundationSpecial of Laura Vicuña, web site of Saint John BoscoSpecial of Laura Vicuña, web site of church.cl