On this special day, we celebrate the 178rd birthday of our foundress María Josefa Recio Martín. Her story is a living testimony of Christian solidarity and total dedication to the most needy and vulnerable. We will share it with you!
María Josefa was born in Granada in 1846. At the age of 33, after becoming a widow, she undertook a spiritual journey with her friend Mª Angustias Giménez Vera. Together, they responded to the call to help the most vulnerable under the guidance of Father Benito Menni. This mission led them to found the congregation in 1881 in Ciempozuelos, Madrid.
As the first Superior General, Maria Josefa led with wisdom and compassion, inspiring others by her example of dedication and hospitable service. However, her life was cut short prematurely on October 30, 1883, when she died as a result of an assault on a mentally ill woman she was trying to help. Her sacrifice was an act of heroism that left an indelible mark in the history of the congregation and in the hearts of those who knew her. Her writings, among which her spiritual testament stands out, are of great patrimonial value for Hospitallers and all those who relate to her spirituality.
On May 10, 2012, Benedict XVI signed the decree recognizing that Maria Josefa Recio Martin, Foundress of the Congregation of the Hospitallers Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, lived the Christian virtues to a heroic degree, declaring her Venerable.
Today, 178 years after her birth, her Samaritan legacy lives on. We pray that, inspired by our foundress, we may continue to make present the merciful face of the Father throughout the world, serving people afflicted by mental illness.
Happy Birthday, Maria Josefa!
