On June 21, 1880, María Josefa Recio and María Angustias Giménez left Granada for Ciempozuelos (Madrid) to begin, together with Saint Benito Menni, a story that would change the lives of many people: the founding of the Congregation of the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
To Fr. Menni’s invitation: “My daughters, if you want, you can come. I have thought everything through… and believe me, your desire is God’s will,” they responded with humility and determination:
“We, Father, although poor and miserable, only want to abandon ourselves into your hands, so that God may do with us as He wills. We are determined to suffer whatever is necessary.”
That early morning, without certainty but with ardent faith, they walked toward a mission that would change their lives and the lives of so many others. As María Angustias wrote:
“When my dear friend called me at two in the morning, I jumped out of bed with joy and agility, as if I had never suffered (…). We invoked divine help and boarded the train.”
Their dedication was total. They could not ignore the suffering of so many women with mental illness, excluded and abandoned. They founded a community based on compassion, listening, and comprehensive care for those who suffered.
Today, we, the Sisters Hospitallers, continue their legacy. In a world that cries out for new answers, we continue on our journey. Our hospitaller vocation is renewed every day in the comprehensive care of those who need it most.
