The Basics: Born August 11, 1903, in Venezuela; died May 9, 1977, in Venezuela; beatified June 16, 2018; feast day, May 9. Woman religious.
The Story: Carmen was never one to let adversity get in her way. She was born without a left arm, and began using a prosthesis at an early 
age. By all reports, she still had a very active childhood, playing with her eight siblings.
When she was fifteen, she began feeling a call to the religious life, but her plans were delayed in part due to her father’s death. When the time was right, Carmen visited a number of convents, and felt particularly drawn to the Servants of the Eucharist, a French community that had recently began work in Venezuela. She entered the community when she was twenty-three, and moved to France, where she took final vows in 1932. The Servants of the Eucharist was known for active ministry among the needy, and Carmen advanced to a provincial leadership position.
In 1965, the European women in the community discerned a need to evolve to a lay institute, which did not appeal to Carmen. She returned to Venezuela, where she founded the Servants of Jesus, which continued her charism for service.
Carmen’s Wisdom: “Always be at peace… and …not disturbed or agitated too much, to be united with God, who is the end that matters most.”
What We Can Learn from Carmen: We are all faced with adversity at various points in our lives. May we have confidence as she did that the Lord is always there guiding us.
To Learn More About Carmen: Visit the site for her beatification.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
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