The Basics: Born April 5, 1891, in Chile; died January 22, 1904, in Argentina; beatified September 3, 1988, by John Paul II; feast day, January 22. Daughter.
The Story: Laura’s mother must have felt she had few options. Her husband had died after the family’s move to Argentina from Chile,
leaving her with two daughters under the age of five and hundreds of miles from the little family support she might have received. And so, she agreed to become the woman of a rancher in exchange for tuition for the girls at a boarding school run by the Salesian Sisters. It became apparent to Laura something was wrong; the rancher abused his slaves and animals, and her mother asked her to pray in secret when she was home. When Laura came home from boarding school sick, the rancher beat her as well. As she died eight days later, Laura asked her mother to repent. Her mother then managed to escape the persecution and return to Chile.
Laura’s Wisdom: “O my God, I want to love you and serve you all my life. I give you my soul, my heart, my whole self.”
What We Can Learn from Laura: From the mouths of babes. Sometimes, we justify our actions, saying we don’t have a lot of choices. Laura Vicuna reminds us that serving God is always a viable choice, no matter how difficult doing that may be.
To Learn More About Laura: Check out the Laura Vicuna Foundation, founded by the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco and friends to help streetchildren.
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.
