Blessed Juana Maria Condesa Lluch: 2014 Daily Lenten Reflections

Blessed Juana Maria Condesa Lluch was born in Spain on March 30 in 1862, and died on January 16, 1916. Her family was very wealthy, but she knew from the time she was young she wanted to serve the poor. 0331-Juana Maria Condesa Lluch

When she was eighteen, Juana Maria went to her archbishop with the idea of founding her own congregation aimed at helping struggling factory workers. But he said she was too young. Four years later, he relented and she was allowed to open a shelter, then a school. Then, her new community received diocesan approval. However, it wasn’t until more than thirty years after her death that the congregation received definitive approval from the pope.

Today’s Psalm reading is from Psalm 23, includingVerse 4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.

Senior woman contemplatingAre you giving up too easily on something God wants you to do? Pray with Blessed Juana Maria for the strength and faith to pursue his call.

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By Melanie

Melanie Rigney is the author of Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century and other Catholic books. She is a contributor to Living Faith and other Catholic blogs. She lives in Arlington, Virginia. Melanie also owns Editor for You, a publishing consultancy that since 2003 has helped hundreds of writers, publishers, and agents.

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