BL. MARIA ROMERO MENESES, VIRGIN - 7 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 7th of July

WELCOME!

BLESSED MARIA ROMERO MENESES, VIRGIN

Blessed Maria Romero Meneses was born in Granada, Nicaragua, on January 13, 1902 to a well-to-do-family. Her father, a minister in the Government of the Republic, was generous with those who had nothing. Maria learned from her earliest years what it meant to offer practical charity even when it was difficult. The family had great dreams for her: she studied music, played the piano and the violin.

THE FAMILY HAD GREAT DREAMS FOR HER

At twelve she went to the school run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. Don Bosco’s charism seemed to have been taylor-made for her. In the novitiate [for the Salesians] she taught music and worked at the Festive Oratory, where, for the first time, she came into contact with poor girls.

SHE LOOKED OUT FOR THE POOR AND ABANDONED

After her perpetual vows, she was sent to San Jose in Costa Rica. It would become her second homeland. She was asked to teach in a school for rich girls but she always was on the lookout for “the poor and abandoned,” like Don Bosco.

THE DISCIPLES

From among her best students she chose ‘disciples’ for the Oratories and called them “las misioneritas”. They went into the houses of the poor, helped clean, and distribute food and clothes collected by Sr Maria and taught catechism. She then began the festive oratories for poor children. 

Mary Help of Christians, whom she called her Queen, ensured that many offerings came to support her works. Thanks to voluntary medical specialists she succeeded in setting up a fully equipped clinic. There were also rooms in which catechism was taught and a chapel in which they prayed.

She carried many great works because of her great faith and with the help of generous people who all began to experience the effects of devotion to Mary.

A CONTEMPLATIVE IN ACTION

She was a contemplative in action. Many of her “Escritos Espirituales” have been printed. She died of heart failure on July 7, 1977. The government of Costa Rica declared her an honourary citizen of the nation. Her remains lie in San Jose de Costa Rica. John Paul II beatified her on April 14, 2002.

This article was published in “Don Bosco’s Madonna”, paper edition, issue July 2012

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Maria may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.