Blessed Maria Pilar of Saint Francis Borgia
Blessed Maria Pilar of Saint Francis Borgia (Spanish: María Pilar de San Francisco de Borja; born Jacoba Martínez García; born December 30, 1877 AD in Tarazona, Zaragoza, Spain; died July 24, 1936 AD in Guadalajara, Spain) was a Spanish Discalced Carmelite nun who was martyred at the beginning of the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War. She is one of the three Carmelite Martyrs of Guadalajara, the first martyrs of that persecution to be beatified. Her feast day is July 24.
The eldest of the three Carmelite nuns of Guadalajara who were killed together, María Pilar was shot in the street after their monastery had to be abandoned, dying with words of pardon and of praise to Christ the King. She and her companions were beatified in 1987.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Maria Pilar of Saint Francis Borgia
| Blessed Maria Pilar of Saint Francis Borgia | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | July 24 |
| Profession | Discalced Carmelite nun |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Discalced Carmelites; Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War |
| Patronage | Carmelite nuns; those persecuted for the faith; Guadalajara |
| Attributes | Carmelite habit; palm of martyrdom |
| Birthplace | Tarazona, Zaragoza, Spain |
| Death Place | Guadalajara, Spain |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; shot at the beginning of the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War; Discalced Carmelite nun, one of the three Carmelite Martyrs of Guadalajara |
| Primary Shrine | Guadalajara, Spain |
Biography
Jacoba Martínez García was born on December 30, 1877, at Tarazona, in the province of Zaragoza, Spain. She entered the Discalced Carmelites—the reformed Carmel of Saint Teresa of Ávila—at the convent of Guadalajara, taking the name Sister María Pilar of Saint Francis Borgia. There she lived the enclosed contemplative life of prayer and penance and was esteemed for her fidelity and spirit of sacrifice.
When the Spanish Civil War broke out in July 1936, a violent persecution of the Church erupted at once in the areas held by the anti-clerical forces. Convents were attacked, and religious were in immediate peril. The Carmelite community of Guadalajara was forced to leave its monastery and seek shelter in private lodgings.
On July 24, 1936, three of the nuns—María Pilar of Saint Francis Borgia, Teresa of the Child Jesus, and María Ángeles of Saint Joseph—were in the street when armed militiamen recognized them as religious and opened fire. María Pilar, the eldest, was struck and mortally wounded, and died that day. Witnesses recorded that the sisters met death forgiving their killers, and that words of pardon and the cry "Long live Christ the King!" were on their lips.
The three Carmelite Martyrs of Guadalajara were beatified on March 29, 1987, by Pope John Paul II—the first of the many martyrs of the Spanish Civil War to be raised to the altars. Their feast is kept on July 24.
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Feast day
July 24
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