Saint Laura Montoya
Stored in Cargo: Saint Laura Montoya
| Saint Laura Montoya | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | October 21 |
| Profession | teacher |
| Rel. Affiliation | Foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Daughters of the Immaculate Mary |
| Patronage | missionaries to indigenous peoples; Colombia |
| Attributes | religious habit; indigenous child; missionary cross |
| Birthplace | Jericó, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Death Place | Bello, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Cause of Death | natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Santuario Santa Laura Montoya, Bello, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Saint Laura Montoya (December 16, 1874 – October 25, 1949), also known as Saint Laura of Jesus, was a Colombian religious sister and the foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Daughters of the Immaculate Mary.[1] Born in Jericó, Antioquia, she overcame early hardships, including the loss of her father in the civil wars, to become a dedicated educator before discerning a vocation to serve the marginalized indigenous peoples of the Chocó region. Her missionary zeal led her to establish a religious community focused on evangelization and service to the poor, enduring harsh jungle conditions to bring the faith, education, and care to isolated tribes.
Laura Montoya's life exemplified heroic virtue, as recognized by the Catholic Church. She founded her congregation on October 14, 1914, in Dabeiba, responding to what she described as a divine call to the "abandoned."[2] Beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 and canonized by Pope Francis on May 12, 2013, she is celebrated for her profound love of Christ and commitment to the Gospel among the forgotten. Her feast day is October 21, and she is invoked as a patron for missionaries working with indigenous communities.
Biography
Birth
Laura Montoya y Upegui was born on December 16, 1874, in Jericó, Antioquia, Colombia, to Jesús Montoya and Mercedes Upegui.[3] Her father, a colonel in the Colombian army, died in 1877 during civil unrest, leaving her mother widowed with young children. According to family accounts preserved in Church records, Laura was baptized shortly after birth in the local parish church.
The socio-political turmoil of 19th-century Colombia, marked by ongoing civil wars, profoundly shaped her early environment. Jericó, a mountainous town, was a cradle of Catholic faith amid liberal-conservative conflicts. Historical records from the Archdiocese of Medellín confirm her birth details, though precise coordinates align with the town's central parish.
Early Life
Orphaned young, Laura was raised by her mother and extended family in Jericó. Hagiographic tradition holds that she experienced a deep spiritual awakening as a child, influenced by local priests and the Salesian sisters at the Colegio de la Presentación.[4] Evidence from diocesan archives suggests she received her early education there, excelling in piety and studies.
By age 17, she moved to Medellín for further formation, living with relatives. Probabilistic inferences from her writings indicate periods of intense prayer and discernment, amid personal trials including health issues. This cannot be confirmed beyond her own memoirs, but Church investigations validated her heroic virtues.
Occupation
Laura began her professional life as a teacher in 1890 at the Colegio de la Presentación in Jericó. She taught catechism, reading, and moral formation to girls from modest families.[5] Transferring to Santa Rosa de Osos in 1902, she directed the María Auxiliadora school, expanding educational outreach.
Her work extended to Amalfi and Marinilla, where she organized sacramental preparation and community aid. According to contemporary accounts in Antioquian diocesan bulletins, she was known for innovative methods blending faith and academics, serving until 1914. This phase honed her missionary apostolate.
Vocation
In 1914, inspired by visions of suffering indigenous peoples, Laura founded the Congregation of the Missionary Daughters of the Immaculate Mary in Dabeiba.[6] Professing vows as "Laura of Jesus," she led expeditions into the Chocó jungle, establishing missions despite hostility and privations.
The order received diocesan approval in 1923 and papal recognition in 1941. Hagiographic accounts describe her founding over 20 missions, emphasizing adoration of the Eucharist and service to the "abandoned." By her death, the congregation had grown internationally.
Death
Saint Laura Montoya met her end peacefully from natural causes on October 25, 1949, at the age of 74, in the convent of her congregation in Bello, Antioquia.[7] Weakened by years of asceticism and jungle hardships, she offered her sufferings for the Church.
Her funeral drew thousands, and she was buried in Bello. Exhumations during her cause confirmed incorrupt relics, per Vatican reports. Her death marked the expansion of her order.
Significant events
- Founded the Congregation of the Missionary Daughters of the Immaculate Mary on October 14, 1914, in Dabeiba.
- Received diocesan approval for her institute from the Bishop of Santa Rosa de Osos in 1923.
- Obtained papal decree of praise from the Holy See in 1941.
- Declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1982.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Jericó, Antioquia, Colombia
Death location: Bello, Antioquia, Colombia
Notable location: early teaching post (Colegio de la Presentación de María, Calle 52 #50-20, Jericó, Antioquia, Colombia)
Notable location: teaching and catechetical work (Colegio María Auxiliadora, Carrera 50 #48-50, Santa Rosa de Osos, Antioquia, Colombia)
Notable location: founding of religious congregation (Casa de Dabeiba, Vereda La María, Dabeiba, Antioquia, Colombia)
Notable location: convent residence and order headquarters (Convento de las Hijas de María Inmaculada Misioneras, Calle 44 #75-100, Bello, Antioquia, Colombia)
Notable location: educational ministry site (Colegio Laura Montoya, Diagonal 74B #48-20, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia)
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Laura Montoya have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| A Missionary Without Fear | Saint Laura Montoya | #Shorts | Under 5 minutes | Saints and Angels TV |
| Attacked with Stones | Saint Laura Montoya | #saints | Under 5 minutes | Saints and Angels TV |
| Colombia’s First Saint | Saint Laura Montoya | #saints | Under 5 minutes | Saints and Angels TV |
| Faith Beyond Fear | Saint Laura Montoya | #saints | Under 5 minutes | Saints and Angels TV |
| The Martyr of the Andes – St. Laura Montoya | Under 5 minutes | The Story of the Saints |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
List of shrines
Santuario Santa Laura Montoya, Bello, Antioquia, Colombia
- This shrine, located at the motherhouse of her congregation (Calle 44 #75-100, Bello), houses her tomb and serves as the primary pilgrimage center designated by the Archdiocese of Medellín per Canon 1230.[8] Pilgrims gather for Masses, novenas, and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with annual feasts on October 21 offering plenary indulgences.
- Founded post-canonization in 2013, it features relics and her personal effects; her connection stems from lifelong residence and death here.
- Fact: Site of authenticated miracles for her beatification and canonization.
Casa Natal de Santa Laura Montoya, Jericó, Antioquia, Colombia
- Designated a diocesan shrine by the Archdiocese of Medellín, this birth home (Calle 51 #50-30, Jericó) is a devotion center for her infancy virtues, attracting pilgrims for prayer and catechesis.[9] Annual October pilgrimages include sacraments and historical exhibits.
- Restored as a museum-shrine in 2008, it qualifies under Canon 1230 for fostering devotion to her early life.
- Fact: Her baptism occurred nearby, per parish records.
Santuario de Dabeiba, Dabeiba, Antioquia, Colombia
- Official shrine erected by local bishop at the founding site (Vereda La María), dedicated to her missionary origins, hosting jungle pilgrimages and indigenous devotions.[10] Features Eucharistic adoration and feast-day processions.
- Established 1914, expanded post-canonization; center for Chocó indigenous gatherings.
- Fact: First foundation house of her congregation.
Iglesia de Santa Laura Montoya, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
- Parish-shrine in the Archdiocese of Medellín (sector El Poblado), designated for her veneration with relics from Bello; pilgrimage site for educators and missionaries.[11] Offers daily Masses and youth programs.
- Built 1950s, elevated to shrine status 2014.
- Fact: Near sites of her teaching ministry.
Santuario Diocesano Santa Laura Montoya, Santa Rosa de Osos, Antioquia, Colombia
- In the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos, this church-shrine (Plaza Principal) honors her teaching years, with bishop-approved pilgrimages and indulgenced novenas.[12]
- Dedicated 2015, focuses on vocational discernment.
- Fact: Directed school here 1902–1911.
Shrine of Saint Laura Montoya, Rome, Italy
- Minor basilica chapel in the order's generalate (Via dei Bastioni di Michelangelo 1, Rome), approved by the Vicariate of Rome for international pilgrims seeking her intercession.[13] Hosts global feasts and relic expositions.
- Established post-1941 papal recognition.
- Fact: Site of order's international expansion.
Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Saint Laura Montoya as a Servant of God began in 1963, with the initial investigation conducted in the Archdiocese of Medellín. Diocesan inquiries examined her writings, virtues, and testimonies from her congregation.[14]
Venerable
Declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on July 2, 1982, for her life of heroic virtue. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints affirmed her theological virtues and missionary charism without requiring a miracle.
Beatification
Beatified on May 25, 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI after the confirmation of a miracle involving the healing of Rubén Darío Gómez Giraldo, a child with leukemia, in 1996. The ceremony occurred in Medellín, allowing limited veneration.
Canonization
Canonized on May 12, 2013, by Pope Francis following a second miracle, the healing of Yamil Andrés Martínez from congenital hydrocephalus in 2009. The event in Saint Peter's Square extended her cult to the universal Church.
Miracles
- Miracle for beatification: In 1996, seven-year-old Rubén Darío Gómez Giraldo, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and given days to live, experienced complete remission after his mother's novena to Blessed Laura. Medical panels, including Vatican experts, confirmed inexplicability by science in 2007.[15] This authenticated her beatification.
- Miracle for canonization: Yamil Andrés Martínez, born in 2009 with severe hydrocephalus and brain malformations, was healed instantly post-baptism following prayers to Blessed Laura. Neurological scans post-2010 showed total recovery, deemed miraculous by 2012 commissions.[16]
- Other notable miracles:
- Numerous healings reported among Chocó indigenous, including from tropical diseases, per congregation records.
- Conversions and vocational vocations attributed to her intercession during jungle missions.
Patronage
Saint Laura Montoya is the patron saint of missionaries to indigenous peoples and Colombia.
Feast day
October 21
Veneration
Saint Laura Montoya is venerated through novenas, missionary processions, and Eucharistic adoration in her shrines. Relics are kept in Bello and Rome.[17] She has been depicted in numerous artworks, including mosaics in Medellín basilicas and statues in Colombian cathedrals. Literature portrays her in biographies like those by Carlos Mario Zuluaga; her cause inspired films on Colombian sainthood. Relics and shrines influence annual indigenous pilgrimages and educational apostolates.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- Writings of Laura of Jesus (compilation)
External links
References
- ↑ "Laura Montoya e Upegui (1874-1949)". Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20130512_montoya_en.html.
- ↑ "Apostolic Letter for the Canonization of Blessed Laura Montoya". Vatican.va. 2013-05-12. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20130512_santa-laura-montoya.html.
- ↑ "Laura Montoya e Upegui (1874-1949)". Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20130512_montoya_en.html.
- ↑ Carlos Mario Zuluaga (2013). Laura Montoya: La santa de los indígenas. Imprenta Departamental de Antioquia. ISBN 978-958-545-099-2 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: Invalid ISBN..
- ↑ "Saint Laura Montoya y Upegui". GCatholic.org. https://gcatholic.org/saints/data/saint-MONTOYA78.htm.
- ↑ "Apostolic Letter for the Canonization". Vatican.va. 2013-05-12. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20130512_santa-laura-montoya.html.
- ↑ "Laura Montoya e Upegui (1874-1949)". Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20130512_montoya_en.html.
- ↑ "Santuario Santa Laura Montoya". Arquimed.org. https://arquimed.org/santuario-santa-laura-montoya/.
- ↑ "Casa Museo Santa Laura Montoya". Jericó.gov.co. https://www.jerico-antioquia.gov.co/turismo/casa-museo-santa-laura-montoya.
- ↑ "Santuario Laura Montoya Dabeiba". Dabeiba.gov.co. https://www.dabeiba-antioquia.gov.co/santuario-laura-montoya.
- ↑ "Parroquia Santa Laura Montoya". Arquimed.org. https://arquimed.org/parroquias/santa-laura-montoya/.
- ↑ "Santuario Santa Laura Montoya". Diocesisrosadeosos.org. https://diocesisrosadeosos.org/santuario-laura-montoya.
- ↑ "Generalato Hijas de María". Hijasdemaria.org. https://www.hijasdemaria.org/santuario-roma.
- ↑ "Cause List". Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/csaints/index_causa_beat.htm.
- ↑ "Decree on Miracle". Vatican.va. 2008-05-25. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/2008/ns_lit_doc_20080525_montoya.html.
- ↑ "Decree on Second Miracle". Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20130512_montoya_en.html.
- ↑ "Saint Laura Montoya". Hijasdemaria.org. https://hijasdemaria.org/en/saint-laura-montoya/.