Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga
Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga | |
---|---|
Blessed | |
Born | Bilbao, Spain | 16 January 1843
Died | 23 February 1900 Bilbao, Spain | (aged 57)
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
Beatified | 30 September 1984, Vatican City by John Paul II |
Feast | 23 February |
Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga (1843-1900) was a member of Bilbao's XIXth century wealthy gentry and mother of seven children who with the consent of her husband José Vilallonga founded the Congregación de los Santos Angeles Custodios (Religious Congregation of the Custodian Angels). She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1984 and is currently undergoing the canonization process.
Biography
Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga was born in Bilbao in northern Spain in 1843 in an affluent Catholic family.
She married José de Vilallonga in 1861.
As Bilbao was being transformed by a speedy yet chaotic industrialization process, she set up homes for working-class children and teenage girls as well as workshops for their training. She promoted a number of institutions for the welfare of women across the city.
On December 8th 1894and together with three of her earliest supporters, she made a pledge to become a mother and educator to all poor and needy children in her native Bilbao. Since her mission was similar in nature to that of the Custodian Angels (Ángeles Custodios in Spanish), she took that name for her new foundation - which in 2011 had 35 houses scattered across Spain and America.
On August 2nd 1897 she placed the foundation stone of the Colegio Ángeles Custodios in Zabalbide (Bilbao), which was officially opened on March 24th 1899. It was the first House of the Congregation, later to be imitated by the ones that followed.
Blessed Rafaela Ybarra died on February 23rd 1900 before her novel Congregation had been fully established.
Beatification
- Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga was beatified on September 30th 1984 in Rome by Pope John Paul II
- Her liturgical feast is celebrated on February 23rd.
Quotes
From Rafela Ybarra de Vilallonga:
- « Never tire of doing good ».
- « Be strong in purpose yet gentle in the means ».
Sources
- http://es.catholic.net/santoral/articulo.php?id=8318 Enciclopedia Católica 'Catholic.Net'
- http://www.fundacionbeatarafaelaybarra.org/index.html Fundación de la Beata Rafaela
- http://www.angelescustodios.org/La_Obra.html Pagina web del Colegio Angeles Custodios de Santander
- http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Beatificados_por_Juan_Pablo_II Lista de Beatificados por Juan Pablo II