Pope Francis: Argentina’s First Female Saint Shows us "the path of holiness"

Against the backdrop of the suppression of the Jesuits in the Spanish Empire by Charles III, the pope characterized María Antonia as an example of overcoming adversity as she traveled on foot to promote Ignatian spirituality and “to help everyone discover the beauty of following Jesus.” 

The pope added that this was no small task given the “aversion that had developed toward Christ, the aversion that had developed toward the Jesuits.”

“She was forbidden to give retreats, so she decided to give them clandestinely. This dimension of clandestinity must not be forgotten,” Pope Francis stressed.

Arguing that it is imperative to not forget this secrecy, the pope told the pilgrims to “not to give up in the face of adversity, not to give up on our good intentions to bring the Gospel to all, despite the challenges.”

María Antonia is as an example of discernment “because she had not placed her security in herself, but in God, trusting that her arduous apostolate was his work,” the pope said. 

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In this way she “experienced what God wants of each one of us, that we may discover his call, each in our own state of life … it will always be synthesized in doing everything for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls.”

“The path of holiness implies trust and abandonment,” the Holy Father emphasized. 

“Firmly rooted in the Lord we must see this as an occasion in which we can challenge our environment to bring the joy of the Gospel,” he added.

Pope Francis will preside over the Mass of canonization in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 9:30 a.m. Argentina’s President Javier Milei will also be present at the ceremony. He will be received in a private audience with the pope on Monday, Feb. 12, at the Vatican.