Catholic Christian Mystic Hermit: An Example of an Inspiring Woman

 

Joyful Hermit <joyfulhermit@gmail.com>	10:45 AM (0 minutes ago)
to Arthur

Thought this woman of interest, and reminds me of my cousin who lost her left leg to gangrene but has a husband and adult son living at home and not starting a religious order, of course.  And it seems she was not all that happy that she lost her life of solitude and sewing with one or two other women when all the hectic aspects of a growing religious order weighed on her.  

Yes, at least I would, and there is nothing of her life that to me would need approval; it is as it is, and fascinating and inspiring to know about--other than a formal religious order was not needed except the temporal Catholic church wants those as it is so highly into structure, system, and being in charge of and ruling over organizations--yet then not really following through with chastising or enforcing when stuff is not followed or there are bad superiors or others under the superiors who are also bad and nasty, of which we so often read--cruel novice mistresses and envious superiors, fellow "sisters" or "brothers" who are dirt-mean and far from Christlike, and not much ever done about any of them.  

It is too bad it all had to get so organized, for it could have taken off on its own and not really needed the "church system" to be involved with all the rules and regulations and steps needed for "approval."  Just do it!  Women could have followed her idea and example, all over the world, without it being "organized" as a Vatican approved religious order.  That's exactly the way hermits had always been--just did it.  That is, until CL603 and mostly since 1983.  

I also think this woman's life would have been just as inspiration and even more so if she had not been canonized or "approved" by a committee and all that goes with that process.  Would you and I not appreciate reading about her life just as much?  

Her life with the other two women was a great model that any other women could have followed without such organization and church overrule, and same with her life.  I'd have even liked it better now that I know all the cost and time and people's employment involved in the making of a so-called saint.  They are not necessary; just write of and share the lives of such people as this woman.

St. Genoveva Torres Morales

FOUNDRESS (1870-1956)

Celebrated January 5

Saint Genoveva Torres Morales
Foundress of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels
(The Angélicas)
(1870-1956)

        Genoveva Torres Morales was born on January 3, 1870, in Almenara, Castille, Spain, the youngest of six children. By the age of eight, both her parents and four of her siblings had died, leaving Genoveva to care for the home and her brother, José. Although he treated her with respect, José was very demanding and taciturn. Being deprived of affection and companionship from her early years, Genoveva became accustomed to solitude.

        When she was 10, she took a special interest in reading spiritual books. Through this pursuit, she came to understand that true happiness is doing God's will, and it was for this reason that each one of us is created. This became her rule of life.

         At the age of 13, Genoveva's left leg had to be amputated in order to stop the gangrene that was spreading there. The amputation was done in her home, and since the anesthesia was not sufficient, the pain was excruciating. Throughout her life, her leg caused her pain and sickness, and she was forced to use crutches.

        From 1885 to 1894, she lived at the Mercy Home run by the Carmelites of Charity. In the nine years she lived with the sisters and with other children, the young Genoveva deepened her life of piety and perfected her sewing skills. It was also in these years that Fr. Carlos Ferrís, a diocesan priest and future Jesuit and founder of a leprosarium in Fontilles, would guide the "beginnings" of her spiritual and apostolic life.

        God also gave Genoveva the gift of "spiritual liberty," and this was something she would endeavour to practice throughout her life. Reflecting on this period at the Mercy Home, she later would write: "I loved freedom of heart very much, and worked and am working to achieve it fully.... It does the soul so much good that every effort is nothing compared with this free condition of the heart."

        Genoveva intended to join the Carmelites of Charity, but it seems she was not accepted due to her physical condition. She longed to be consecrated to God and, being of a decided and resolute nature, she continued to be open to his guidance.

        In 1894, Genoveva left the Carmelites of Charity's home and went to live briefly with two women who supported themselves by their own work. Together they "shared" the solitude and poverty.

        In 1911, Canon Barbarrós suggested that Genoveva begin a new religious community, pointing out that there were many poor women who could not afford to live on their own and thus suffered much hardship. For years, Genoveva had thought of starting a religious congregation that would be solely concerned with meeting the needs of such women, since she knew of no one engaged in this work.

        With the help of Canon Barbarrós and Fr. Martín Sánchez, S.J., the first community was established in Valencia. Shortly thereafter, other women arrived, wanting to share the same apostolic and spiritual life. It was not long before more communities were established in other parts of Spain, despite many problems and obstacles.

        A constant source of suffering for Mother Genoveva was her involvement in external activity and the new foundations. She desired to return to her characteristic interior solitude and remain alone with the Lord, but she accepted her calling as God's will and did not let her physical or interior suffering stop her. She would say: "Even if I must suffer greatly, thanks be to God's mercy, I will not lack courage." She was known for her kindness and openness to all, and for her good sense of humour - she would even joke about her physical ailments.

        In 1953, the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels received Pontifical approval. Mother Genoveva died on January 5, 1956. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on January 29, 1995, and canonized on May 4, 2003 at Madrid.

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