ROME, OCT. 18, 2012 (Zenit.org).-The foundress of the Missionary Teaching Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Mother Carmen lived from 1848 to 1911.
She was born on April 9, 1848, at Vich near Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and dies on July 25, 1911, in Madrid, Spain.
The daughter of José Sallés and Francisca Rosa Barangueras, Carmen studied pedagogy at La Enseñanaza school run by the Company of Mary and began teaching young woman following her graduation.
She was beatified by John Paul II on March 15, 1998.
“Various experiences of religious life led her to discover that her mission in the Church was to sow goodness in children and young people, to protect them from the evils that threaten them and to provide women with learning and professional training that would enable them to take a worthy place in society,” John Paul II commented in his homily during the beatification ceremony.
“Dedicated in this way to women’s education, she overcame many difficulties, seeing herself as a 0useless instrument in the hands of Mary Immaculate0; she took on daring projects which were the fruit of prayer and the advice of well trained persons, repeating with firm confidence: ‘Onwards, ever onwards. God will provide,’” John Paul II added.
“A valiant woman, Mother Carmen based her life and work on a Christocentric and Marian spirituality nourished by solid and sensible piety,” the pope commented.
“Her Conceptionist charism, a sign of the Lord’s love for his people, lives on today in the witness of her daughters who, as missionaries in schools and colleges, enthusiastically evangelize through their teaching,” he said.
