Blessed Candlemas of San José
Encyclopedia
Mother Candlemas of San José (August 11, 1863 - January 31, 1940) is the founder of the congregation known today as the Hermanas Carmelitas de Madre Candelaria. She was beatified on April 27, 2008 at the Central University of Caracas
, Venezuela
by Pope Benedict XVI
.
, Venezuela
, on August 11, 1863, daughter of Francisco de Paula Paz Castillo ane María del Rosario Ramírez. Her father died on November 23, 1870, when Susana was 7 years old. Her mother died on December 24, 1887 when Susana was 24 years old, and Susana assumed the responsibilities of the household.
On September 13, 1906, with the authorization of the diocesan Bishop, Susana took on the habit of the Hermanitas of the Poor men of Altagracia de Orituco and the name, Candlemas of San José.
Mother Candlemas traveled widely in search of resources for the support of her works, founding new Communities that responded to the needs of the moment. She founded two hospitals, one on the Isla de Margarita at Porlamar
, called the Hospice for the Abandoned, the other at Upata
.
Many difficulties confronted the Congregation in its early days. Providentially, on July 12, 1922, the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance arrived in Porlamar
, on the Island of Margarita
and Bishop Sosa gave them the parish of Saint Nicholas of Bari. Mother Candelaria never suspected the great gift that the Carmelite presence would be to her and to the difficult and dangerous work her Congregation was involved in. The Congregation was aggregated to the Order on March 25, 1925.
She governed the Congregation for 35 years from its foundation to the General Chapter of 1937.
At dawn on January 31, 1940, after vomiting blood, she pronounced the name of Jesus three times, she died.
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
.
Early Life
Mother Candlemas of San José was born Susana Paz Castillo in Altagracia de Orituco, State of GuáricoGuárico
Guárico State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Juan de Los Morros. Guárico State covers a total surface area of 64 986 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 745,100.-Municipalities and municipal seats:...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, on August 11, 1863, daughter of Francisco de Paula Paz Castillo ane María del Rosario Ramírez. Her father died on November 23, 1870, when Susana was 7 years old. Her mother died on December 24, 1887 when Susana was 24 years old, and Susana assumed the responsibilities of the household.
Early Career
Susana cared for those wounded in Venezuela's Liberation Revolution. She practiced charity with invalids who gathered at a house attached to the parochial church. In 1903, when Saint Anthony's Hospital was founded at Altagracia, Susana became its director, at the encouragement of the parish priest Father Sixto Soda Diaz.On September 13, 1906, with the authorization of the diocesan Bishop, Susana took on the habit of the Hermanitas of the Poor men of Altagracia de Orituco and the name, Candlemas of San José.
Mother Candlemas
On December 31, 1910, the Congregation, Hermanitas of the Poor men of Altagracia de Orituco was officially established with the profession of the first six brothers, at the hands of Monsignor Felipe Neri Sendrea, who confirmed Mother Candlemas as General Superior of the Congregation. In December 1916 she professed her perpetual vows.Mother Candlemas traveled widely in search of resources for the support of her works, founding new Communities that responded to the needs of the moment. She founded two hospitals, one on the Isla de Margarita at Porlamar
Porlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
, called the Hospice for the Abandoned, the other at Upata
Upata
Upata is a Venezuelan city inside the bulk of Guayana at the north of the Bolívar State. It is the capital and most important town of Piar Municipality. It is located between the basins of the rivers Orinoco and Cuyuní...
.
Many difficulties confronted the Congregation in its early days. Providentially, on July 12, 1922, the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance arrived in Porlamar
Porlamar
Porlamar is the largest city on Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta State in Venezuela. It was founded on the southeast coast in 1536, less than 40 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed through. Porlamar was a quiet fishing village until the arrival of air travel...
, on the Island of Margarita
Margarita
The margarita is a cocktail consisting of tequila mixed with orange-flavoured liqueur and lime or lemon juice, often served with salt on the glass rim. It is the most common tequila-based cocktail in the United States...
and Bishop Sosa gave them the parish of Saint Nicholas of Bari. Mother Candelaria never suspected the great gift that the Carmelite presence would be to her and to the difficult and dangerous work her Congregation was involved in. The Congregation was aggregated to the Order on March 25, 1925.
She governed the Congregation for 35 years from its foundation to the General Chapter of 1937.
Later Years
The last years of Mother Candlemas were marked by a painful disease, however, after leaving the position of General Superior, she continued serving the Congregation as Mistress of Novices.At dawn on January 31, 1940, after vomiting blood, she pronounced the name of Jesus three times, she died.
Beatification
The beatification ceremony of Mother Candlemas was attended by "60,000 people from all over Venezuela and other nearby countries filling two stadiums."External links
- Madre Candelaria de San José
- Susana Paz Castillo Ramírez, en religión Madre Candelaria de San José
- Hermanas Carmelitas de Madre Candelaria