Cipitria y Barriola, Cándida María de Jesús, Bl.
CIPITRIA Y BARRIOLA, CÁNDIDA MARÍA DE JESÚS, BL.
Baptized Juana Josefa, foundress of the Daughters of Jesus (Hijas de Jesús); b. Berrospe, Andoáin, Guipúzcoa, Spain, May 31, 1845; d. Salamanca, Spain, Aug. 9, 1912. As the daughter of a weaver, Juana Cipitria was virtually uneducated, yet in Salamanca she founded the Daughters of Jesus for the purpose of educating girls (Dec. 8, 1871). The congregation began after Juana (later Mother Cándida María de Jesús) had gathered like-minded women to assist with a series of charitable and educational programs she had started under the guidance of Jesuit Father Miguel Herranz. His influence can also be seen in the order's constitution (approved by Leo XIII, 1902), which is based on that of St. ignatius of loyola. Her various foundations demonstrate her commitment to incarnating social justice and her appreciation of contemplation. The Daughters of Jesus now operate schools, medical dispensaries, retreat houses, and social service centers in many countries around the globe, including Argentina, Colombia, Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and the United States. Mother Cándida was declared venerable July 6, 1993, and beatified by Pope John Paul II, together with her religious sister María Antonia bandrÉs y elosegui, May 12, 1996.
Bibliography: m. marcos, Del Tormes al río Azul (Salamanca 1932).
[k. i. rabenstein]