LÓPEZ Y VICUÑA, VICENTA MARÍA, BL.

Foundress of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate for Domestic Service; b. Cascante (Navarra), Spain, March 22, 1847; d. Madrid, Dec. 26, 1890. Vicenta was reared by her pious, middle-class parents until 1854, when she was sent to Madrid for schooling. She lived there with her aunt, Eulalia de Vicuña, who conducted a hospice for young, unemployed servant girls. This charitable work so attracted Vicenta, that she took a private vow of chastity (1866) and dedicated herself to the welfare of working girls, despite her parents' urging that she marry or join the Visitation Nuns. Together with her aunt and a few others, she lived a communal life (1871–76). Under the guidance of Father Hidalgo y Soba, she drew up a constitution that was approved by the auxiliary bishop of Toledo, Sancha y Hervas (July 1876). With three others, Vicenta pronounced her vows in August of 1878. The work of the congregation was to conduct hospices for working girls and to teach domestic arts. Despite early financial difficulties and the foundress's poor health, the institute flourished in Spain and soon spread to Europe and Latin America. The Holy See gave its approval in 1888. By 1961 the Daughters had more than 2,000 members and 81 houses. Vicenta was beatified on Feb. 19, 1950.

Feast: Dec. 26.

Bibliography: e. federici, La Beata Vicenta María Lopez y Vicuña (Rome 1950). c. testore, La Beata Vicenta María Lopez y Vicuña (Isola del Liri 1950). j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheureux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes, 12 v. (Paris 1935–56) 12:709–712.

[i. bastarrika]