Pérez Florido, Petra de San José, Bl.
PÉREZ FLORIDO, PETRA DE SAN JOSÉ, BL.
Foundress of the Congregation of the Mothers of the Helpless and of St. Joseph of the Mountain; b. December 7, 1845, Málaga, Costa del Sol, Spain; d. August 16, 1906, Barcelona, Spain. From her youth Pérez desired the religious life. Full of compassion for the poor, she begged in the streets on their behalf despite her father's opposition. With the approbation of the bishop of Málaga, who also named the congregation, Petra and three companions formed (1880) the Mothers of the Helpless. Mother Petra labored (1895–1901) to build the royal sanctuary of Saint Joseph of the Mountain (Montaña Pelada), while guiding her growing religious communities. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II, October 16, 1994.
Feast: Aug. 16.
Bibliography: f. de la hoz, Desde el valle a la montaña (Seville 1961). mothers of the helpless, Sobre la 'piedra' (Valencia 1972).
[k. i. rabenstein]