Rafols, María, Bl.
RAFOLS, MARÍA, BL.
Virgin, foundress of the Institute of the Sisters of Charity of St Anne; b. Nov. 5, 1781, Villafranca del Penedés, Spain; d. Aug. 30, 1853, Saragossa, Spain.
Although María was born into a working-class family, her innate intelligence won her a place at a boarding school in Barcelona. Upon graduating she joined 12 other young women in an apostolate of charity under the direction of Father Juan Bonal, administrator of Our Lady of Grace Hospital in Saragossa, which cared for the sick, the disabled, and the mentally ill. Although Bonal appointed María superior in 1804 (age 23), the group made no formal profession until 1825 when Rafols gained formal recognition of the community.
During the devastation of the Napoleonic wars in Spain (1808–13), Rafols rendered heroic service to the sick, wounded, and the children. Imprisoned during the Carlist War, she was released and returned to her foundling home, where she died at age 71. A miracle attributed to the intercession of the woman John Paul II called a "Heroine of Charity" was approved by the Vatican, July 6, 1993. That same pope beatified her, Oct. 16, 1994.
Feast: Nov. 5.
Bibliography: g. groot, De omstreden heiligheid van madre Maria Rafols, NRC–Handelsblad, Aug. 19, 1987. g. l. boue, Moeder Maria Rafols, Catolica (Apr. 28, 2001) v. 6.
[k. i. rabenstein]