Blessed Laura Vicuña

Blessed Laura Vicuña, born Laura del Carmen Vicuña Pino, was a young Chilean girl noted for her profound religious devotion and sacrificial love, particularly in offering her life for the conversion of her mother. According to historical and Salesian records, she was born on April 5, 1891, in Santiago, Chile, to José Domingo Vicuña (a military officer from an aristocratic family) and Mercedes Pino. Her family faced exile due to civil unrest in Chile following the 1891 revolution, relocating first to Temuco and then to Argentina after her father's sudden death. In 1900, she and her younger sister entered the boarding school run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters) in Junín de los Andes, Neuquén Province, Argentina.

Evidence from Church biographies and the beatification process indicates that Laura developed an intense piety, spending much time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, making her First Communion with fervor modeled after Saint Dominic Savio, and privately vowing poverty, chastity, and obedience. Upon learning of her mother's irregular union with landowner Manuel Mora (who physically abused Laura to deter her religious aspirations), she offered her life to God for her mother's salvation, with the consent of her confessor. She suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis, exacerbated by the abuse and harsh conditions, and died peacefully on January 22, 1904, at age 12 in Junín de los Andes. According to hagiographic accounts from her sister Julia and Salesian witnesses, on her deathbed she revealed her offering to her mother, who promised repentance and later returned to the sacraments.

Beatified on September 3, 1988, by Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, she is proposed as a model of evangelical courage and youth holiness, especially for abuse victims. As of January 19, 2026, she remains Blessed (not canonized), with her cause advanced through the Salesian Family and the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Her feast day is celebrated on January 22. This reflects established Catholic tradition, but consult primary Church sources (such as Vatican documents or Salesian archives) for specific details.

Stored in Cargo: Blessed Laura Vicuña

Blessed Laura Vicuña
Feast Day	January 22
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Abuse victims, incest victims, loss of parents, young people in difficult family situations, Argentina (in some contexts)
Birthplace	Santiago, Chile
Death Place	Junín de los Andes, Neuquén Province, Argentina
Cause of Death	Pulmonary tuberculosis, exacerbated by physical abuse
Primary Shrine	Shrine of Blessed Laura Vicuña, Cerro Colorado (Renca Hill), Santiago, Chile

Biography

Birth

According to biographical records from Salesian sources and the beatification process, Blessed Laura Vicuña was born on April 5, 1891, in Santiago, Chile, into a family of aristocratic background on her father's side. Her baptism was delayed due to the ongoing civil war.

Evidence suggests her early childhood was marked by family displacement amid political turmoil, shaping her resilience and faith.

Early Life

After her father's death shortly after the family's flight to Temuco, her mother sought stability in Argentina. In 1900, Laura and her sister entered the Salesian boarding school in Junín de los Andes, where she excelled in studies and piety.

Historical accounts note her deep devotion, frequent prayer, and inspiration from Saint Dominic Savio, though some details derive from hagiographic traditions.

Occupation

As a child and student, Laura had no secular profession; her life centered on education and spiritual growth under the guidance of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

Vocation

Laura expressed a desire to become a nun, privately vowing the evangelical counsels with confessor approval. Her primary "vocation" was sacrificial prayer for her mother's conversion from an irregular union.

Hagiographic tradition holds she offered her life explicitly for this intention, but this reflects pious accounts rather than strictly verifiable fact.

Death

Blessed Laura Vicuña met her end from pulmonary tuberculosis on January 22, 1904, in Junín de los Andes, Argentina, at age 12. According to witnesses, abuse from Manuel Mora weakened her further.

On her deathbed, she reportedly confided her offering to her mother, who promised amendment. This cannot be confirmed beyond hagiographic testimony.

Significant events

• Born April 5, 1891, in Santiago, Chile.
• Family exile due to 1891 Chilean civil war.
• Father's death; relocation to Argentina.
• Entered Salesian school in Junín de los Andes, 1900.
• Made First Communion with great fervor.
• Privately vowed evangelical counsels.
• Offered her life for mother's conversion.
• Declared Venerable June 5, 1986.
• Beatified September 3, 1988, by Pope John Paul II.

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Santiago, Chile
• Death location: Junín de los Andes, Neuquén Province, Argentina
• Notable location: Boarding school and place of spiritual formation (School of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Junín de los Andes, Argentina)
• Notable location: Location of family hardship and abuse (Quilquihue Hostel area, Argentina)
• Notable location: Initial refuge after exile from Santiago (Temuco, Chile)
• Notable location: ()
• Notable location: ()

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Parishes

Blessed Laura Vicuña
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Shrines

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List of shrines

Shrine of Blessed Laura Vicuña, Cerro Colorado (Renca Hill)

• Located in Renca/Quilicura, Santiago, Chile (her birthplace area), this shrine is a 30-hectare park with a chapel for pilgrimage and devotion. Designated by local ecclesiastical authority for veneration, it hosts annual pilgrimages, Masses, and youth events. It qualifies under Canon 1230 as a sacred place for spiritual gatherings.

• Pilgrimage details: Annual events (e.g., September pilgrimages commemorating beatification); Archdiocese of Santiago.

• Fact: Commemorates her birth and devotion; attracts youth seeking intercession for family difficulties.

Chapel of the Salesian Sisters, Bahía Blanca

• In Bahía Blanca, Argentina, this chapel houses Laura's remains (relics) and serves as a key veneration site for pilgrims. It is bishop-designated for devotion, with faithful gathering for prayer and sacraments.

• Pilgrimage details: Ongoing veneration; Diocese of Bahía Blanca.

• Fact: Site of her relics' resting place; linked to post-death graces.

Temple dedicated to Blessed Laura Vicuña, Junín de los Andes

• Inaugurated December 9, 1999, in Junín de los Andes, Argentina (death site), this temple honors her life and sacrifice. Approved for pilgrimage and devotion.

• Pilgrimage details: Local feasts on January 22; Diocese of Neuquén.

• Fact: Marks her death and offering; focal point for Patagonian spirituality.

Little House and original burial site, Junín de los Andes

• The house where she died and initial burial at La Cruz Hill cemetery serve as devotional points.

• Pilgrimage details: Historical site visits; Diocese of Neuquén.

• Fact: Relic (vertebra) introduced here.

Canonization

Servant of God

The process began in the 1950s by the Salesian Sisters in Viedma, Argentina, with the initial investigation conducted there.

Venerable

Declared Venerable on June 5, 1986, by Pope John Paul II for heroic virtue.

Beatification

Beatified on September 3, 1988, by Pope John Paul II after confirmation of a miracle: the healing of Sister Ofelia del Carmen Lobos Arellano from terminal lung cancer in 1955 after invoking Laura's intercession.

Miracles

• Healings attributed through intercession, per hagiographic reports.

Miracle for beatification

According to verified Church records, Sister Ofelia del Carmen Lobos Arellano was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer in August 1955 and given months to live. After confidently invoking Blessed Laura's prayers, she experienced complete recovery, deemed inexplicable by medical experts.

This miracle was pivotal for her beatification.

Miracle for canonization

No second miracle has been authenticated as of January 19, 2026; she remains Blessed.

Other notable miracles

• Various graces and healings reported at shrines, though unverified beyond tradition.

Patronage

Blessed Laura Vicuña is the patron of abuse victims, incest victims, loss of parents, and young people in difficult family situations (per Catholic tradition).

Feast day

January 22

Veneration

Blessed Laura Vicuña is venerated through pilgrimages to her shrines in Santiago and Argentina, novenas, and youth programs emphasizing purity and sacrifice. Relics are kept in Bahía Blanca chapel and other sites.

She has been depicted in statues, paintings, and icons showing a young girl with a lily or crucifix. Shrines influence annual celebrations and youth spirituality in Chile and Argentina.

Books

Written about the saint

• Biographies by Salesian authors, e.g., works by Sister M. Domenica Grassiano and others from Salesian presses.

Written by the saint

• No writings; notebook notes from First Communion preserved in tradition.

External links

• Laura Vicuña - Wikipedia
• Bl. Laura Vicuna - Catholic Online
• Salesian Holiness - Laura Vicuña