Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars

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Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars
Feast Day	August 26
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Elderly, caregivers
Birthplace	Aitona, Spain
Death Place	Llíria, Spain
Cause of Death	Natural causes
Primary Shrine	Motherhouse of the Little Sisters, Llíria, Spain

Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars (January 9, 1843 – August 26, 1897) was a Spanish saint and founder of the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly, dedicated to caring for the elderly poor. Born in Aitona, Spain, she began as a teacher before embracing a religious vocation, establishing her congregation in 1872 in Barbastro. Her tireless service to the destitute, guided by the Diocese of Lleida, earned her widespread reverence. Canonized in 1974 by Pope Paul VI, her feast day on August 26 in the Roman Rite honors her legacy, with her relics venerated in the Motherhouse of the Little Sisters in Llíria.

Saint Teresa’s work expanded across Spain and Latin America, providing homes for the elderly neglected by society. Her humility and trust in divine providence inspired her sisters to persevere despite poverty. Her life continues to influence caregivers, and her shrine remains a pilgrimage site for those seeking her intercession for the elderly.

Biography

Birth

Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars was born on January 9, 1843, in Aitona, Spain, to a farming family in the Catalan region. Her birthplace, a rural village under the Diocese of Lleida, fostered a devout Catholic upbringing. Spain’s 19th-century religious culture shaped her early piety.

Baptized in the local Parish, Teresa showed early signs of charity, sharing food with the poor. Her family’s faith, reinforced by Jesuit influences, laid the foundation for her religious calling.

Early Life

Growing up in Aitona, Saint Teresa was educated by her aunt in Lleida, excelling in academics and piety. She trained as a teacher, working in rural schools, where her compassion for the poor emerged. Her early exposure to Carmelite spirituality deepened her prayer life.

Facing societal challenges, including Spain’s political turmoil, she discerned a religious vocation. Her decision to serve the elderly poor was inspired by encounters with neglected seniors in Barbastro, shaping her mission under the Diocese of Huesca.

Occupation

Saint Teresa’s primary occupation was teaching, serving in schools in Lleida and Barbastro. Her work supported her family and allowed her to minister to children, guided by the Diocese of Lleida. Her teaching reflected the Roman Rite’s emphasis on education as a Christian duty.

After founding the Little Sisters, her “occupation” shifted to religious leadership, managing homes for the elderly. She traveled across Spain, fundraising and training sisters, embodying a life of service to the marginalized.

Vocation

Saint Teresa’s vocation crystallized with the founding of the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly in 1872. Inspired by her uncle, a priest, she took vows in Barbastro, dedicating herself to the elderly poor. Her congregation, approved by the Diocese of Huesca, grew rapidly, establishing homes in Valencia and beyond.

Her spiritual life, marked by humility and trust in God, sustained her through poverty and opposition. Saint Teresa’s leadership fostered a global mission, earning her recognition as a model of charity.

Death

Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars met her end on August 26, 1897, dying of natural causes in Llíria, Spain, at age 54. Exhausted by her labors, she passed peacefully in the Motherhouse, surrounded by her sisters. Her death was mourned across Spain, with the Diocese of Valencia noting her sanctity.

Her funeral drew crowds, and miracles, including healings, were reported at her tomb. Her relics remain in Llíria, a pilgrimage site for caregivers and the elderly.

Significant events

• Founded the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly in 1872.
• Established the first elderly home in Valencia in 1873.
• Beatified in 1958.
• Canonized in 1974.

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Aitona, Spain
• Death location: Llíria, Spain
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Parishes

Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars
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Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Saint Teresa as a Servant of God began in 1945 in the Diocese of Valencia, with investigations into her life and writings. Testimonies from her sisters and beneficiaries affirmed her holiness.

Venerable

Declared Venerable by Pope Pius XII on January 12, 1957, for her heroic virtue. The Diocese of Valencia’s findings, supported by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, highlighted her charity and humility.

Beatification

Beatified on April 27, 1958, by Pope Pius XII after the confirmation of a miracle involving the healing of a terminally ill woman in Spain. The Roman Rite ceremony in Rome allowed veneration in Spain and her congregation.

Canonization

Canonized on January 27, 1974, by Pope Paul VI following a second miracle, the recovery of an elderly man from paralysis in Spain. The Roman Rite ceremony in Rome established her universal veneration, with her feast day set for August 26.

Miracles

Miracle for beatification

In 1957, a terminally ill woman in Spain, suffering from cancer, was healed after prayers to Saint Teresa. The woman, under the care of the Little Sisters, recovered fully, a cure verified by physicians and the Diocese of Valencia. This miracle was pivotal for her beatification.

The case underwent scrutiny by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, confirming the cure’s inexplicability. It strengthened devotion to Saint Teresa among caregivers.

Miracle for canonization

In 1973, an elderly man in Spain, paralyzed after a stroke, regained mobility after a novena to Saint Teresa. The recovery, instantaneous and medically inexplicable, was documented by the Diocese of Barcelona and approved by Pope Paul VI.

This miracle solidified Saint Teresa’s universal appeal, with the Roman Rite recognizing her intercessory power. The man’s family promoted her cult, spreading devotion globally.

Other notable miracles

• Healing of a child with tuberculosis in Valencia in 1900.
• Protection of an elderly home during a fire in Llíria.

Patronage

Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars is the patron saint of the elderly and caregivers.

Feast day

Her feast day is celebrated on August 26 in the Roman Rite, honoring her life and mission.

Veneration

Saint Teresa is venerated through novenas, pilgrimages to her relics in the Motherhouse in Llíria, and devotion among the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly. Her relics, including bones, are revered. She is depicted in art with a religious habit and cross, notably in Spanish churches. Her life influences caregiving communities and elderly care initiatives.

Books

Written about the saint

• Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars: Apostle to the Elderly
• Saints of Spain by TAN Books

Written by the saint

• No known writings attributed to Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars.

External links

• CatholicSaints.Info: Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars
• Catholic.org: St. Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars
• MyCatholic.Life: Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars