Molina, Mercedes de Jesús, Bl.

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MOLINA, MERCEDES DE JESÚS, BL.

Also known as the "Rose of Baba and Guayaquil," foundress of the Congregación de Santa Mariana de Jesús or Marianitas; b. 1828 Baba (Los Rios), Ecuador;d. there, June 12, 1883. Mercedes (Eng.: Mercy) began her life's work as a laywoman with the motto: "As much love for as many sufferings as there are in the world." She set her hand to the task by teaching orphans and aiding the abandoned, and ministering to the poor in Guayaquil. Eventually her world expanded to include the illtreated native Jibaros and abandoned children at Cuenca. On Easter Monday 1873, the bishop of Riobamba gave episcopal approval to her formation of the Marianitas, named after Saint Maríana de Jesús paredes y flores, the "Lily of Quito." The Marianitas continued her apostolate after Mercedes' death at age fifty-five. She was beatified on the Las Samenes Esplanade in Guayaquil by John Paul II, Feb.1, 1985.

Bibliography: c. e. mesa, Mercedes Molina, fundadora de las Marianitas (Quito 1973). Acta Apostolicae Sedis (1985): 327.

[k. i. rabenstein]

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