Sallés y Barangueras, María del Carmen, Bl.

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SALLÉS Y BARANGUERAS, MARÍA DEL CARMEN, BL.

Baptized Carmen Francisca Rosa, known in religion as Mary of Mount Carmel, foundress of the Conceptionist Missionary Teaching Sisters (Concepcionistas Misioneras de la Enseñanza ); b. Apr. 9, 1848, Vich near Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; d. July 25, 1911, Madrid, Spain. Daughter of José Sallés and Francisca Rosa Barangueras, Carmen studied pedagogy at La Enseñanaza school run by the Company of Mary and began teaching young woman following her graduation. Combining the Dominican ideals of contemplation and action, she founded the Missionary Teaching Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (1892) to witness to the Blessed Mother in the secular world and form young Christians. Before her death, the congregation operated thirteen schools, including one in Brazil (opened in 1911). The Conceptionist Missionaries have since expanded to 12 countries. María del Carmen was declared venerable Dec. 17, 1996, a miracle attributed to her intercession was approved on Dec. 18, 1997, and she was beatified by John Paul II, March 15, 1998.

Bibliography: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 8 (1998): 399.

[k. i. rabenstein]

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