Ali Bobzien
The Catholic Church recently added Maria Antonia to its roster of influential female saints. Her story and testimony bring great joy and hope to my heart. Argentina’s first female saint, known as “Mama Antura,” was not only a force for good and a pioneer of human rights, but also a woman and a believer.
Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, or Maria Antonia of St. Joseph, is known as the “Mother” of Argentina. Born into her wealthy family in 1730, she left home at the age of 15 to forge her own path, choosing not to marry or become a nun. She became a consecrated lay woman at a time when the options beyond her wife or a nun were unheard of. She dedicated her life to working with the Jesuits, promoting her spiritual practices and spreading her gospel to the poor.
In 1767, King Charles III of Spain expelled the Jesuits from Argentina. Maria Antonia made it her mission to keep alive her spiritual flame and the work of the Society of Jesus. She encouraged everyone to attend spiritual retreats, regardless of social class, gender, or occupation. Despite the political climate hostile to her against the Jesuits, Maria Antonia organized her retreats, walking from city to town, in a style reminiscent of St. Teresa of Avila, and encouraged Ignatian spirituality. I kept it. She was known as a woman on the move and a good-humored “holy and joyful believer” even amidst the trials of her travels and the ban on Ignatian spirituality in Argentina.
Eventually, she arrived in Buenos Aires and established a house for spiritual training, even though the imperial authorities refused permission to restore Ignatian traditions. Although its primary purpose was to lead spiritual retreats, Maria also incorporated her education, assistance to the poor and sick, and rehabilitation from prison into the home’s mission. She was given the title “Mother” of Argentina for her “tireless proclamation of the Gospel, which left its mark on the religious and cultural identity of the Argentine people.” The Quechua indigenous community affectionately called her “Mama She Antura.” This translates to “little mother Antonia” as a testament to her care and dedication to her people.
She called on everyone to participate in the Ignatian exercises: slaves, free people, indigenous peoples, colonizers, laity, and priests. The retreats held in the House of Spiritual Training grew in importance to the point that all candidates for the priesthood were required to attend a retreat before receiving holy orders. In addition, the bishop sometimes consulted with Mary before ordaining her candidate and asked her opinion about her preparation for the ministry. Maria Antonia, who served all classes of the Argentine nation until her death in 1799, became Argentina’s first female saint in February 2024.
In today’s climate of polarized sentiment about the church, Mama Antura’s call for a welcoming church that embraces and serves all people shines brightly as an example of God’s kingdom on earth. Many hail Mama Antura as Argentina’s “first human rights defender.” While others at the time saw slaves, natives, and farmers as objects to be used and discarded, Mama Antura saw people with great spiritual connections and worthy of consideration.
What if our churches were also known for protecting the human rights of the poor? The marginalized in our society were first and foremost cared for by the church, both their spiritual and physical needs. What if we knew that we would be answered? That is an ideal that we still struggle to achieve today. Mama Antura cites examples of women and laity who have advanced their call to service regardless of gender limitations or lack of holy commands. She understood that an active spiritual life, formed through Ignatian spiritual training, was an accessible gateway to the Church for all people.
Bishop Santiago Olivera, head of the Military Diocese of Argentina and the Committee for the Cause of Saints of the Argentine Bishops’ Conference, spoke of Mama Antura’s influence:[ing] Please teach us the important pastoral work of being a means and a bridge for people to encounter Jesus through spiritual practices. [was] This is her basic job. ” These words are a beautiful reminder to all of us that Ignatian spirituality calls us to connect not only with our Creator, but with each other. Mama Antura created a sacred space of equality in the house of spiritual practice, where noble wives served slaves and each considered the other to be a child of God. At the time of Mama Antura’s canonization, Argentina’s Bishop Vicente Bocaric said that her life was a testimony to the fact that she was “a gift of God’s love.” [is] We can change society. ” Mama Antura’s example is a church where each of us meets and walks with others, encouraging each other in spirituality and affirming that our church is a home for all. We are calling on you to work towards rebuilding.
The Church’s recognition of Mama Antura’s influence through her canonization should serve as an inspiration to women, laity, and clergy alike. Her life is a testament to the transformative power of faith for the church and society. Her courage and dedication to the protection of Ignatian spirituality helped break down barriers between classes and brought Argentina closer to God. The church needs each of our skill sets in ministry because our gifts are uniquely created by God to fill the hearts of His people. When she felt insecure about her place in her church, she drew into the welcoming arms of Ignatian spiritual practice and embraced the courageous pioneers who blazed a trail like Mama Antura. Please remember.
intercessory prayer
Mama Antura
Help us to see Christ in everyone.
To care for each of our brothers and sisters as spiritual beings,
Those who are capable of seeking God and worthy of seeking God;
You deserve our time, effort, and love.
inspire us to take courageous action,
without hiding behind our perceived limitations.
But in response to God’s call, we acted boldly.
A journey of moving forward despite all obstacles.
Join us as we reach those who need Christ.
Seeing that need reflected in our own hearts,
When we invite them into communion with God,
Through his gift of spiritual training.
spirit traveler,
Guide us to embrace spirituality in our hearts,
Open your eyes to God’s mercy through meditation.
Teach us as we experience the presence of God.
Thank you for paving the way and the place.
For those who are confused,
For those who seem forgotten,
For me.
Ali Bobzien I’m a full-time mom, nap writer, and a theology graduate student at Fuller Theological Seminary. When she’s not playing outdoors with her two energetic daughters, she writes about spirituality, theology, family, and nature. You can find out more about her work at allibobzien.com, in her monthly newsletter, The Pondering Heart, or on her Instagram @bobz.alli.
