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PRESENCE IN THE WORLD
From the tiny handful of sisters of 1851, the Handmaids
of Mary grew and extended their mission of healing
and compassion worldwide and now comprise more than
2,000 sisters in---- convents located in Europe, South,
Central, and North America, with two missionary houses
in Africa, and another two in Philippines.
Convents dedicated to the sick in:
· Rest homes
· Nursing homes
· Home nursing
· District nursing
· The missions
· Hospitals
· Aid sufferers
SAINT SOLEDAD
· HER LIFE
JEWEL OF MADRID
This was how they described Soledad Torres Acosta,
who was born on the 2nd December, 1826, in a modest
house, in Madrid. Mother Soledad belonged to the parish
of St. Martin, and was baptised in the local church
with the names of Bibiana Antonia Manuela.
WHAT WILL BECOME OF THIS LITTLE GIRL?
This is the question which all parents ask themselves
about the uncertain futures of their children. In
the case of little Manolita, those who knew her best
already felt something special. While still a very
young girl, her true nature began to shine through,
as well as her special love for the poor and the sick.
It was this love which later led her to become an
ideal nurse to the body, and a compassionate mother
to the sufferings of the spirit.
To her own younger brothers, Manuela played the role
of young mother and makeshift teacher, extending her
concern to the children of the whole neighborhood,
entrusted to her care by their mothers while they
busyed themselves with housework.
She also loved helping her sister in attending a poor,
sick, local woman, and her mother often caught her
keeping part of her lunch to give away to the poorest
of the neighborhood.
In the year 1851, Manolita became 25 years old. The
neighborhood of Chamberi , in which she lived, was
then still almost open countryside, upon which were
scattered the humble houses of equally humble families.
The local priest Miguel Martinez, saw that many sick
people languished in their own homes without even
the most basic care and above all, the spiritual strength
which would comfort them in their pain and their fear
of death. He therefore conceived the idea of founding
a religious order whose specific aim would be the
care of the sick in their own homes.
The news of this came like a flash of lightening to
the young Manuela and with the vigor which is so typical
of great generous hearts, she approached the priest
to offer her services without condition.
THE FOUNDATION
On 15 August 1851, the Institute of the Handmaids
of Mary was born. The Founder wished to inaugurate
the new religious family with seven candidates, to
commemorate the seven sorrows of the Virgin. Seven
candidates had already been chosen, and Manuela was
the seventh, the youngest, and the smallest.
task of attending the sick. But M.Soledad understood
that, as indifference to the spiritual grew daily,
it was necessary not only to teach the truth, but
also to visit the needy, to share their sorrows, and
to alleviate these with simple, friendly charity.
Her vocation is summed up in one phrase: "the
poor and the sick are my brothers". This was
her personal motto, and with it she entered the homes
of the needy with arms bearing comfort, happines and
service. "The night is for God, and for charity".
SOLEDAD ALONE
The first steps of the new born institute were difficult,
as are all God's works. They encountered poverty,
lack of understanding, and difficulties and opposition
of all kinds from the civil authorities. It is not
strange that the first handmaids of Mary should have
retreated from their struggle against so many difficulties,
and abandoned the enterprise. Only Soledad remained
as her name befitted, alone.
The Institute's founder, Father Miguel Martinez believed
that the Institute was doomed to failure , and could
not bear to see it happen. He made arrangements to
go to a Spanish colony in the Gulf of Guinea as a
missionary, and told M. Soledad with some prophecy,
"you stay here, Soledad, for if you leave, the
foundation will perish". He knew M. Soledad well,
and he knew that she would devote herself to the success
of the foundation.
GENERAL SUPERIOR AT THIRTY
Only a soul with the disposition of M.Soledad could
submit itself to such obedience, and to what seemed
such a rush enterprise. In taking over the reins of
government, M.Soledad found herself in command of
a sorely diminished army. She found absolute poverty,
lack of social cohesion and, above all, found herself
under the direction of a new and inexperienced priest.
With her vigorous spirit and stout temper, she knew
how to overcome great difficulties and how to suffer
numerous humillations, all in order to rebuild the
failing Institute. Things were so bad that a decree
of suspension was made out, and only needed the signature
of the Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo . Who stopped
his hand? It was the prayers and tears of M.Soledad.
In this trying circumstances, she would often repeat
with great faith: "God with his great goodness,
will make this grain of mustard become a leafy tree".
God listened to her tears, which were always accompanied
by a fervent prayer and serve penitence, by sending
her the worthiest collaborators in the great enterprise
of infusing new, vigorous life into the moribund Institute.
M.Soledad traveled ceaselessly founding new centers
of the Handmaids of Mary, who with love, selflessness
and patience squander prodigies of charity wherever
there is a fellow soul in need.
The establishment of the foundation in Valencia shows
the strong spirit of M.Soledad very clearly.
"The journey to Valencia was made by M.Soledad,
accompanied by sister Concepcion Gomis, in the midst
of the confusion caused by fighting between federalist
rebels and the forces of the central government. They
proceeded to the Bishop's palace, where M.Soledad
outlined her intentions. The Archbishop did not seem
to believe her.
Ø But how did you reach Valencia in such circumstances?
Ø Your Excellency, do not close our Institute.
I am going to petition….
Ø Petition who?
Ø The president of the revolutionary council.
The Archbishop looked at her in astonishment.
Ø Go. Go with God. May God protect you.
M.Soledad talked to the president of the revolutionary
council with the same tranquility with which she had
addressed the Archbishop.
Ø I have come to found a house of nuns , dedicated
to the care of the sick.
Then she explained the mission of the Handmaids of
Mary who look after the sick, going into their homes
as well as hospitals, and in the case of plague…
The President interrupted her. He made up his mind.
Ø Yes. That is a very good idea. I will give
you my authoritation . You can begin immediately.
Go to the barricades, you will find many wounded there.
And then M.Soledad returned to Madrid for a group
of sisters for the new house in Valencia. She chose
them, and then organised the return journey for the
end of September 1872.
It was the year 1855, and asiatic cholera had broken
out all over Spain, leaving in its wake a train of
death, desolation and misery. Against this epidemic
stood a veritable barrier of love and charity erected
by the Handmaids of Mary. Yet death stole away lives,
and M.Soledad suffered tremendously when she witnessed
so much misery. In the same way in which a general
guides a battle, standing at the focal point of many,
isolated points of combat, M.Soledad guided, advised,
accompanied and cheered forward not only her Daughters
of Madrid, but also those in Valencia, Navarra, Castilla,
Aragon, Andalucia.
In the midst of such great poverty, she did wonders,
She would send clothes and food to the sick, and gave
money to the sisters to pay for their medicines.
A GENEROUS DEED
The disease affected two day laborers who used to
come to the convent. M.Soledad helped one, but lost
track of the other because she did not know his name.
The sisters used to hear the Mother say: poor man.
What will become of him?. The young sisters offered
to go and look for him themselves, and not to return
until they have found him. One sister later recalled:
I went with sister Josefina. We enquired after the
man everywhere, and we found him only at dusk. The
poor man was in his tiny hut, down by the river, lying
in bed with his wife and children. No sooner had they
seen the help we were bringing, that they began to
cry saying: how good M.Soledad is.
Her soul, all generosity, was eager to do its best
for everyone. Gain souls for God, she used to say
her nuns many times. "The poor are my children;
I am the mother of the orphans and the helpless".
And it was true. Her magnanimous heart was open to
all the needy. Her biggest joy was to provide one
of those suffering people with some kind of comfort.
GOD'S CALL
"Happy the servants, whom on his return, the
Lord finds faithful to her waiting" (Lc 12, 37).
On 25 September 1887, M.Soledad played with her younger
novices. The youngest of the novices, in a sudden
burst of affection, took off her crown of orange blosson
and placed it upon M.Soledad's head. M.Soledad told
them a prophecy. "Very soon, my daughters, you
will put another crown on me to bury me. You are the
last that I shall crown. I shall witness no more the
taking of vows. "And on her death bed M.Soledad
repeated to her daughters: "love one another
have peace and union".
M.Soledad left the foundation well established. It
had already reached the far side of the Atlantic,
and the number of houses founded by he had risen to---.
They all were well supplied with sisters faithful
to the spirit of M.Soledad, and heroines of charity,
and they were all ready to take up the task of passing
on the precious inheritance of the spirit with which
M.Soledad infused the foundation.
On October 1887 , in Madrid, the city in which she
had been born, the heart which had loved so much stopped.
She had been ill for only a few days, and death came
to her easily, like a sweet and pleasant mission to
be fulfilled.
Can one say that M.Soledad found rest when she died?
No for even in heaven she could not relax, and continued
to watch over her Daughters as they care for the poor
and the sick. Even in her mortal existence, this difficult
task had never tired her. Indeed, ordinary, earthly
concepts, such as being tired, or relaxation, could
not be applied to M.Soledad, for love is, by definition,
tireless.
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