Blessed Francisca Aldea Y Araujo

Biography

Blessed Francisca Aldea y Araujo, also known as Sister Francisca of the Heart of Jesus, was born on 17 December 1881 in Somolinos, Guadalajara, Spain. Orphaned at an early age, Francisca grew up and received her education at Saint Susanna's College in Madrid, which was a school run by the Sisters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Deeply inspired by the Sisters' dedication and service, Francisca joined the religious congregation when she came of age. She embraced her vocation with fervor and spent the initial years of her religious life as a teacher, imparting knowledge and nurturing the spiritual growth of the students entrusted to her care.

In recognition of her exceptional abilities and leadership qualities, Francisca was chosen as the assistant general secretary of the Sisters in 1916. Her commitment and administrative skills were further evident, and she was later appointed as the general secretary of the entire Order. Francisca served in this important position until 1936 when tragedy befell Spain with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

Despite the chaos and danger surrounding her, Sister Francisca remained steadfast in her faith and commitment to her religious community. The hostile climate of the war, however, ultimately led to her martyrdom. On 20 July 1936, she was unjustly shot in Canillejas, Madrid, sealing her fate as a martyr for her unwavering dedication to Christ and the Gospel.

In 1940, four years after her death, Sister Francisca's body was miraculously found incorrupt when it was exhumed. This extraordinary occurrence was seen as a sign of her holiness and sanctity. Her remains were then re-interred in the chapel of the Sisters of Charity college in Villaverde, Spain, in 1954.

The heroic life and martyrdom of Blessed Francisca Aldea y Araujo did not go unnoticed. On 7 July 1997, Pope John Paul II officially recognized her martyrdom through a decree, thus acknowledging her sacrifice for her faith. Subsequently, on 10 May 1998, Pope John Paul II beatified her, conferring upon her the title of Blessed Francisca.

Blessed Francisca Aldea y Araujo serves as an inspiration and a model of selflessness, courage, and fidelity to God in the face of adversity. Her feast day is celebrated on 20 July, the anniversary of her martyrdom, as a reminder of her life and witness to the values of the Gospel.