Blessed Ines De Beniganim

Biography

Blessed Ines De Beniganim, also known as Giuseppa Maria di Sant‚ÄôAgnese, Giuseppa Teresa AlbinÖna, Ines Albiniani, Inez, Josefa María Albiñana Gomar, Josepha Maria, Josepha Maria of Saint Agnes, Josephine Mary of Saint Agnes, and Mother Agnes, was born on 9 February 1625 in Benigánim, Valencia, Spain. She was born into a poor family to Luigi and Vincenza Gomar. Unfortunately, her father passed away when she was very young, and she was largely raised by her uncle, who became a substitute father figure in her life.

From a young age, Giuseppa developed a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She felt a strong calling to religious life and refused the arranged marriages her uncle tried to organize for her. When her mother passed away when Giuseppa was 18 years old, she felt free from family obligations and decided to pursue her religious calling.

On 25 October 1643, Giuseppa joined the Discalced Augustinians at a convent in the diocese of Valencia, Spain. Taking the name Sister Giuseppa Maria di Sant’Agnese, she made her vows in the summer of 1644. She devoted herself to serving God and her community, working in the convent dispensary and preparing her deceased Augustinian sisters for burial. In her spare time, she also spent hours making rosaries.

Sister Giuseppa's dedication and spirituality were recognized within the community, and she became a choir nun on 18 November 1663. She spent approximately eight hours a day in the choir, using her voice and prayers to uplift the community, and to intercede for the Pope, the Church, and the souls in Purgatory.

Despite her lack of formal education and illiteracy, Sister Giuseppa was known for her deep theological insights, wisdom, and the gift of prophecy. People from all walks of life sought her out for spiritual guidance and sought her counsel on various matters.

Blessed Ines De Beniganim lived a severely ascetic life, willingly embracing physical and spiritual hardships as a way to grow closer to God. Her life was marked by rigorous self-discipline, fasting, and penance. Her commitment to her religious vocation and her exceptional virtues were widely recognized within her community.

Blessed Ines De Beniganim died on 21 January 1696 in Benigánim, Valencia, Spain, from natural causes. Her relics were enshrined in the chapel of the Augustinian monastery at Benigánim, where she had dedicated her life to God. Unfortunately, during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, anti-Catholic forces stole or destroyed her relics, causing their loss to history.

Blessed Ines De Beniganim's profound holiness and exceptional virtues were acknowledged by Pope Gregory XVI on 19 August 1838 when he declared her venerable, recognizing her heroic virtues that exemplified a life dedicated to God and service to others. Later, on 26 February 1888, Pope Leo XIII beatified her, acknowledging her as a Blessed within the Catholic Church.

Blessed Ines De Beniganim is venerated on 21 January, and her feast day is also celebrated by the Augustinians on 23 January. Her life serves as an inspiration for those seeking a deeper spiritual connection with God and a model of selfless devotion and service.