Blessed Margarita De Maturana

Biography

Blessed Margarita De Maturana, also known as Margarita María, Margarita María López de Maturana y Ortiz de Zárate, Margarita Maturana, Mother Margarita de Maturana, Mother Maturana, and Pilar López de Maturana Ortiz de Zárate, was born on July 25, 1884, on the 3rd floor of 52 Tenderia Street, Bilboa, Vizcaya, Spain. She was one of five children born to Juana Ortiz de Zarate and Vicente Lopez de Maturana, and she had a twin sister named Leonor. From a young age, both Margarita and Leonor were known for their piety.

In 1903, at the age of 19, Margarita entered the novitiate of the Vera Cruz Mercedarian Monastery at Berriz, Spain. Taking the name Margarita, she dedicated herself to a life of prayer and contemplation. She began her journey as a teacher and later became the principal of the school within the monastery. However, Margarita's health began to decline in 1922 when she developed a duodenal ulcer that would trouble her for the rest of her life.

Despite her cloistered life, Margarita had a deep interest in missionary work, and she spent every night praying for the success and protection of missionaries. When her school developed an interest in missionaries, she formed a group dedicated to prayer for their work. As time went on, Margarita felt a calling to leave her contemplative life and engage in missionary work herself, alongside like-minded sisters.

In September 1924, Margarita and her companions approached the superior general of their order to request approval for their desired move to the missions. On January 23, 1926, they were granted permission for an experimental mission. Traveling to Wuhu, China, on November 5, 1926, and later to Saipan in the northern Marianas Islands on March 4, 1928, Margarita and her sisters began their missionary journey. She was appointed Mother Superior of her house on April 16, 1927. On November 11, 1928, Margarita embarked on her first mission trip to Ponape in the Marianas.

The success of Margarita's missionary work and that of her fellow sisters led to the approval of the Sacred Congregation for the Religious on May 17, 1930. Their house in Berriz was officially recognized as a Missionary Institute. Margarita was chosen as the first Superior General of the newly established Mercedarian Missionaries of Bérriz on July 30, 1931, a position she held until her passing.

Throughout her remaining years, Margarita made two more extensive mission trips to the South Pacific. However, her duodenal ulcer eventually developed into stomach cancer, causing her health to deteriorate. She returned to Berriz to seek treatment and continued to manage the administration of her house.

Blessed Margarita De Maturana passed away at 12:15 am on July 23, 1934, in Donostia-San Sebastian, Berriz, Vizcaya, Spain, due to her battle with stomach cancer. Her tireless efforts to spread the faith and her dedication to the missionary cause have not been forgotten. She was venerated on March 16, 1987, by Pope John Paul II, who recognized her heroic virtues. On October 22, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI beatified her, and the recognition was celebrated at Santiago Cathedral, Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain, by José Cardinal Saraiva.

Today, the legacy of Blessed Margarita De Maturana continues through the over 500 Mercedarian Missionary sisters working across the world. Her story is a testament to the power of faith, compassion, and dedication to serving others.