Saint Genoveva Torres Morales

Biography

Saint Genoveva Torres Morales, also known as Saint Genoveva Torres Morales, was born on January 3, 1870, in Almenara, Castile, Spain. She was the youngest of six children, but tragedy struck her family at a young age. By the time she was eight years old, both her parents and four of her siblings had passed away. This early loss shaped Genoveva's character, and she grew up as a quiet and solitary child. At the age of ten, Genoveva developed a keen interest in spiritual reading. She quickly understood that the purpose of life is to follow God, and this realization guided her throughout her life. Unfortunately, when she was thirteen years old, her left leg became gangrenous and had to be amputated. The operation was performed without anesthesia, and her leg never properly healed, leaving her reliant on crutches for the rest of her life. From 1885 to 1894, Genoveva lived at the Mercy Home, which was run by the Carmelites of Charity. During her time there, she learned to sew and deepened her spiritual life. Genoveva aspired to join the Carmelites of Charity as a sister, but her health prevented her from doing so. In 1894, Genoveva moved in with two other lay women who supported themselves and each other, leading a life of poverty and prayer. It was during this time that her desire to help poor women grew stronger. In 1911, Canon Barbarrós suggested that she start a religious community dedicated to this mission. Inspired by this idea, Genoveva established the first community of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels (Angélicas) in Valencia, Spain. The congregation received papal approval in 1953. The newly established religious community quickly attracted many women, both those in need of assistance and those willing to help. More communities were formed around Spain under Genoveva's leadership. Throughout her life, Genoveva dedicated herself to working for these communities, despite her own physical and health problems. She overcame her physical challenges and, even more significantly, her own desire for solitude. Saint Genoveva Torres Morales passed away on January 5, 1956, in Zaragoza, Spain, from natural causes. Her holy life and devotion to serving the poor earned her recognition for her heroic virtues. On January 22, 1991, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable. She was later beatified by Pope John Paul II on January 29, 1995. Finally, on May 4, 2003, at Plaza de Colón in Madrid, Spain, Pope John Paul II canonized her as a saint. Saint Genoveva Torres Morales serves as a model of perseverance, compassion, and selflessness. Her life story is an inspiration to all those facing physical and emotional hardships, reminding us of the power of faith and the capacity to serve others in the face of adversity.