Saint Nazaria Ignacia March Y Mesa

Biography

Saint Nazaria Ignacia March Y Mesa, also known as Nazaire de Sainte-Thérèse March Mesa and Nazaria Ignacia de Santa Teresa de Jesus, was born on January 10, 1889, in Madrid, Spain. She was the fourth child of José Alejandro March y Reus, a merchant, fisherman, and industrial worker, and Nazaria Mesa Ramos. Nazaria had a twin sister named Ignazia, as well as ten brothers who survived infancy. From a young age, Nazaria showed great devotion to her faith. She and her sister were baptized on the day they were born, and Nazaria made her First Communion on November 21, 1898, at the age of nine. She also made a personal vow of consecration to God at this time. However, her family, who were indifferent to the faith, did not understand her devotion and often discouraged her from practicing her religious duties. They even once "grounded" her from attending Mass. Despite these challenges, Nazaria's piety continued to grow, and her family eventually became more accepting of her religious fervor. When she was confirmed on March 15, 1902, her family had grown accustomed to her dedication to the faith and allowed her to join the Franciscan Third Order, which allowed her to more actively live out her faith. Nazaria's devotion to God inspired several of her family members to return to the Catholic Church. In late 1904, due to business failures, the March Mesa family relocated to Mexico. During the journey, Nazaria encountered the Instituto de Hermanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados (Institute of Sisters of the Abandoned Elders) and was deeply inspired by their charism. On December 7, 1908, Nazaria experienced a calling to religious life and joined the Institute in Mexico City. She made her perpetual vows on January 1, 1915, and adopted the name Sister Nazaire de Sainte-Thérèse. Sister Nazaire was assigned to the Institute's hospice in Oruro, Bolivia, where she served as a cook, housekeeper, nurse, and occasional beggar to support the poor and neglected. In this service, she witnessed the challenges faced by the Church in the region, as many Protestant groups were establishing missions, and some priests were living scandalous lives. This experience stirred a deep desire within Sister Nazaire to found a new congregation dedicated to missionary work, evangelization, and religious education. On January 18, 1925, the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Sister Nazaire made a special vow of obedience to the Pope. Later that year, on Pentecost, she made a vow to work for the union and extension of the Holy Catholic Church. On June 16, 1925, with six other sisters, she founded the Pontifical Crusade, which was later renamed the Congregation of the Missionary Crusaders of the Church. As the superior of the Congregation, her mission was to catechize children and adults, support the work of priests, conduct missions, and print and distribute religious tracts. Mother Nazaire faced opposition to her work, both from within the Church administration and her previous Institute. Despite these challenges, she remained steadfast in her calling and continued to serve the Church and those in need. Monsignor Felipe Cortesi, who had supported her in Bolivia, requested that she open a Missionary Crusader house in Buenos Aires when he was appointed as the apostolic nuncio of Argentina in 1930. The Congregation faced another test during the 1932-1935 war between Bolivia and Paraguay. Mother Nazaire and her sisters cared for and brought the sacraments to soldiers on both sides and established homes for war orphans. In 1934, Mother Nazaire's Rule for the Crusaders, based on Ignatian spirituality, was approved by the Vatican Congregation of Religious. She traveled to Rome to work for the approval of her Rule and had a private audience with Pope Pius XI. This encounter further inspired her commitment to live and work for the Church. During the Spanish Civil War, Mother Nazaire founded a retreat center for spiritual exercises in Madrid under the flag of Uruguay. Her sisters there survived the war due to Franco's reluctance to risk an international incident by harming them. With the help of the Bolivian government, Mother Nazaire was able to leave Spain and return to the Americas to continue her work. In 1937, she summoned a general chapter of the Congregation to strengthen unity and zeal among her sisters. Mother Nazaire focused on the spiritual formation of new sisters and exemplified a pious and simple life. She emphasized a maternal approach for the superiors of the Congregation, reminding them of their role as mothers of the house. Although she did not live to see it, the Congregation received Vatican recognition on June 9, 1947, by Pope Pius XII. Saint Nazaria Ignacia March Y Mesa passed away on July 6, 1943, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, due to complications from pneumonia and tuberculosis. She was buried in the Chacarita cemetery in Buenos Aires and later re-interred at the Congregation house in Buenos Aires in 1957. In 1972, her relics were enshrined in the crypt of the mother house of the Congregation in Oruro, Bolivia. Saint Nazaria Ignacia March Y Mesa was venerated on September 1, 1988, when Pope John Paul II declared her heroic virtues. She was beatified on September 27, 1992, by Pope John Paul II and canonized on October 14, 2018, by Pope Francis. She is recognized as the patroness of the Missionary Crusaders of the Church. Through her life of devotion and service, Saint Nazaria Ignacia March Y Mesa remains an inspiring example of faith and dedication to the Church.