Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli

Biography

Saint Maria Soledad Torres Acosta, also known as Emanuela Tores-Acosta, Manuela Torres Acosta, or simply María Soledad, was born on 2 December 1826 in Madrid, Spain. She was the daughter of Francis Torres and Antonia Acosta, who ran a small business. From a young age, Emanuela felt a strong calling to the religious life and a desire to serve God. When she was old enough to leave home, Emanuela applied to join the Dominicans. However, her application was rejected due to her poor health. Undeterred, Emanuela spent a significant amount of time in prayer and discernment, seeking God's guidance for her vocation. In 1848, Emanuela was approached by a Servite tertiary priest who asked her to lead a new community of women dedicated to serving the sick and poor. Accepting this invitation, she took the name Mary Soledad and devoted herself to the formation and growth of the new community. At its inception in 1851, the community numbered only seven members. In 1855, the community experienced a split, with one group establishing a new house in Ferdinand Po. However, Mary Soledad and the women who remained with her formed the foundation of the Handmaids of Mary Serving the Sick. During this period, Saint Mary briefly faced a challenge to her leadership, resulting in the community nearly falling apart. Nonetheless, she was soon reinstated as the superior, and the community continued to grow under her guidance and example. After receiving diocesan approval in 1861, Mary Soledad served as the superior of the order for 35 years. Her leadership was characterized by her unwavering dedication to the service of the sick and poor. The Handmaids of Mary gained renown for their work in assisting the victims of the 1865 cholera epidemic in Madrid, Spain. By the time of Saint Mary Soledad's death on 11 October 1887 of natural causes, the Handmaids of Mary had established forty-six houses across the world, reflecting the order's growth and impact in responding to the needs of the sick and impoverished. In recognition of her holiness and the significant contributions she made to the Church and society, Saint Mary Soledad was venerated on 23 January 1938 by Pope Pius XI. She was later beatified on 5 February 1950 by Pope Pius XII and canonized as a saint on 25 January 1970 by Pope Paul VI. Though Saint Mary Soledad may not have a specific patronage attributed to her, her life and dedication to serving the sick and poor make her a model of compassion, selflessness, and faith for all. Her feast day is celebrated on 11 October, a day that commemorates her earthly departure and her entrance into eternal glory.