Saint for January 2020
St. Genoveva Torres Morales – January 5
Genoveva Torres Morales was a simple girl. She was born on January 3, 1870 in Almenara, a seaside town north of Valencia. At the age of eight she became an orphan and had to take care of her younger brother. When she was 13, her leg had to be amputated. The operation was very primitive and the missing limb could not be replaced with an artificial one. Genoveva had to walk with crutches until the end of her life. The crippled girl fund herself at the Mercy Home in Valencia, a shelter where she could further her education and gain deeper religious knowledge. She could have stayed there until the end of her life. The institution satisfied her basic needs and even provided her with comfort compared to the conditions she had lived in before.
However, Genoveva had an ambitious goal – she wanted to start a religious community organized on the basis of a monastic model that would combine diligent prayer and service to neighbors.
In 1894 Genoveva and two companions founded the "Angelican Association" aimed at helping poor women. In the community, the nights were devoted to the adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament. The first center was founded in Zaragoza. Genoveva's work developed into the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels.
Despite her suffering and disability, Genoveva did not dwell on her own problems. She led an intense spiritual life and gave all her heart to God and to people in need.
She died on January 25, 1956, was beatified on January 29, 1995 and canonized on May 4, 2003.
Merciful Jesus, with Your suffering
You showed people how precious each person
and their salvation are to You.
Let the example and intercession of
St. Genoveva Torres Morales
help us overcome selfishness and laziness,
so that we can preach Your mercy with our self-sacrificing lives.
You live and reign for ages and ages.
Amen.
From Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives