Vatican City – The Argentinian president traveled to Rome for the historic canonization. The recently elected Javier Milei was present in St. Peter's Basilica when Pope Francis raised the first Argentinian woman to the altars on February 11. The name of the new saint: María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, also called: Mama Antula.  

Pope Francis, in the Mass for the Canonization of Mama Antula, said, “Today, we reflect on the life of María Antonia de San José, ‘Mama Antula.’ She was a ‘wayfarer’ of the Spirit. She traveled thousands of miles on foot, crossing deserts and dangerous roads, in order to bring God to others. Today, she is a model of fervor and apostolic courage.” 

Born in Argentina in 1730, Maria Antonia decided as a young girl to live a life devoted to God. She got to know the Jesuits. Her spirituality was influenced by this religious order, which had been founded only two hundred years earlier by St. Ignatius of Loyola. 

Just how important the canonization is for the country of Argentina was summed up by the postulator, Silvia Monica Correale, a few days before the canonization. She expressed, “I am very happy to be here as a postulator at this moment, especially in a cause like that of María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, who is a very important role model for every Argentinian woman.” 

The young woman from Argentina embarked on the path to sainthood early on. At the age of 15, Maria Antonia donned a black robe and took private vows. She took the name Maria Antonia of St. Joseph and began to lead a life in community together with other consecrated women. 

Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, emphasized the spiritual fruit of Mama Antula’s life as a laywoman. He said, “She was undoubtedly a laywoman, wasn't she? I think it's good to point this out, because in the pictures and images of Mama Antula she sometimes doesn't appear dressed like a laywoman. The laity play an important role in the Church, they are part of the family of God. They need to be listened to more. I, therefore, think that the way of synodality initiated by Pope Francis is important for us.” 

In 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from Argentina. The entire order was banned by Pope Clement XIV just six years later. During this time, Mama Antula traveled from city to city to offer retreats in the Ignatian tradition. She said that she wanted to go “where people don’t know God yet.” 

Silvia Monica Correale, postulator of the Saint’s cause, spoke about the work of providence in the life of Mama Antula, saying, “She was a woman who had an impressive faith because she trusted completely in providence, and I would say that almost everything she did happened out of the blue. The Lord gave her the help she needed through certain people.”  

In only eight years, Mama Antula provided retreats to 70,000 people. Pope Francis praised her passion for spreading the Gospel. 

He said, “Thanks to Mama Antula, this saint, intercessor of Divine Providence, made his way through houses, neighborhoods, public transport, stores, factories and hearts in order to offer a dignified life through work, justice and daily bread on the table of the poor.” 

After evangelizing in Uruguay as well, Mama Antula founded a house for retreats in Buenos Aires, where she died in 1799.  

Nothing stood in the way of the canonization of Mama Antula when the Church recognized the miracle of Claudio Perusini’s healing. Claudio was born in 1959 and suffered a stroke with severe internal hemorrhaging in several areas. A deep coma followed, and multi-organ failure quickly set in.  

According to the doctors, Claudio was doomed to die, but then a miracle occurred. Thanks to the intercession of Mama Antula, Claudio was cured, and, with the help of physiotherapy, he can now live a largely normal life.  

Vicente Bokalic Iglic C.M., Bishop of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, said of Mama Antula, that she, “is obviously a woman who is gripped by the love of God and always keeps an eye for the suffering of other people. She has experienced slavery, marginalization, the contempt of many and has shown her closeness to the marginalized. The love of God is a gift that transforms and changes lives.”  

The feast day of Argentina's first female saint will be March 7, just before International Women's Day. Silvia Correale, the postulator from Argentina, is convinced that the canonization of Mama Antula is also a signal for all women worldwide.   

She said, “She highlights that every woman can leave a mark for many generations in a society and also in the Church. A woman can do a lot of good if she responds generously to the Lord's call, because each of us has a vocation in life. 

“If we follow the Lord as our Mama Antula did, we will surely leave a mark and exercise our spiritual motherhood in a truly authentic way.” 

Adapted by Jacob Stein