March 7
María Antonia de San José (Antonia de Paz y Figueroa), Mama Antula (1730–1799)
Consecrated laywoman
Practical advice
Personally invite someone to devote serious time to prayer and help them resolve the practical obstacle that prevents them from doing so.
Biography
Argentine consecrated laywoman, María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa continued to spread the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius after the expulsion of the Jesuits. He traveled enormous distances on foot, asked for permits, gathered preachers and obtained food and lodging so that people of all walks of life could retreat. After overcoming prejudices and rejections, he founded the Holy House of Spiritual Exercises in Buenos Aires. Known as Mama Antula, she promoted reconciliations and conversions without seeking prominence. His audacity kept an apostolic work alive when it seemed doomed to disappear.