Blessed María del Tránsito Cabanillas

Life story

María del Tránsito Cabanillas was born on 15 August 1821 on the Santa Leocadia estate, now Carlos Paz in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. Her father was Felipe Cabanillas and her mother Francisca Antonia Luján; of their children one became a priest and three became sisters. From 1840 she looked after her younger brother who was training for the priesthood in Córdoba. After her father died in 1850 the family moved there. She was active in catechesis and charity, visiting the poor and the sick.

Her mother died on 13 April 1858. Guided by a Franciscan friar, she joined the Franciscan Third Order, professed in 1859 and vowed perpetual virginity. She began planning a congregation to give Christian instruction to poor and abandoned children. In 1873 she entered the Carmelite monastery in Buenos Aires but illness forced her to leave in April 1874; in September 1874 she entered the Visitation convent at Montevideo and fell ill again within months.

On 8 December 1878, with two companions, Teresa Fronteras and Brígida Moyano, she founded the Congregation of the Franciscan Tertiary Missionaries of Argentina. The three made their profession on 2 February 1879, and the congregation was affiliated to the Franciscan Order on 28 January 1880. During her lifetime it opened schools at San Vicente, Río Cuarto and Villa Nueva. She died on 25 August 1885. Pope John Paul II recognised her heroic virtue on 28 June 1999 and beatified her on 14 April 2002.

Works and witness

• Looked after her brother in seminary from 1840 and worked in catechesis and charity at Córdoba
• Professed in the Franciscan Third Order in 1859
• Founded the congregation with two companions on 8 December 1878
• Congregation affiliated to the Franciscans on 28 January 1880
• Beatified on 14 April 2002

Saints from the same country

Saint José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, Saint Mama Antula, Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, Blessed Mamerto Esquiú

References

• Holy See, biography of Blessed María del Tránsito de Jesús Sacramentado (vatican.va, ns_lit_doc_20020414_transito_en), read in full – birth at the Santa Leocadia estate (now Carlos Paz, Córdoba), parents, brother, Third Order 1859, founding 8 December 1878, profession 2 February 1879, affiliation 28 January 1880, death 25 August 1885, heroic virtue 28 June 1999
• The Holy See text is followed on the birthplace; an ACI Prensa article places her birth at San Roque, Córdoba

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.