Blessed María Romero Meneses

Life story

María Romero Meneses was born on 13 January 1902 in Granada, Nicaragua. She studied at a school run by the Salesian Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and joined the congregation in 1920, aged 18. She made her novitiate in El Salvador, received the habit in January 1921 and made her final profession in Nicaragua on 6 January 1929.

In 1931 she was sent to San José, Costa Rica, where she lived most of her life and became known as the “social apostle of Costa Rica”. She taught at the congregation's school and also opened recreation centres for poor children and young people (1945), food distribution (1953), a school for poor girls (1961), a clinic (1966) and houses for poor families (1973). Much of this was funded by donations from wealthier families.

She died on 7 July 1977 at Las Peñitas, near León, Nicaragua. Pope John Paul II declared her venerable on 18 December 2000 and beatified her on 14 April 2002 in St Peter's Square. She has not been canonised. Her feast day is 7 July.

Works and witness

• Joined the Salesian Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in 1920
• Moved to San José, Costa Rica, in 1931
• Opened recreation centres for poor children in 1945 and food distribution in 1953
• Opened a school, a clinic and houses for the poor
• Beatified on 14 April 2002

References

• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints: biography and beatification records, 14 April 2002
• Salesian (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) biographical sources on María Romero
• Martyrologium Romanum (7 July)
• Holy See, liturgy office biography for the beatification of 14 April 2002 (vatican.va)

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