CatholicSaints.Info

Also known as

• Antonita (family nickname)

Memorial

• 27 April

Profile

The 2nd of 15 children born to Ramon Bandres and Teresa Elosegui; her father worked as an attorney. Antonita was educated by the Daughters of Jesus, was known in the family as a caring big sister, and when she was old enough, she began caring for the poor on the outskirts of her home town. She joined the Daughters of Jesus on 8 December 1915 in Salamanca, Spain, and made her profession on 31 May 1918. Maria was never strong, never in great health, but soon after she made her vows her health began to deteriorate. Her faith never faltered, her demeanor never darkened, and her devotion to Mary set an example to all around her including both the other Daughters and the intellectual agnostics and atheists who met her.

Born

• 6 March 1898 in Tolosa, Guipúzcoa, Spain

Died

• 27 April 1919 in Salamanca, Spain of natural causes while singing a Marian hymn

Venerated

• 6 April 1995 by Pope John Paul II (decree of heroic virtues)

Beatified

• 12 May 1996 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy

MLA Citation

• “Blessed Maria Antonia Bandrés y Elósegui“. CatholicSaints.Info. 27 April 2024. Web. 12 May 2024. <>