Juana Josefa Cipitria y Barriola was born on May 31, 1845 in Andoain, Guipuzcoa Spain.
Juana Josefa is the eldest of seven children. Her father's name is Juan Miguel Cipitria and her mother's name is Maria Jesus Barriola. Her sisters are Ignacia, Jorefa, Francisca, Maria Dominica, Sotera and Angela. They were a family of weavers and Juana learned the craft as a child. Juana was given the nickname, Juanita.
As a young girl, Juanita made sacrifices, even giving her favorite food (omelet) to anonymous beggars. She always visited Jesus in the Church (The Church of Sta. Maria) and brought him flowers. Juanita's uncle, Juan, usually walked with her to the Church. At an early age, she learned to recite the rosary taught to her by her grandmother, Josefa Antonia.
Juanita received Jesus in Communion for the first time at age Twelve. When she was Fifteen years old, a young man in Tolosa felt in love with her. And so, he asked for Juanita's hand in marriage but she refused the man's offer and said, "I am for God alone".
At age 17, Juanita left home to work as a house helper to the Sabater family in Burgos. She washed dishes, ironed clothes and took care of the children. Juanita was poor, but she was generous. During her stay with the Sabater family, she gave food to the poor but when Juanita was asked not to do this, she said, "If there is no room for the poor, neither is there room for me".
One afternoon, on April 2, 1969, Juanita visited Jesus in a church in Valladolid. While she was praying, she saw a bright light and heard the voice of Blessed Virgin Mary saying, "Candida Maria de Jesus" and "Hijas de Jesus".
Later in life, Juanita met a Jesuit priest, Fr. Miguel San Jose Herranz, who helped her read and write.
On December 8, 1871, she founded the Congregation of Hijas de Jesus. She took the name of Mother Candida Maria de Jesus. Mother Candida and five other women stayed at St. Josephs House. The Congregation received papal approval from Pope Leo XIII on July 30, 1901. Mother Candida based her spirituality on the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
Mother Candida and her companions opened the first Hijas de Jesus school in Salamanca on January 1874. In 1932, Hijas de Jesus sisters opened their first school in the Philippines at Pototan, Iloilo.
Mother Candida died on August 9, 1912. She was venerated on July 6, 1993 and was beatified on May 12, 1996, together with Blessed Antonia Bandres.
On February 19, 1912, Pope Benedict announced that Mother Candida's canonization will take place on October 17, 2010. She will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.
Juana Josefa is the eldest of seven children. Her father's name is Juan Miguel Cipitria and her mother's name is Maria Jesus Barriola. Her sisters are Ignacia, Jorefa, Francisca, Maria Dominica, Sotera and Angela. They were a family of weavers and Juana learned the craft as a child. Juana was given the nickname, Juanita.
As a young girl, Juanita made sacrifices, even giving her favorite food (omelet) to anonymous beggars. She always visited Jesus in the Church (The Church of Sta. Maria) and brought him flowers. Juanita's uncle, Juan, usually walked with her to the Church. At an early age, she learned to recite the rosary taught to her by her grandmother, Josefa Antonia.
Juanita received Jesus in Communion for the first time at age Twelve. When she was Fifteen years old, a young man in Tolosa felt in love with her. And so, he asked for Juanita's hand in marriage but she refused the man's offer and said, "I am for God alone".
At age 17, Juanita left home to work as a house helper to the Sabater family in Burgos. She washed dishes, ironed clothes and took care of the children. Juanita was poor, but she was generous. During her stay with the Sabater family, she gave food to the poor but when Juanita was asked not to do this, she said, "If there is no room for the poor, neither is there room for me".
One afternoon, on April 2, 1969, Juanita visited Jesus in a church in Valladolid. While she was praying, she saw a bright light and heard the voice of Blessed Virgin Mary saying, "Candida Maria de Jesus" and "Hijas de Jesus".
Later in life, Juanita met a Jesuit priest, Fr. Miguel San Jose Herranz, who helped her read and write.
On December 8, 1871, she founded the Congregation of Hijas de Jesus. She took the name of Mother Candida Maria de Jesus. Mother Candida and five other women stayed at St. Josephs House. The Congregation received papal approval from Pope Leo XIII on July 30, 1901. Mother Candida based her spirituality on the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
Mother Candida and her companions opened the first Hijas de Jesus school in Salamanca on January 1874. In 1932, Hijas de Jesus sisters opened their first school in the Philippines at Pototan, Iloilo.
Mother Candida died on August 9, 1912. She was venerated on July 6, 1993 and was beatified on May 12, 1996, together with Blessed Antonia Bandres.
On February 19, 1912, Pope Benedict announced that Mother Candida's canonization will take place on October 17, 2010. She will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.
