Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa was born in 1730 in Silipica, Santiago del Estero, Argentina. She comes from a rich family, and took her private vows at the age of 15. Very early on, she came into contact with Ignatian spirituality and devoted herself to raising children, the poorest and sickest.
Holy House of Spiritual Exercises
In 1767, King Charles III of Spain ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain and the Spanish colonies. But Mama Antula continues to spread the practice of spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius. Twelve years later, she moved to Buenos Aires and founded the Holy House of Spiritual Exercises.
When he died in 1799, it is estimated that around 100,000 people attended the exercises.
Mama Antula, declared blessed in 2016
In 1905, the Argentine bishops opened the cause for the beatification of Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa. Beatified in 2016, Mama Antula was declared a saint on Sunday following the recognition of a miracle attributed to her intercession. Claudio Perusini, a stroke victim, regained all his abilities in 2019 with no possible medical explanation.