The of Catholic saints remembers today, Wednesday, August 26, Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars, a Spanish nun who dedicated her life to caring for the neediest elderly people. Her vocation for service led her to promote a welfare work that continues to be present in many places.
Each day, the liturgical calendar allows us to know the history of men and women who stood out for their faith and their dedication to others. On August 26, it especially remembers Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars, whose work was marked by the attention, company and care of the elderly without resources.
SANTA TERESA DE JESÚS JORNET IBARS
Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars was born in Aitona (Lleida) in 1843. From a young age he showed an interest in education and religious life, although he finally oriented his vocation towards the care of the elderly who were in situations of poverty, loneliness or abandonment.
In 1873 she participated in the foundation of the congregation of the Little Sisters of the Helpless Elderly, of which she became the first superior general. Since then, she has worked to extend a network of houses dedicated to welcoming and caring for elderly people in need, a task that has grown both in Spain and abroad.
Teresa de Jesús Jornet Ibars died in Liria (Valencia) in 1897 and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1974. The Church celebrates her memory every August 26 and recognizes her as the patron saint of the elderly for a life dedicated especially to the care and dignity of the elderly.
WHY ARE SAINTS CELEBRATED?
The Christian saint’s day has its origin in the tradition of remembering the saints and blesseds recognized by the Church every day. These commemorations value the life and testimony of people who stood out for their faith and for the example they left throughout their lives.
With the passage of time, the celebration of saints was also linked to the name day, so that many people celebrate their saint on the day on which the Church remembers the saint from whom they received their name. This custom is still deeply rooted in many countries with a Christian tradition.
