Romana

Original Latin text:

FRANCISCUS PP

ad perpetuam rei memoriam.

"Spe gaudentes, in tribulatione patientes, orationi instantes" (Rom 12,12). Verba haec sancti Pauli de vita Venerabilis Servae Dei Mariae Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri y Fernández de Heredia dici possunt. Eius enim exsistentia eminuit contagiosa laetitia, spe quae id attingit quod Dominus est pollicitus ac fortitudine in difficultatibus ferendis, quas sustinuit ut complura apostolica ac adiutoria incepta perficeret atque sanctitatis viam decurreret. Virtutes hae, scilicet laetitia, spes ac fortitudo, in Dei coniunctione assiduaque precatione nitebantur, quam vivida fides ac fervidus in Eucharistiam amor necnon filialis erga Virginem Mariam devotio alebant.

Matriti die XII mensis Decembris anno MCMXVI nata est. Civili bello composito Universitatis curricula in chimica disciplina absolvit. Anno MCMXLIV sanctum Iosephmariam Escrivá primum convenit, quod eius vitae cursum mutavit: eodem enim anno postulavit, ut apostolicum coelibatum colens, in Opus Dei admitteretur, quod amavit eique totam per vitam inservivit. Tenaciter ac prudenter iuvenibus Universitatis instituendis Matriti se dicavit, minime neglegens apostolicum opus aliis in urbibus gerere. In Mexicum postea se contulit, ubi multum adlaboravit in lata apostolica navitate, humanae et christianae institutioni mulierum omnium socialium ordinum impense incumbens. Anno MCMLVI Romam est arcessita, ut cooperatrix centralis regiminis Operis Dei. Sed propter cordis morbum Matritum redire debuit. Sua munera extenuare coacta, sua studia academica ad finem perducere potuit et doctoris gradum in chemia est adepta. Initio anni MCMLX chemiae, physicae et mathematicae disciplinarum magistra est nominata apud scholam feminarum "Maestría industrial". Venerabilis Serva Dei sollicite Domino vocanti respondit, qui eam invitabat ut in suis religiosis, familiaribus, professionalibus ac socialibus officiis fideliter prompteque absolvendis sanctitatem reperiret, ubi ipsa Christum conveniret et proximum in corporis spiritusque necessitatibus iuvaret. Suo opere suoque assiduo apostolatu Evangelii lucem effudit atque Ecclesiae et societati variis in urbibus ac nationibus inservivit. Licet haud firma esset valetudine, studiose se dicare perrexit docendi muneri et apostolatui una cum sociis, discipulis et amicis. Caritate compulsa, variis in institutionis provinciis opus fecit atque sedem studiorum rerum domesticarum est moderata.

Die I mensis Iulii anno MCMLXXV periculose secta est propter cordis morbum in deterius versum. Ei convalescenti respiratio repente in discrimen adducta est. Die XVI eiusdem mensis Iulii, cum beatae Mariae Virginis de Monte Carmelo celebraretur memoria, Domino pie animam reddidit.

Continuatae sanctitatis famae causa, a die XVIII mensis Novembris anno MMI ad diem XVIII mensis Martii anno MMV dioecesana de vita, virtutibus ac sanctitatis fama Inquisitio in archidioecesi Matritensi effecta est. Validitate per Decretum Congregationis de Causis Sanctorum die XVII mensis Februarii anno MMVI declarata ac Positione comparata, Consultores theologi in peculiari Congressione coadunati die VII mensis Iunii anno MMXVI de virtutibus heroum in modum exercitis favens suffragium tulerunt. Idem senserunt Patres Cardinales et Episcopi in Sessione Ordinaria die II mensis Maii anno MMXVII. Nos Ipsi facultatem fecimus ut Congregatio de Causis Sanctorum congruum Decretum evulgaret. Beatificationis causa putata quaedam mira sanatio est ponderata quam medici Consultores eiusdem Dicasterii die V mensis Octobris anno MMXVII ad scientiam inexplicabilem dixerunt. Consultores theologi in Congressione peculiari die I mensis Martii anno MMXVIII intercessioni Venerabilis Dei Servae eandem tribuerunt et Patres Cardinales et Episcopi in Sessione Ordinaria die V mensis Iunii anno MMXVIII eam verum miraculum iudicarunt. Sic Nos Ipsi die VIII mensis Iunii eiusdem anni facultatem fecimus ut congruum Decretum ederetur et statuimus item ut beatificationis ritus in Hispania, Matriti, die XVIII mensis Maii anno MMXIX ageretur.

Hodie igitur ex mandato Nostro Angelus S.R.E. Cardinalis Becciu, Praefectus Congregationis de Causis Sanctorum, Apostolicas legit Litteras quibus Nos in Beatorum catalogum rettulimus Venerabilem Servam Dei Mariam Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri y Fernández de Heredia:

Nos, vota Fratris Nostri Caroli S.R.E. Cardinalis Osoro Sierra, Archiepiscopi Metropolitae Matritensis, Reverendi Domini Ferdinandi Ocáriz, Praelaturae Personalis Sanctae Crucis et Operis Dei Praelati, necnon plurimorum aliorum Fratrum in Episcopatu multorumque christifidelium explentes, de Congregationis de Causis Sanctorum consulto, auctoritate Nostra Apostolica facultatem facimus ut Venerabilis Serva Dei Maria Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri y Fernandez de Heredia, christifidelis laica Praelaturae Personalis Sanctae Crucis et Operis Dei, quae Domino Iesu vitam suam munifice praebuit, fratribus cum gaudio serviens cotidiana munera explicando, Beatae nomine in posterum appelletur atque die duodevicesima mensis Maii quotannis in locis et modis iure statutis celebrari possit. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.

Huius insignis mulieris, in sanctorum sanctarumque catalogum relatae, hominibus, qui in discrimine versantur, certa exempla ac praeclarae res gestae demonstrantur atque ipsa, quae iam vivens tot tantorumque operum praeclara edidit documenta, magnopere honoratur, unde complures de eius rebus bene gestis sumant incitamentum et ad christianam pietatem firmiter tenendam invitamentum.

Quod autem decrevimus, volumus et nunc et in posterum tempus vim habere, contrariis rebus quibuslibet non obstantibus.

Datum Romae, apud Sanctum Petrum, sub anulo Piscatoris, die XVIII mensis Maii anno MMXIX, Pontificatus Nostri septimo.

Petrus Card. Parolin

Secretarius Status

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Unofficial translation:

Pope Francis

For a perpetual memory of the matter

Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, constant in prayer (Rom 12:12). These words of Saint Paul can be applied to the life of the Venerable Servant of God Maria Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri y Fernández de Heredia. For her life was characterized by contagious joy, by the hope of achieving what the Lord had asked of her, and by strength in bearing the difficulties which she endured in carrying out many apostolic and assistance projects and in making progress along the path of holiness. These virtues, namely joy, hope and fortitude, were based on union with God and constant prayer, nourished by lively faith and fervent love for the Eucharist as well as filial devotion to the Virgin Mary.

She was born in Madrid on December 12, 1916. When the Civil War was over, she completed a course in Chemistry at the University. In 1944 she met Saint Josemaría Escrivá for the first time, and this changed the course of her life. In that same year she asked to be admitted, embracing apostolic celibacy, to Opus Dei, which she loved and served throughout her life. Tenaciously and prudently she devoted herself to the formation of young women attending the University of Madrid, while also helping to begin apostolic work in other cities. Later she moved to Mexico, where she worked generously in a broad apostolic activity, devoting herself intensely to the human and Christian education of women of all social backgrounds. In 1956 she was called to Rome to work in the central government of Opus Dei, but because of heart disease she had to return to Madrid. Forced to reduce her activities, she was able to further her academic studies and obtained a doctorate in Chemistry. At the beginning of 1960 she was named teacher of Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics at a school of advanced industrial studies for women. The Venerable Servant of God responded generously to the Lord, who called her to seek holiness in faithfully and promptly carrying out her religious, family, professional and social duties, which became the way she could meet Christ and help those around her in their material and spiritual needs. Through her work and her constant apostolate, she spread the light of the Gospel and served the Church and society in various cities and nations. Although her health was precarious, she enthusiastically devoted herself to teaching and apostolate among her colleagues, students and friends. Moved by charity, she worked in various formational projects, and directed a centre for the study of domestic sciences.

On July 1, 1975, she underwent a surgical operation with some attendant risk because of a worsening heart condition. While convalescing she suffered an unexpected respiratory crisis. On the 16th of July, when the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel was being celebrated, she piously gave up her life to the Lord.

In consideration of her enduring reputation for holiness, from November 18, 2001 to March 18, 2005, a diocesan investigation into her life, virtues and reputation for holiness was carried out in the Archdiocese of Madrid. On February 17th, 2006, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints declared the validity of the diocesan process, and after the preparation of the Positio, the theological consultants, in a special meeting on June 7th, 2016, voted affirmatively on the matter of her heroic virtues. The Cardinal Fathers and Bishops of the Congregation voted the same way in the Ordinary Session on May 2, 2017. We ourselves approved that the Congregation for the Causes of Saints publish the relevant decree. In view of the Beatification, a healing presumed to be extraordinary was evaluated by the medical consultants of the same Dicastery on October 5, 2017, as inexplicable to science. The theological consultants in a special session on March 1, 2018, attributed the cure to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, and the Cardinal Fathers and Bishops in the Ordinary Session on June 5, 2018, judged it to be a true miracle. Thus, on the 8th of June of the same year, We approved that the appropriate Decree be issued and we also decided that the rite of beatification should be held in Madrid, Spain, on the 18th of May in the year 2019.

Today, therefore, by Our mandate His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, read the Apostolic Letter in which We have included in the catalogue of the Blessed the Venerable Servant of God Maria Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri y Fernández de Heredia:

Carrying out the wishes of our Brother His Eminence Charles Cardinal Osoro Sierra, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Madrid, of the Very Reverend Fernando Ocáriz, Prelate of the Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, as well as of many other Brothers in the Episcopate and many Christian faithful, in consultation with the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, by Our Apostolic authority, we approve that the Venerable Servant of God Maria Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri y Fernández de Heredia, a lay faithful of the Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, who generously gave her life to the Lord Jesus, serving her brothers with joy by performing daily tasks, be called in posterity by the name of Blessed and that she may be celebrated every year on the 18^th of May in the places and in the manner established by law. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

May the faithful example and admirable conduct of this remarkable woman, who is recorded in the catalogue of saints, be made known to those who are undergoing difficulties. May she be specially honored, who gave witness of so many excellent works, so that many may receive the encouragement of her exemplary conduct and the stimulus to live as faithful Christians.

What we have decreed in this letter, we wish to have effect both now and in the future, notwithstanding any contrary dispositions.

Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, under the ring of the Fisherman, on the 18th day of May in the year 2019, the seventh of our Pontificate.

Peter Cardinal Parolin

Secretary of State