Argentina: Jubilee pilgrimage remembers Santa Mama Antula, Woman of Hope

“Woman of hope” is the motto of a novel initiative that, within the framework of the Jubilee Year, seeks to highlight the life and legacy of Santa Mama Antula, whom Pope Francis referred in the past as “a gift for the Argentine people.

The walk will take place on March 7, Fiesta de Mama Antula, in the city of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and will conclude with the celebration of the Eucharist, chaired by the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Mons. Jorge García Cuerva.

The activity, organized by the Vicaría de Pastoral Arquidiocesana, is the “jubilant pilgrimage of light”, a symbolic gesture that evokes the hopeful walk of Mary Antonia de San José (Mama Antula), who brought the message of the Gospel on foot and barefoot by much of the Argentine territory.

The call is at 7:00 pm (local time) and will depart from the Holy House of Spiritual Exercises founded by the Holy (Av. Independencia and Salta). From there, Nuestra Señora de la Piedad will go to the Basilica (Bartolomé Miter 1523), where their remains rest. Upon arrival, the archbishop of Buenos Aires will celebrate the Eucharist.

Through the sign of the candles on, the activity seeks to present the “God who lives in the city.” Therefore, participants are invited to wear a candle with tulip.

The community of the emblematic sanctuary of San Cayetano, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Liniers, will join the procession, leaving from there at 5:00 pm to reach the Holy House of Exercises, in time to join the rest of the pilgrims.

In addition, within the framework of this walk, the Holy House will offer a guided tour from 4:00 to 6:30 pm, with a folk song and dance show at 5:00 pm, and the prayer of the rosary in the chapel of the divine Salvador (Salta 870).

Who was Santa Mama Antula?

Santa María Antonia de Paz and Figueroa, known as Mama Antula, was born in 1730 in Santiago del Estero. He worked from a young age with the Jesuits collaborating in the organization of spiritual exercises. Then he left to Buenos Aires, where he dedicated himself for 20 years to preach the message of Christ.

In 1795 he founded the Holy House of Spiritual Exercises in Buenos Aires, which still fulfills his mission under the care of the Daughters of Divine Salvador. He died on March 7, 1799 at that residence. His remains rest in the Church Our Lady of Piedad in Buenos Aires.

The miracle that allowed its beatification was approved on March 4, 2016. This consisted of the inexplicable recovery, in 1904, of the religious María Rosa Vanina, of the daughters of the divine Savior. The religious suffered from acute cholecystitis with septic shock, and doctors had predicted a safe death.