Saint of the Month - January 2013: Blessed Laura Vicuna

Bl. Laura Vicuna

Pure Lily of Argentina

Memorial: January 22nd

Laura Vicuna was born in Santiago, Chile in April of 1891. Her father was a soldier who was killed during the Chilean Civil War when Laura was but a toddler. In search of security for herself and her two young daughters, Mercedes (Laura’s mother) packed up her small family and relocated to Las Lajas, Argentina. There, Mercedes met a wealthy rancher named Manuel Mora who took her in as his mistress. The relationship proved to be a stormy one as Senor Mora was an abusive alcoholic… but Mercedes tolerated him because he provided well for her family and also paid the girls’ tuition at a local boarding school run by Salesian nuns.

At the school, Laura was extremely happy and distinguished herself by her model behavior and profound spirituality, which greatly impressed the nuns. At the age of ten, she asked for permission to join the Salesians but was advised to wait because of her young age.

While her school life was blissful, her visits home were just the opposite. Laura strongly disapproved of her mother’s illicit relationship with Mora, and to make matters worse, he also began making indecent advances towards Laura.  When Mercedes found out, she ended her relationship with Mora and moved the family to a cottage in a nearby town.  Meanwhile, at the school, Laura suddenly came down with a mysterious illness that required her to return home.  One evening, as she lay in bed, Mora - in a drunken rage - barged into the home and demanded that Mercedes return to him with ‘his’ family.

Bl. Laura's tomb

Laura protested that if Mora was allowed to stay, she was leaving, and ran out the door. Mora went after her, but in her weakened state, he easily caught up with Laura and began savagely beating and kicking her.  Laura’s cries for help attracted the neighbors, who came rushing to her aid, but the rancher managed to escape.

Mercedes carried her battered daughter into the house after which Laura disclosed a secret that she had been keeping from her mother.  Laura revealed that she had repeatedly prayed to God for Mercedes’ conversion, and had even offered her life - she had a premonition that God had accepted her sacrifice. Mercedes wept with remorse and promised her daughter that she would turn her life around. Laura passed away eight days later at the age of 12; the year was 1903.  True to her word, Mercedes immediately went to confession and lived the rest of her days in a devout Christian manner.

Laura Vicuna was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988.  During the ceremony, the Pope proclaimed Blessed Laura as a “Martyr of Purity“, and extolled her life as an example for all young people living today to follow.

A Reflection

We can sometimes learn surprising and valuable life-lessons by listening to our children.  As Sacred Scriptures state in Isaiah 11:6, "And a little child shall lead them."

A Short Prayer

Dear Bl. Laura, pray for the young people of the world that the Holy Spirit may fill them with virtue and upright values that will ensure their Eternal Salvation.  Amen.