Candida Maria of Jesus was a Spanish nun born Juana Josefa Cipitria y Barriola who lived from 1845 to 1912. After working as a domestic servant and witnessing the hardships caused by the Industrial Revolution, she felt called to religious life. In 1871, she established the Daughters of Jesus, a religious congregation under Jesuit direction. This order focused on educating children and supporting women, eventually expanding from its origins in Salamanca to many countries around the world.
Life and work
Following her childhood in Andoain, she worked in Burgos to support her family. Guided by the Jesuit priest Miguel José Herranz, she founded her congregation in 1871. Her spiritual life was deeply rooted in the Ignatian tradition, and she lived by the motto, "I am for God alone." The order she established grew significantly, reaching Brazil and the Philippines in later years.
Veneration
The Catholic Church recognized her heroic virtues through a formal process that led to her being named Venerable in 1993. After the validation of miracles, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1996. She was eventually canonized as a saint by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Her feast day is observed on August 9.