IMPORTANT FACTS:
Little Laura was a serious girl for those who did not know her but to those who knew her,she was theirlittle Guardian Angel.For she took care of them with love even through her own weakness the
LIGHT OF CHRIST was shining through her soul.
Laura learned to repay love with love for her classmates and the Nuns in her school.She helped the younger children with making their beds and combing their hair or mending their clothes.She was a peacemaker for the children's quarrels.
Age 11,Laura realised her call to religious life and asked her Bishop for approval to become a Salesian
sister but He replied:"Just wait a little longer child." When Laura told her confessor about her plan,he
advised her that if she made such an offer, God might accept it and would take her life quickly.The
words of her confessor made her more confident in offering her prayers.She offered this special prayer
of hers during her First Holy Communion.
Laura often called the Blessed Sacrament,"Jesus' Little House".The nuns taught her about the true presence of Jesus is alive in the tabernacle and that all prayers offered up infront of the Blessed Sacrament
is always answered by Jesus.During her free time,she spent many hours infront of the Blessed Sacrament,
praying for her mother to leave Manuel Mora and to start living in a holy state.One of her constant prayers before the tabernacle became,"Jesus, I wish that Mama would know You better and be happy."
During her holidays,Laura will go back to her home but could never find peace at there due to Manuel Mora's evil attitude.She wanted to pray as a family but was never given that chance.Manuel Mora on the other hand,hated anyone praying at home so it made difficult for Laura to pray.Her mother warned her not
to let Manuel Mora know about her praying.She had no place to pray at home so she was forced to pray
in between the bushes outside her house.Her sister use to join her during her pray time among the bushes.
Though it was difficult,she offered all her sufferings to Jesus for her mother's conversion.Laura used to invite her mother to join her and her sister for prayers but her mother gave her a lot of excuses.Laura's heart grew sad each time her mother rejected prayers but made her will stronger to offer up her life for her mother.
There was once Manuel Mora asked her to dance with him but she refused and hid herself outside in the dark while praying and holding on to her Miraculous Medal of Our Lady for protection because she knew she could not depend on her mother for help so she turn to her Heavenly Mother in Heaven.Manuel Mora could not find her and he was in fury that he lashed his anger on her mother.He whipped Laura's mother
until she was badly bruised for not persuading Laura to dance with him.He took revenge by not paying the tuition fees at school but the nuns heard about the incident and offered to accept Laura and sister for free
but her mother was too embarrassed to accept the charitable offer so she sent only Laura back to school and kept Julia with her at home.
Soon Laura's prayers was slowing being answered that her health started to decrease rapidly.In the year 1903,Laura became ill during the winter.Her mother begged her to come home with her,and the superior
told Laura, "Your mother needs you more than you need her. You must go." Laura was scared to go home because of Manuel Mora but obeyed her superiors advise.
Manuel Mora was excited to see Laura back and weak.He thought it was a good time to get her for his evil needs.Laura knew his evil intention and continued holding on to the Miraculous Medal and praying the Hail Mary's frequently.Manuel Mora tried to catch her but she tried to escape.He was furious that Laura rejected him.Due to that,Laura was beaten unconscious by her mother's lover.He never bother about her being ill.
She was alive for a week,as her mother and the Nuns kept watch over her.Father Crestanello, her confessor, came and heard Laura's confession and gave her absolution. He had questions,but Laura told him that she forgave Manuel Mora and bore him no ill will.Deep down in her heart,she hoped that he would change and find God.
On January 21, Laura and her younger sister were alone. Laura asked her sister Julia Amanda to promise her something and Julia Amanda wrote down the memory of the words Laura said to her.This was what Laura told her: "Be good to Mama, don't give her trouble; respect her always.Don't ever leave
her, even if later on you will have a family of your own. Don't look down upon the poor, but be kind to them. Love Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin. Pray every day to your Guardian Angel to keep you from sin.Don't forget, Julia, we will be together in Heaven."
After Laura's death at about 6pm in the evening of January 22, 1904, Laura's mother went to the chapel to make her confession.Through all the sacrifices done by Laura her courageous daughter,she finally returned to the practice of the Catholic Faith and thanked Laura each day for her conversion.Laura's mother knew that even after her death,Laura is still praying and looking after her from Heaven.Laura's mother could still feel Laura's love and gentle presence around her.
Soon the story of Little Laura was known,thanks to the help of her Religious brothers and sisters who took
a lot of time in explaining her life story to many.Laura's life story grew and became well known and her name
was soon known in Vatican but Laura could not be considered a martyr, and because of her young age, there was not much hopes for her beatification.It seemed hopeless for sometime but God wanted her to
be known and in 1981, the last requirement was filled out by the congregation and on June 5, 1986, she
was declared Venerable.
Original image of Blessed Laura Vicuna
Process of BEATIFICATION for Laura Vicuna : A miracle attributed to her by the nun Ofelia del Carmen Lobos Arellano. In August 1955, doctors told Sister Ofelia that she would die of lung cancer in
a few months, but she turned in faith to pray,seeking the intercession of Little Laura,the disease disappeared. September 3, 1988 saw Laura's beatification by Pope John Paul II.
Her feast day is celebrated on January 22.
St John Bosco, founder of the Salesian Order, for whom Laura was a testimony of these words:
“One can only have happiness in life if one is with peace with God and in His Grace.There is nothing more important in life than being in God’s Grace. And there is nothing more virtuous than bringing those who are living in sin back to His Grace”.
Painting of Blessed Laura Vicuna in Paradise,walking with the Heavenly Virgins.
She is holding a lily given to her by Mother Mary.
When Pope John Paul II beatified Laura on September 3, 1988, he called Blessed Laura the
"Eucharistic flower of Junin de Los Andes, whose life was
a poem of purity, sacrifice,
and filial love."
Quotes of Blessed Laura Vicuna:
- I offer my life for my mother
- I want to do all I can to make God known and loved
- Oh my God,I want to love you and serve you all my life.I give
- you my soul,my heart,my whole self.
A statue of Laura Vicuna at the Catholic Church
O Eucharistic Flower of Jesus,you who follow the words of Jesus,"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends".Teach us to be patient during times of trials and to pray for our friends and family members just like you did.Grant us the grace to keep faithful in constant prayers to Jesus that we may one day see the fruits of our prayers.Blessed Laura,intercede fervently for us and obtain for us a peaceful and trusting heart in Our Lord Jesus Christ.Amen.
Blessed Laura Vicuna whose life was a poem of purity,sacrifice and filial love, pray for us!
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