Remembering Sister María Angustias Giménez Vera: A Legacy That Continues to Inspire Our Mission
On the 129th anniversary of her death, we honour the life of our co-founder and renew our commitment to living the Hospitaller mission with mercy, compassion and hope
On 2 August, the Sisters Hospitallers commemorated the 129th anniversary of the death of Sister María Angustias Giménez Vera, co-founder of the Congregation of the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Together with St Benito Menni and María Josefa Recio, Sister María Angustias played a fundamental role in establishing a Congregation dedicated to serving people experiencing mental illness and other situations of vulnerability at a time when they were often forgotten by society. Her quiet determination, profound faith and generous spirit helped shape a mission that continues to transform lives across the world today.
Although she lived in the nineteenth century, her witness remains remarkably relevant. Her life reminds us that hospitality is expressed through simple yet profound acts of compassion, attentive listening and unconditional service. She showed us that caring for those who suffer is not only an act of charity but also a way of recognising the dignity and worth of every human person.
As we remembered Sister María Angustias, we also reflected on the call that continues to guide our Congregation today. During the XXII General Chapter, we renewed our commitment under the motto “Clothe yourselves with feelings of mercy”, encouraging us to become “prophetic signs of hope and of God’s closeness to suffering humanity.”
This invitation continues to inspire our daily work across the English Delegation and throughout the Congregation. Whether in our care homes, hospitals, community services or international projects, we are called to live hospitality through mercy, compassion, professional care and respect for the dignity of every person.
The legacy of Sister María Angustias is not simply part of our history; it is a living inspiration that continues to shape the way we accompany, care for and welcome those entrusted to us.
May her example encourage us to continue responding to the needs of today’s world with the same faith, humility and generous spirit that marked her life, keeping alive the Hospitaller mission for future generations.
