Our Foundress
“My will is that you Sisters don’t lose the spirit that God our Lord has been pleased to give our family.
That you will always keep the spirit of zeal, silence, charity and recollection.”
Venerable Mother Luisita
Her Story
The life of Mother Maria Luisa Josefa of the Most Blessed Sacrament is no ordinary story. It is a story filled with that complete trust in God which makes life a daring adventure, the kind of adventure one encounters when one dares to love God above all things and to place one’s life completely in His hands. It is a story where trust in God and obedience to His manifest designs bursts forth into great sanctity. Although her story unfolds over a century ago, Mother Luisita remains a model of holiness for every state of life – the single, married, widowed and religious.
Her Story
The life of Mother Maria Luisa Josefa of the Most Blessed Sacrament is no ordinary story. It is a story filled with that complete trust in God which makes life a daring adventure, the kind of adventure one encounters when one dares to love God above all things and to place one’s life completely in His hands. It is a story where trust in God and obedience to His manifest designs bursts forth into great sanctity. Although her story unfolds over a century ago, Mother Luisita remains a model of holiness for every state of life – the single, married, widowed and religious.
Her Words
Throughout her religious life and during her time as a refugee, Mother Luisita wrote numerous letters to her spiritual daughters. Due to the increasing danger and violence of the religious persecution, her community of fifty-five sisters were scattered about the countryside in hiding with friends and family. It had become increasingly difficult and dangerous to communicate with them as those who gave shelter to religious lived in great fear of discovery by the authorities. Mother Luisita’s priceless treasury of letters has been preserved. Her words, uplifting, challenging, and inspiring, apply to her spiritual children today just as much as they did nearly a century ago. It is our joy to share her insights and wisdom with you.
Unleashing Hope
The official biography of Mother Luisita’s life, written by Sister Timothy Marie, O.C.D.
In the Face of Darkness
A recollection of Mother’s life, and the heroic virtue she showed as she followed God’s will for her life.
In Love's Safekeeping Vol 1
A collection of all of Mother’s own counsel and advice captured in letters written by Mother Luisita, and her spiritual notes that give insight into her holy life.
In Love's Safekeeping Vol 2
A collection of all of Mother’s own counsel and advice captured in letters written by Mother Luisita, and her spiritual notes that give insight into her holy life.
Heart to Heart CD
An audio collection of spiritual counsels from Mother Luisita.
Heart to Heart Booklet
A collection of quotes and maxims from Mother Luisita’s writings on topics such as prayer and gratitude, humility and trust.
From a Mother's Heart
Encouraging letters from the heart of Mother Luisita, compiled from her writings, to give advice on everything from financial difficulties to strengthening your prayer life.
Her Road to Sainthood
Our Catholic Church teaches us to rely on the intercession, the prayers, of the saints in heaven as we continue on our earthly journey. They are one with us in the communion of saints. Here is the official prayer for beatification, composed as part of the canonization process of Mother Luisita, asking Mother Luisita’s intercession. Venerable Mother Luisita, pray for us!
Prayer for the Beatification of
Venerable Mother Maria Luisa Josefa
of the Most Blessed Sacrament
O Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, King and center of all hearts!
Look with merciful love on the petitions we present to You
through the intercession of Your servant,
Mother Maria Luisa Josefa of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
(Pause and request your petition)
We humbly beseech You to glorify her
who was always such a fervent lover of Your Sacred Heart
by granting us these favors if they are for Your greater honor and glory.
Amen.
Her Impact
The life of Mother Luisita has a message of God’s love, moving beyond the walls of Carmel to share the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the entire world. Her life and message still ring true for our own times, as her life continues to make a profound impact on the Church and the world.
“Venerable Mother Luisita would tell everyone: ‘For greater things you were born!’
That’s it, my friends! That’s the good news we are called to proclaim to our city, to our country,
throughout the continent and world! Each of us has been made for love and for great and beautiful things. There is no soul that God does not long to touch with this message of his love!
And He wants to touch those souls through us.”
Archbishop Jose Gomez.
Sister Maria Augustine, O.C.D.
I am grateful for the gift of our community and for the fidelity and perseverance of our sisters who have gone before us. In the words of Mother Luisita, “May God be blessed! Adelante!”
Sister Madeleine, O.C.D.
Sister Joseph Louise, O.C.D.
Sister Rosalie, O.C.D.
In gratitude to God for calling me to our community of Carmel. God has shown me a 90 year grace, through Mother Luisita and my sisters, what it is to give to God with all her heart, soul and mind, in this beautiful consecration–for Him and Him alone!
Sister Mary John, O.C.D.
I am grateful to our leadership in our community, from Mother Luisita to the present, for safeguarding our Carmelite patrimony. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our leadership courageously discerns how our unique Carmelite charism should be expressed in the present day and time.
Sister Shawn Pauline, O.C.D.
I sing of God’s tender mercy and His unconditional love for the gift of my Carmelite vocation. With a joyful heart I thank God for the treasure of our charism to blend works of service with contemplation, and for His hand of providence which inspired this charism to be born in the soul of our Mother Luisita!
Sister Marisa, O.C.D.
Carmel is the gift of the Heart of God, pouring out His love upon the world. I am so grateful for God’s call, to be His spouse and a mother of His souls, and so to share in His redemptive work. Following in the footsteps of the Carmelite Saints and our own Mother Luisita I have found great joy in my Carmelite vocation!
Sister Immaculata, O.C.D.
Very often, when I pause to look back on my life in Carmel, my heart soars with joyful, grateful love to God, to Mother Luisita and to my Sisters. I have found the treasure; I have found myself; and I have found so many young people in the education apostolate whom I hold close to my heart in prayer.
Sister Mary Colombière, O.C.D.
Mother Luisita shared in one of her letters, ‘I have found the fullness of happiness in my Carmelite vocation’. Sixty-one years ago He transplanted the seed of my soul to the Garden of Carmel in Alhambra to receive the fullness of life. We give thanks that for the past 90 years the Eternal Gardener has been sowing seeds in this garden and will continue to do so.
Sister Timothy Marie, O.C.D.
Spending the past years researching the beginnings of our community has left me with deeper insights into the merciful providence of God during those years of suffering and hardship which led Mother Luisita to say, “Our beginnings have come about at a tremendous cost which you will only know in eternity.”
Sister Judith, O.C.D.
Reflection by Sister Madeleine, O.C.D.
I am so grateful for our community. As I look around at all the sisters, our apostolates, our whole way of life, I am so deeply thankful for the gift of my vocation. In reflecting on Mother Luisita’s faith and total love of God to surrender herself during difficult times and take the steps necessary to secure a future for the community, I become overwhelmed that God would call me to share in this life. May I, too, follow Mother Luisita’s love of God in being faithful to our heritage.
Reflection by Sister Joseph Louise, O.C.D.
For over 90 years, our Community has followed the path begun by our Mother Luisita. I think she will be proud of our Mother General Superiors who have guided us in her way in spite of the various crisis in religious life in the Church we had to passed through during the 70’s the 80’s and even the 90’s. I thank God for our Local Superiors as well who had gently guided the little flocks under the direction of our Mother General of the time. There is much to be thankful for. May He continue to strengthen them.
Reflection by Sister Judith, O.C.D.
In June 1927, our Foundress, Venerable Mother Maria Luisa Josefa, affectionately known as “Mother Luisita”, escaped the horrific religious persecutions taking place in her native Mexico. She and her two sister companions left everything behind, and endured a perilous journey seeking religious freedom in the United States. Not only were they warmly received by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, but it would prove to be fertile soil for the tiny seeds Mother Luisita carried with her.
Those little seeds were planted, took root, and grew steadily, blossoming into that which is Mother Luisita’s legacy today – blending the contemplative spirit of Carmel with active apostolic works. Ninety years later, we, her spiritual daughters, carry on her legacy in our apostolic works in health care, education and spiritual retreats.
As we thank God for His manifold blessings, we remember you, our families, special friends and benefactors, who so tirelessly worked with us in making the vision of yesterday become the reality of today. To the bishops, priests, religious and lay people, who so generously shared of their resources, time and talents helping us reach this milestone – may God reward you! We also remember with love and gratitude our deceased sisters, upon whose shoulders we stand today. For it was by the sacrifices of our sisters who have gone before us that we can carry Mother Luisita’s legacy into the future.