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.

Mother Luisita and sisters

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.

Life of Mother Luisita

Wife

1882

At the young age of 15, Luisita was married to Don Pasqual, a handsome and outgoing doctor in her hometown of Atotonilco. As they grew to love one another, the also discovered that they were unable to have children. Together they decided to devote their resources and magnanimous hearts to serve the poor of the town. Together they built the little hospital of the Sacred Heart. Luisita learned from Pasqual how to tend the sick, and she became the head of the local St. Vincent de Paul chapter, to share their own resources with the poor. Through their life together, Luisita and Pasqual both grew is virtue and love for God.

Life of Mother Luisita

Widow

1896

After 14 years of marriage to Pasqual, he became ill and died shortly thereafter, on Good Friday, leaving Luisita a widow at the age of 29. On his deathbed, Pasqual told her he had no doubt what she would do after his death – she would serve God as a religious. After his death, Luisita made a private vow of chastity. In Pasqual’s absence, she continued to serve the poor in her community, and sought God’s will for her future.

Life of Mother Luisita

Foundress

1921

As Luisita continued to grow in her faith, the love in her heart was shown in poor of her community, through her administration of the hospital she founded with Pasqual, and in caring for children in an orphanage. Her work attracted more and more young women to join her in her work. This prompted the archbishop to suggest that she found a religious congregation. Approval was given by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XV, and the Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart was established on February 2, 1921. Maria Louisa’s charism “to unite the contemplative spirit of Carmel with the active apostolate” was born.

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.

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!

“May you use every day of your life to love Him, to serve Him and to thank Him for the love He has for you.” Venerable Mother Luisita. Foundress of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. Prayer Card Cover

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.

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Intercession Prayer Card