In February, Pope Francis canonized an 18th century Argentinian, St. María Antonia de San José. Born Antonia de Paz y Figueroa and affectionately known in her time as Mama Antula, she was the founder of the House for Spiritual Exercises in Buenos Aires.

St. María Antonia de San José had already dedicated herself to a life of service when the Jesuits were expelled from Argentina. Despite the hostility toward the Society of Jesus, María Antonia traveled Argentina on foot, promoting Ignatian spirituality and organizing retreats. Tens of thousands of faithful were said to have attended her retreats.

During her beatification in 2016, Cardinal Angelo Amato said that María Antonia’s retreats “were the miraculous therapy that cured throngs of laypeople and priests of being lukewarm, transforming them into faithful disciples of Christ and apostles of his Gospel.”

In a message to the Argentinian people after her beatification, Pope Francis said María Antonia was, “a woman who helped strengthen the heart of Argentina.”

St. María Antonia de San José is only the second native born Argentinian, and the first Argentinian woman, to be canonized.