Blessed María del Tránsito de Jesús Sacramentado

Blessed María del Tránsito de Jesús Sacramentado, also known as María Cabanillas, María del Tránsito Cabanillas, María del Transito Eugenia de los Dolores Cabanillas, and María del Tránsito Of Jesus In The Blessed Sacrament, was born on 15 August 1821 on the estate of Santa Leocadia, which is now Carlos Paz, Cordoba, Argentina. She was the third child of Felipe Cabanillas and Francisca Antonia Luján Sánchez, who raised her in a large, wealthy, and pious family.

Growing up, María had ten siblings, three of whom died in childhood. One of her brothers became a priest, while three of her sisters became nuns. María received her education at home and later at Cordoba, Argentina. During this time, she also devoted herself to caring for her seminarian younger brother until his ordination in 1853.

In 1850, María's father passed away, and the rest of the family relocated to Cordoba, settling near the church of San Roque. While her family went through these changes, María stayed at home, assisting her mother with the children. She maintained a strong personal piety and developed a profound devotion to the Eucharist. María engaged herself in catechism work and diligently visited the poor and sick of Cordoba. Tragedy struck again when her mother died on 13 April 1858.

María felt a calling to pursue her religious vocation after her family had grown or moved away. At the age of 37, she entered the Franciscan Third Order, dedicating more of her day to prayer. In 1871, María crossed paths with Mrs. Isidora Ponce de León, who was constructing a Carmelite monastery in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Maria, drawn to this opportunity, moved to Buenos Aires in 1872 and entered the monastery on 19 March 1873. Unfortunately, due to her declining health, she was forced to leave the cloister in April 1874.

In September 1874, María sought solace in the convent of the Sisters of the Visitation in Montevideo, Uruguay. However, her health issues persisted, leading her to leave the convent within a few months. It was during this period of turmoil and rejection of her perceived vocation that María revisited an idea that had lingered with her throughout her life – establishing an educational and assistance foundation dedicated to helping children.

Encouraged by several Franciscans and aided by Father Agustin Garzón, María began to actively pursue her vision. She secured a house and received assistance and connections from Father Garzón. On 8 December 1878, María obtained approval for her project, and along with her companions Teresa Fronteras and Brigida Moyano, as well as Brother Cirlaco Porreca as director, she established the Congregation of the Franciscan Tertiary Missionaries of Argentina. This new congregation was committed to assisting the poor, orphaned, and abandoned.

On 2 February 1879, María and her companions made their religious profession, and their institute became officially affiliated with the Franciscans on 28 January 1880. The Congregation experienced immediate success in terms of vocations, and during María's lifetime, they founded the Argentinian colleges of Saint Margarite of Cortona in San Vicente, El Carmen in Rio Cuarto, and Immaculate Conception in Villa Nueva.

However, dedicating herself to the mission took a toll on María's already frail health, and she passed away on 25 August 1885 in San Vicente, Cordoba, Argentina, due to natural causes. She was venerated on 28 June 1999 by Pope John Paul II, who declared her heroic virtues. Pope John Paul II beatified her on 14 April 2002.

Blessed María del Tránsito de Jesús Sacramentado continues to be remembered for her unwavering faith, dedication to the Eucharist, and her tireless efforts to serve the poor and vulnerable through her establishment of the Congregation of the Franciscan Tertiary Missionaries of Argentina.