Blessed Petra De San José Perez Florido

Blessed Petra De San José Perez Florido, also known as Ana Josefa Perez Florido, Ana Petra Pérez Florido, Petra of Saint Joseph Perez Florido, Petra of Saint Joseph, and Pietra di San Giuseppe Pérez Florido, was born on 7 December 1845 in Valle de Abdalajís, Málaga, Spain. She was the youngest of five children born to José Perez and Maria Florido. Sadly, her mother passed away when she was only three years old, and her paternal grandmother stepped in to help raise and educate her.

From a young age, Ana developed a deep devotion to Mary and Joseph. Despite living in a time when arranged marriages were the norm, Ana felt a strong calling to religious life. However, her family received multiple marriage proposals for Ana, all of which they declined. Ana's desire to pursue her vocation as a religious sister brought her great joy.

It wasn't until 1872 that Ana's father finally gave his permission for her to pursue religious life, and she joined the Mercedarians on 1 November 1878. However, Ana soon felt called to start her own religious congregation. She founded the Mothers of the Abandoned and received approval from her bishop in 1883. Later, in 1891, Pope Leo XIII granted his approval, and Ana took the name Petra of Saint Joseph. She made her perpetual profession on 15 October 1891 and dedicated her life to leading and expanding the Sisters Mothers congregation.

One of the notable contributions of Blessed Petra was the establishment of the Porch of Bethlehem. This home for the elderly opened on 19 March 1875 in response to the needs of neglected and elderly individuals in her city. The compassionate and selfless work that Ana carried out in caring for the elderly caught the attention of city officials who recognized her impact.

Blessed Petra De San José Perez Florido continued to devote her life to her congregation, expanding their mission across different countries. Today, the Sisters Mothers, inspired by her leadership, continue their exceptional work in at least eight countries.

Blessed Petra's life, marked by humility, generosity, and devotion, ended on 16 August 1906 in Barcelona, Spain. The cause of her death was complications arising from diabetes. She was buried on 18 August but later re-interred on 5 November 1920.

Tragically, during the anti-Christian persecutions of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the Royal Sanctuary of San José de la Montaña in La Salud, Barcelona was looted and burned. Blessed Petra's relics were stolen but not destroyed. The thieves buried them in a field near Puzol, Valencia. The secret location of the relics remained hidden until a death-bed confession of one of the individuals involved in the theft unveiled the truth in 1983. Cardinal Pietro Palazzini certified the authenticity of the relics on 11 May 1984, and they were re-interred on 10 June 1984.

Blessed Petra De San José Perez Florido's holiness and exemplary life of virtue were recognized by the Catholic Church. She was venerated on 14 June 1971 when Pope Paul VI declared her heroic virtues. Later, on 16 October 1994, Pope John Paul II beatified her at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy.

The beatification miracle associated with Blessed Petra occurred on 31 July 1951 in Fuensanta de Martos, Spain. A woman named Pastora López Moya was miraculously healed from life-threatening complications during childbirth. This extraordinary event provided further evidence of Blessed Petra's intercession and sanctity.

Blessed Petra De San José Perez Florido remains an inspiration to many, embodying the values of compassion, selflessness, and devotion to God and his people. Her legacy lives on through the continuing work of the Sisters Mothers congregation, bringing hope, care, and kindness to those most in need.