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Feast Day: July 20
Birth: February 18, 1853
Death: July 1, 20
Blessed Rita Josefa Pujalte Y Sánchez, also known as Sister Rita of Our Lady of Sorrows, was born on 18 February 1853 in Aspe, Alicante, Spain. She belonged to the Sisters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a religious order that focused on serving the poor and the sick.
Rita's dedication to her faith and her desire to serve others became evident at an early age. Alongside her sister Luisa, who was also a member of the same religious order, she committed herself to a life of service and devotion. Impressed by her strong leadership qualities, the founder of their order recommended Rita to be the superior of the Sisters in 1900. She willingly took up this role and served as the superior for an impressive 28 years.
During her time as the superior, Sister Rita initiated the establishment of schools for girls, particularly in the poorest areas of the community. She recognized the importance of education as a means to empower young girls and give them an opportunity to build better lives for themselves. Additionally, she had a special heart for caring for the sick, especially her fellow Sisters. Rita made it her mission to ensure that the members of her religious community received the necessary support and care they needed during their times of illness.
After dedicating many years to her vocation, Sister Rita retired to the Saint Susanna convent in Madrid, Spain. Despite her age of 83 and failing eyesight, she remained committed to serving others. In the midst of the Spanish Civil War, when many chose to flee to safety, Sister Rita bravely stayed behind to care for orphans and those in hospitals. Her selfless act of remaining behind during a dangerous time demonstrated her unwavering faith and love for those in need.
Tragically, while Sister Rita was in prayer one day in the chapel, she was seized by anti-Christian revolutionaries. She was forcibly taken from Madrid and executed on 20 July 1936 in the town of Canillejas. At the time of her martyrdom, she was 83 years old. This ultimate sacrifice for her faith and her dedication to serving others earned Sister Rita the status of a martyr.
In 1940, her body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt, granting further evidence of her holiness. Following this discovery, she was re-interred in the cemetery of Almudena, Madrid. In 1954, her body once again displayed the miraculous occurrence of incorruptibility upon being exhumed. This led to her final re-interment in the chapel located in Madrid Villaverde, where she continues to be venerated.
Recognizing the sanctity of Sister Rita's life and her martyrdom, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable on 7 July 1997, and she was beatified by the same Pope on 10 May 1998. Today, Blessed Rita Josefa Pujalte Y Sánchez is remembered and honored as a shining example of love, compassion, and unwavering faith in the face of adversity. Her life continues to inspire individuals around the world to embrace the call to selfless service and dedication to God's will.