Press Release

of the Pontifical Gregorian University

in preparation for the canonization to be presided over by

His Holiness Pope Francis

THE BLESSED OF THE

SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

María Antonia de San José (“Mama Antula”)

First Argentine saint

Thursday 8 February 2024, 17:00

Great Hall of the Pontifical Gregorian University

On Sunday 11 February, the Holy Father Francis will preside over the canonization of Blessed María Antonio de San José (1730-1799), better known as “Mama Antula”, as she was affectionately called by the Argentine people. Consecrated with private vows, Blessed María Antonia lived as a consecrated laywoman in a community, in accordance with Ignatian spirituality, and founded the House of Exercises in Buenos Aires. After the expulsion of the Jesuits from the territory of the Spanish Crown, Mama Antula travelled from city to city in the poor regions of north-east Argentina, promoting the Ignatian spiritual exercises. In just eight years she succeeded in offering the spiritual exercises to over seventy thousand people.

The extraordinary figure of Mama Antula, first Argentine saint, is little known in Italy. To present her to the public, next Thursday 8 February a study afternoon dedicated to her will be held in the Great Hall of the Pontifical Gregorian University, with speeches by Dr. Alicia Fraschina, Msgr. Ernesto Globando, S.J., and the postulator Dr. Silvia Correale. The conference will be held in Spanish.

The event is organized by the Argentine Priestly College, the Maria Santissima Addolorata national Argentine Church, and the Centre for Ignatian Spirituality of the Pontifical Gregorian University. The Centre for Ignatian Spirituality will be the promoter of several upcoming initiatives on the spirituality of the Jesuits, starting with the first international colloquium of the journal “Ignaziana” (ignaziana.org), to take place on 29 February, reflecting on the theme of pedagogy.

Accreditation procedure

Journalists and media workers who wish to attend must apply, no later than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at: press.vatican.va/accreditamenti.

For interviews and technical information on the event, please contact: press@unigre.it

Pontifical Gregorian University - Piazza della Pilotta,  4 - 00187  ROMA
Dr. Paolo Pegoraro: +39 06 6701 5634 - +39 342 5401 898 - press@unigre.it