November 18th will be the Feast Day of seven Blessed Visitation Nuns who were martyred for their faith during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, and beatified in 1998.
We introduce you to each one during this month:
Blessed Maria Gabriela
Born in the picturesque and important town of Alhama (Granada ) , on July 24, 1872, to her parents , John and Manuela Hinojosa Naveros , she came as a Godsend , because all her siblings were older . She was given the name of Amparo , which will then change to Maria Gabriela in religious life . At seven years she lost her parents , and her older brother Edward , who lived in Madrid received her with great affection as a tutor. Amparo was jovial , cheerful and affectionate. She had a great love for the Virgin and was devoted to her .
It was precisely at the foot of the Lourdes grotto where she felt the call to religious life .She was just 15 years old and responded with a yes , generously, but decided to wait a bit. At 19 she entered the First Monastery of the Visitation of Madrid, and this separation was very painful to her and the entire family .
Upon entering the monastery , she embarked with religious fervor.She had a great devotion to the Eucharist. In 1936 at the outbreak of the revolution , the Community went to Oronoz (Navarra ) , and Sister Gabriela stayed in Madrid, as superior of the group, to take care of the Monastery along with other Sisters . The last words of hers that remain are : ” We are praying , thanking God that the time has come .” Her whole life was praising God for all He had given her .