Saint Matilde del Sagrado Corazón

Matilde of the Sacred Heart (30 May 1841 - 17 December 1902), born Matilde Téllez Robles, was a Spanish nun and the foundress of the congregation of the Hijas de María Madre de la Iglesia. Téllez Robles was an active participant in her parish during her adolescence and was part of several faith-related organizations until her desire for the religious life led her to establish a congregation dedicated to both the care of the poor and ill and the education of children. Her congegation's foundation was first mired in a lack of membership though the number increased as houses were established and their works grew. Her beatification was held on 21 March 2004. Matilde Téllez Robles was born on 30 May 1841 in Robledillo de la Vera as the second of four children to Félix Telléz i Gomez Basilea Robles i Ruiz; she was baptized on 31 May. Her parents decided later in 1851 that all would relocate to Béjar in Salamanca where her parents enrolled her in a private school. But as an adolescent she felt called to commit her entire life to the worship and the service of God to which she encountered the strong opposition of her father who wanted her to get married; he even tried to control her religious practices. Téllez found the support that she needed in the association of the Hijas de María. Téllez spent her time at home in silent reflection when she was not occupied with caring for the sick and the poor. But she also felt called to found a religious order that was dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration and caring for those who needed help the most. In this she found the support of both her father (who relented to her desires) and her spiritual director Manuel de la Oliva. Téllez acquired a house for the point of housing herself and eight members of Hijas de María who had committed themselves to joining her in this endeavor.