Mission
At the age of 35 Maria Micaela's eyes were opened to the painful realities of life. In her very first visit to the St. John of God Hospital in Madrid on 6 February 1844, she met a young girl, a banker's only daughter, who had become drawn into prostitution through deception and was now socially marginalised and facing economic hardship. The story of this girl, as well as those of many others, convinced her that something had to be done to help these women. Making use of her social connections, Maria Micaela set about establishing a shelter where these women could come for help.
The shelter was officially opened on 21 April 1845 and innumerable young girls and women knocked at the doors seeking assistance. This uncovered a great need which lead Maria Micaela to establish the Congregation of Adoratrices, Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity in 1856 with the sole purpose of ensuring the continuity of the work. It was approved as a Religious Institute of Pontifical Rights by Pope IX in 1860.
Maria Micaela died in Valencia on 25 August 1865 when she fell victim of the cholera epidemic whilst attending to some of the Sisters Adoratrices and to women infected by the disease.
Read more about this topic: Sisters Of Adoration, Slaves Of The Blessed Sacrament And Of Charity
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