Saint Teresa Jornet Ibars, patron saint of the elderly, and Friar Junípero Serra

La Iglesia celebra el 26 de agosto a Santa Teresa Jornet Ibars, religiosa española fundadora de la congregación de las Hermanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados. Y también al mallorquín fray Junípero Serra, franciscano evangelizador de California, donde fundó y presidió varias misiones.  

Picture of Francisco Otamendi

August 26, 2025

2 min read
Saint Teresa Jornet Ibars.

Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet, patron saint of the elderly, in Orizaba (State of Veracruz, Mexico) (Isaacvp, Wikimedia commons).

Teresa Jornet Ibars was born on January 9, 1843, in Aytona, Lérida (Spain). The following day she received the sacrament of baptism, and the sacrament of confirmation at the age of 6. She studied teaching and felt called to the contemplative life. In Barbastro she met the priests Pedro Llacera and Saturnino Lopez Novoa, and saw the project to which God was calling her. Surrendering her life as a religious sister to the service of the elderly in need. 

He received the definitive approval of the Constitutions a few days before his death in August 1897. At that time he said: "Take care of the elderly with interest and care, have great charity, and observe the Constitutions; in this lies your sanctification". She died in Liria (Valencia) on August 26, 1897. She was beatified by Pius XII on April 27, 1958 and canonized on January 27, 1974 by St. Paul VI. 

Pope Roman Martyrology The following is collected: "In Liria, Spain, saint Teresa de Jesús Jornet Ibars, virgin, who, to help the elderly, founded the Institute of the Little Sisters of the Elderly Forsaken (1897)".

California Evangelist

Fray Junípero Serra (1713-1784) is the only Spaniard with a statue in the Capitol in Washington. Pope Francis inscribed him in the catalog of saints in 2015, after he was beatified by St. John Paul II in 1988. Sufficient data to clear the good name of this illustrious Spanish friar against any activism or ignorance alien to the historical truth. Thus wrote Friar Antonio Arevalo Sanchez, OFM, in Omnes. 

Fray Junípero -under the motto 'Always forward, never back' - dedicated his intelligence and energy to instill human dignity in the natives of Querétaro and the two Californias. He did this through evangelical doctrine, civilizing progress and an exemplary life of patience, humility, poverty and enormous sacrifices, Fray Arevalo pointed out.

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