VIRGIN (APRIL 25, 2004)

A COMPASSIONATE SISTER NOTED FOR HER DEEP PRAYER LIFE AND SIMPLICITY

Sr. Eusebia (pronounced “you-SAY-bee-uh) was born in Cantalpino, Spain on December 15, 1899. Eusebia’s childhood was poor but happy, illuminated by the great faith of her parents. The whole family alternated work and prayer in an atmosphere of mutual love and charity towards everyone. In her early life Eusebia had work as a maid for families in her area.

Eusebia inherited a lively interest in the basic ideas of the Catechism from her father. Because he was so devout, and her family’s faith was well known to the pastor, Eusebia was able to receive her First Holy Communion at the age of nine. When she received the Eucharist for the first time, Eusebia experienced something wonderful in her heart. The spark of an intense love for Jesus was lighted in her heart and she found great joy in meeting Him in Communion. This love helped her to overcome every difficulty and to go beyond the tender love she had for her family in order to consecrate her life totally to God as a Salesian Sister in 1924.

Sr. Eusebia was sent to the house of Valverde del Camino. Because of her knowledge from life as a maid, she took charge of the kitchen and various other community responsibilities, giving her service in amiable and joyful availability.

In the Sunday Oratory, a place for the local children to play and pray and learn about their faith, she followed the younger children with apostolic efficacy. However, she often found herself surrounded by the older ones and even the adults, who were attracted by her spirit of prayer and by her convincing faith.

Her deep desire was to “make prayer resound in every home” so that every person might honor the Lord’s Passion. Through her numerous letters, she became an untiring promoter of devotion to the Wounds of Jesus, in order to obtain mercy for all sinners. In 1931, on the eve of the revolution, Sr. Eusebia offered herself to God as a victim for the salvation of her brothers and sisters in Spain and throughout the world.

For three years she bore indescribable sufferings in a joyful crescendo of longing for Heaven, which opened its doors to her on February 10, 1935.

Her remains lie in Valverde, Spain.

She was beatified by St. Pope John Paul II on April 25, 2004 in Rome. The Liturgical Memorial of Sr. Eusebia Palomino is celebrated on February 9th.