Life and work of St. Genoveva
Discover the story of St. Genoveva, our foundress
Biography of Saint Genoveva
St. Genoveva, founder of the Congregation of the Angelic Sisters, is an inspirational figure whose life and work have left an indelible mark on the history of the Church. Through her dedication and faith, St. Genoveva has inspired countless others to follow her footsteps through the path of spirituality and service to others.
Early Years
Birth and Origin
Saint Genoveva was born on January 3, 1870 in Almenara, a small town of 1400 inhabitants in the province of Castellón, in the Valencian Community (Spain).
Genoveva was the youngest of 6 siblings. Her parents, José and Vicenta Morales were simple Christian people. She was baptized on January 4, and at the age of ten received First Communion.
At the age of eight, she lost her father and four of her siblings and had to take care of her brother, José, being forced to drop out of school. She began a life of service as a household assistant and reserved her evenings to dedicate to reading her mother’s religious books. At the age of thirteen, she was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her left leg, which had to be later amputated at the level of the thigh, in an operation without anesthesia to remove the gangrene. From then on he would always have to walk with two crutches.
Religious Vocation
St. Genoveva started feeling God’s call from a very young age.
Her strong suffering marked the first fifteen years life. The people who accompanied her and knew about her bad leg witnessed how that little girl always remembered the crucified Jesus in the midst of her pain and offered everything for the salvation of sinners. After nine years at the Casa de Misericordia, an experience of training and spiritual life, she requested her admission as a religious in the Carmelites of Charity, but her lameness was considered an obstacle to her admission. St. Genoveva never ceased to seek God’s will in her life.
Foundation of the Angelicas
The inspiration to establish a Congregation
Saint Genoveva was a woman of deep faith and love whose life was shaped by solitude, suffering, humility, and poverty. She felt a profound calling from the Lord to compassionately serve those who shared these same hardships.
Her love for Jesus and her spirit of self-giving led her to found the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels—known as the Angélicas—an order devoted to “easing the loneliness of those who, for various reasons, live alone and are in need of affection, comfort, love, and care—both for their bodies and their souls.”
First steps of the Congregation
On February 2, 1911, the first house in Valencia was inaugurated with seven residents. Genoveva, who was appointed Director of the House, felt like a burden that needed to disappear in order for the Work to flourish—a feeling that persisted throughout her life, because, according to her, what was needed was “a giant of a woman with the heart of a man.”
Mother Genoveva wrote the following about the founding:
On February 2, 1911, we decided to open the house, inviting the women who had committed to enter on the 4th or 5th. There were seven of them. But how could we feed all seven without having anything to buy food with? Well, on the 1st day, we finished some little dining room tablecloths for some ladies, whose work was worth 13 pesetas. With that, we were able to prepare the meals.
Legacy of St. Genevieve
Projects and Missions
- Spain
- Mexico
- Venezuela
- Colombia
Main Teachings
Saint Genoveva in our Congregation
Events in honor of St. Genoveva
January 4th
Liturgical feast in honor of Saint Genoveva
January 29th
Anniversary of St. Genoveva’s beatification
May 4th
Anniversary of St. Genoveva’s canonization
Collaborate with our work
You can support our mission by contributing to the maintenance of dining halls for vulnerable children, providing materials used in youth pastoral, and offering assistance for other needs of the elderly or those living in solitude who are in need of help.