Blessed Maria Angela Astorch – Spanish Mystic and Capuchin Poor Clare Nun

BL. MARIA ANGELA ASTORCH

Blessed Maria Angela Astorch was a Spanish Capuchin Poor Clare nun known for her profound mystical experiences and dedication to the contemplative life. Born in Barcelona in 1592, she entered religious life at the age of 11 and played a pivotal role in founding Capuchin Poor Clare communities in Zaragoza and Murcia. Her spiritual writings, particularly Mi camino interior, reflect her deep devotion to the Passion of Christ and the Eucharist. She passed away in 1665 while singing the hymn Pange Lingua.

Born on September 1, 1592, in Barcelona, Spain, Maria Inés Jerónima Astorch was the youngest of four siblings. Her father, Cristóbal Cortey, was a bookseller, and her mother, Catalina Astorch, was the universal heir of Pedro Miguel Astorch. After the death of her parents, Maria was cared for by a housekeeper in Sarria. In 1599, she was found poisoned and left for dead. Her sister, Isabel Astorch, who was a nun in the newly founded Capuchin Monastery in Barcelona, attended the funeral with the founder of the monastery, Angela Serafina Prat. Amid preparations for the funeral, Maria revived, a miracle attributed to the prayers of her sister Angela. At the age of 11, on September 16, 1603, Maria entered the monastery of St. Margaret of Barcelona, founded by Mother Angela Serafina Prat. Despite her early maturity, she had to wait until 1608 for the recruitment to end. During this period, she faced misunderstandings and envy from a teacher who came to abuse her. Eventually, due to her maturity and culture, she was commissioned to give some training to her colleagues. In the end, Mother Angela Serafina deposed the master and appointed Isabel Astorch, Maria Angela's sister, as the teacher on September 8, 1609. In 1612, she was appointed to join the community council.In 1614, Maria Angela was sent to Zaragoza as novice-mistress. In 1627, Pope Urban VIII approved the Constitutions of the Spanish Capuchin Poor Clares, and she was named Abbess for a period of three years. In 1645, she took part in the foundation of the Murcia Monastery. For sixteen years, she was in charge of those in their initial formation and served as abbess of this monastery. Maria Angela had extraordinary contemplative experiences, nourished by meditation on the Liturgy of the Hours. She had special devotion to the Passion of Our Lord and was always full of charity and concern for her sisters.She died at the age of 73 on December 2, 1665, while singing the “Pange Lingua.” The whole city of Murcia gathered to venerate the body of the one they all proclaimed a saint. In 1668, barely two years after her death, the diocesan informative process was initiated towards beatification. The cause for her beatification was formally opened in Rome on June 19, 1776. On May 23, 1982, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.

Feast Day

12-2-1982

Birth Date

1-9-1592

Died Date

2-12-1665

Canonised Date

23-5-1982

Monastery of the Exaltation of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Murcia, Spain

"O Blessed Maria Angela, intercede for us, that we may live a life of deep contemplation and unwavering devotion to God."
BL. MARIA ANGELA ASTORCH

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BL. MARIA ANGELA ASTORCH

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