St. Rafaela Porras Ayllón – Humble Co-Foundress of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart

ST. RAFAELA PORRAS AYLLON

St. Rafaela Porras Ayllón was a Spanish nun and co-foundress of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, known for her deep humility and devotion to Eucharistic adoration.

Rafaela María Porras y Ayllón was born on March 1, 1850, in Pedro Abad, a small town in the province of Córdoba, Spain. Raised in a devout Catholic family, Rafaela experienced early sorrow with the death of her father and several siblings, which deeply impacted her spiritual formation. Alongside her sister Dolores, she sought a religious vocation early in life, drawn particularly to a life of prayer, simplicity, and union with Christ.

In 1874, Rafaela and Dolores entered a religious institute, and from there, they both felt called to found a new congregation with a particular devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the service of the Church through education and adoration. In 1877, the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was officially established in Madrid. Rafaela, taking the name Sister Rafaela of the Sacred Heart, was elected superior general of the order.

Despite her pivotal role in founding the congregation, Rafaela would later step down voluntarily from leadership due to misunderstandings and internal tensions. She spent the remaining 32 years of her life in obscurity and silence, living a life of hidden holiness at the motherhouse in Rome. There, she devoted herself entirely to prayer, Eucharistic adoration, and humble service—never seeking recognition or acclaim.

Her spiritual writings reflect a soul consumed with love for Christ and dedicated to making reparation through sacrifice and obedience. Rafaela accepted her trials as a means of union with Jesus, and her radiant faith in suffering made her an enduring example of humility and sanctity.

She died on January 6, 1925, quietly and without fanfare. Her holiness was soon recognized by the Church, and she was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977. Today, her order continues to serve in educational and spiritual ministries around the world.

Feast Day

6-1-

Birth Date

1-3-1850

Died Date

6-1-1925

Canonised Date

23-1-1977

Rome, Italy

St. Rafaela Porras Ayllón, you taught us how to love through silence, sacrifice, and humble service. Help us to surrender our pride and follow Christ with a pure and generous heart. Guide those who serve in hidden places and remind us that holiness begins with love. Amen.
ST. RAFAELA PORRAS AYLLON

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ST. RAFAELA PORRAS AYLLON

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