Concepción Cabrera de Armida
A Mexican wife, mother, and mystic, Concepción Cabrera de Armida (1862-1937) is the inspirer of the Works of the Cross.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
Birth, marriage, motherhood, and widowhood of Conchita in Mexico.
María de la Concepción Cabrera Arias, affectionately called "Conchita," was born on December 8, 1862, in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Coming from a wealthy and deeply Christian family, she married Francisco Armida García on November 8, 1884. Nine children were born from this union. Widowed at the age of 39 after the premature death of her husband in 1901, she assumed the upbringing of her family alone in the difficult context of the Mexican Revolution.
Life and Work
The foundation of the five Works of the Cross for the sanctification of the different states of life.
Although a laywoman, Concepción Cabrera de Armida is the inspirer and founder of the Works of the Cross, a group of five foundations approved by the Church: the Apostolate of the Cross (1895), the Religious of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1897), the Alliance of Love with the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1909), the Fraternity of Christ the Priest (1912), and the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit (1914), the latter having been established in collaboration with Father Félix de Jesús Rougier.
Journey toward holiness
Mystical experiences and monumental literary work of Conchita.
Conchita's spiritual journey is marked by exceptional mystical experiences, including the vision of the Cross of the Apostolate in 1894 and a grace of mystical incarnation in 1906. Despite the absence of academic theological training, she left behind a monumental work of more than 60,000 handwritten pages of perfect orthodoxy, centered on the Trinity, the Eucharist, and the priesthood.
Beatification and canonization
Recognition of heroic virtues, miracle, and beatification in Mexico City in 2019.
Declared venerable by Saint John Paul II in 1999, she was beatified on May 4, 2019, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, delegate of Pope Francis. Her beatification followed the recognition of a miracle involving the unexplained healing of paralysis in a layman in 2008.
Spirituality and Legacy
The spirituality of the Cross and the Family of the Cross today.
The spirituality of the Cross is essentially priestly and Marian, based on the offering of oneself for the sanctification of priests and the salvation of the world. Today, her spiritual legacy is perpetuated by the Family of the Cross, which brings together 17 institutions throughout the world inspired by her charism.
Frequently asked questions about Concepción Cabrera de Armida
Who was Concepción Cabrera de Armida?
A Mexican wife, mother, and mystic, Concepción Cabrera de Armida (1862-1937) is the inspirer of the Works of the Cross.
Which saints were contemporaries of Concepción Cabrera de Armida?
Contemporaries include: Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Felipe de Jesús Munárriz and 50 companions, Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos and Teresa of Jesus of the Andes.
When did Concepción Cabrera de Armida die?
Concepción Cabrera de Armida died around 1937.
What are the other names of Concepción Cabrera de Armida?
Other forms of the name: María de la Concepción Cabrera Arias and Conchita.
Who are the relatives of Concepción Cabrera de Armida?
Relatives of Concepción Cabrera de Armida: Octaviano Cabrera Lacavex (father), Clara Arias Rivera (mother) and Francisco Armida García (spouse).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1937
- Beatification in 2019 by Francis