Jerónimo Mariano Usera y Alarcón

The work of Jerónimo Mariano Usera is inseparable from his social and pedagogical commitment to the most destitute, particularly children, women, and people of African descent or those who were enslaved. During his missions in Puerto Rico and Cuba, he observed the urgent need to provide a solid, Christian education to young girls and poor children. To ensure the continuity of this action, he decided to found a religious family entirely dedicated to this cause. On April 27, 1864, in Toro, in the province of Zamora, Spain, he founded the congregation of the Sisters of the Love of God (Hermanas del Amor de Dios), with the support of Saint Micaela of the Blessed Sacrament. The following day, the institute's first school opened its doors. At the same time, Father Usera multiplied his social initiatives: he founded the Protective Society for Children in Cuba in 1883, as well as the Academy for Typographers and Bookbinders in Havana in 1891, thus offering women professional training that was unprecedented for the time. His innovative action makes him a true precursor of Christian social pedagogy.

Father Usera's spiritual journey finds its source in his initial Cistercian experience, characterized by silence, prayer, and abandonment to the divine will. Throughout his eventful life, marked by travels, tropical diseases, and political tensions, he maintained an unwavering faith and an ardent love for Christ. His charity toward the poor is legendary: testimonies from the time report that he gave away everything he possessed, going so far as to strip himself of his own clothes to clothe the needy. His moral integrity, his filial submission to the Church, and his zeal for the salvation of souls earned him an immense reputation for holiness during his lifetime, both in Spain and in the Antilles. Nicknamed the "father of the poor" or the "Jerome of Cuba," he embodied his deep desire to "speak the truth and do good" on a daily basis, manifesting the gratuitous love of God through concrete acts of justice and mercy.

The cause for the beatification and canonization of Jerónimo Mariano Usera was introduced by the Diocese of Zamora. After a thorough investigation into his life, writings, and reputation for holiness, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints validated the diocesan process in 1995. On June 28, 1999, Pope John Paul II officially promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his theological and cardinal virtues, thereby conferring upon him the title of Venerable. For his beatification to be pronounced, the Church requires the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession, a file which is currently under study in Rome. His liturgical and commemorative feast is set for May 17, the anniversary of his birth into heaven in 1891.

Today, the spirituality of the Venerable Jerónimo Mariano Usera remains alive through the congregation of the Sisters of the Love of God. Faithful to the charism of their founder, which consisted of "embodying the love of God in life in order to be a permanent manifestation of it," the religious sisters work in many countries in Europe, Africa, and America. They are primarily dedicated to teaching, youth ministry, and social assistance for marginalized populations. In 1925, in order to bring the founder closer to his religious family, his mortal remains were transferred from Cuba to the congregation's motherhouse in Toro, Spain, where they are now venerated. His example continues to inspire many laypeople associated with the institute's educational and charitable mission, thus extending his dream of transforming society through love and education.