I was talking with one of my sisters about the patron saints of our nieces and nephews and she asked about St. Laura. There are actually two saints by the name of Laura -- and one Blessed. Today, I want to tell you about Blessed Laura Vicuna.
Laura was born in 1891, the first child of Senora Mercedes and Jose Domingo Vicuna. Shortly after the birth of her younger sister, her father died. Her mother found work at a large 'hacienda" owned by an Argentine "gaucho", Sr. Manuel Mora. Sr. Mora's support allowed Mercedes to enroll the girls in a school run by Salesian Sisters, but this support came with pressure from the Senor for her to become his mistress.
At school, Laura discovered God and His love. She wished her mother would know Him better. She often prayed for her mother before the tabernacle. Her mother was indeed in trouble. In a moment of stress and discouragement, she had given in to the demands of Sr. Mora.
Deeply believing that love is stronger than death, Laura prayed to the Lord, "I offer you my life for that of my mother." After making this prayer, Laura became ill, becoming weaker with each passing day; she was wasting away. God had accepted her offer. Her mother remained by her bedside day and night until her death on January 22, 1904.
Laura's feast day is January 22.
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