Who is Saint María Soledad Torres Acosta?

Foundress and Mother of the Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick (1826 – 1887)

Saint Maria Soledad Torres Acosta was born on December 2, 1826, in Madrid on Flor Baja Street. At 25 years of age, she was the seventh of the founding group of women of the new Institute of Servants of Mary which began on August 15, 1851. For five years she was dedicated to caring for the sick in their own homes in Madrid. When Father Michael left for the missions in 1856, she became the General Superior; however, the new parish priest in Chamberí removed her from her office and sent her to Getafe. In January, 1857, she was called back to Madridas General Superior by Father Gabino Sánchez. In the first General Chapter of 1861, Mother Soledad was elected as General Superior and the Institute began to grow. They were poor but they had unlimited trust in Divine Providence. In the General Chapter of 1871, Mother Soledad was once again elected as Mother General. She was as humble as a violet (the flower she chose as the emblem of the Institute), and passed on this spirituality to her Daughters. Her spirituality was based on the love of God and letting herself be loved in the depths of her nothingness by Him who was her All. He led her to a life hidden in Him and towards full identification with Christ by inspiring her to see the Lord Himself in every face and especially in the suffering. Her spirituality was incarnate in a simple, prayerful, humble and charitable life, as a torch shining in the night of pain and as balm that soothes the suffering of the Mystical Body of Christ. The specific traits are: contemplative in action, abandonment to Divine Providence, collaborators with Christ and Mary in the salvation of mankind, and special devotion to the Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick, as the very name of Servants of Mary indicates. In 1878 Mother Soledad accompanied by Mother Josefa Díaz, traveled to Rome and had a private audience with His Holiness Leo XIII. The prophetic words of Father Michael Martínez were being fulfilled: the “tree” of the Congregation was taking root and becoming stronger; there were certainly thorns on its branches that caused Mother Soledad much suffering. Nevertheless, despite having some of the Sisters leave her, the Institute progressively spread throughoutSpain. During these years, the canonical configuration of the Congregation was taking shape. In the General Chapter of 1871 a new form of government was defined and approved. The Institute, relying on Divine Providence, trusting in the protection of the Virgin Mary, and always under the visible sign of poverty, continued increasing in the number of Sisters as well as convents. In 1876 the Decree of the Approval of the Institute was obtained. When Mother Soledad died on October 11, 1887, she left 46 foundations.