Montserrat Grases
Encyclopedia
María Montserrat Grases García (July 10, 1941 - March 26, 1959) was a Spanish
Opus Dei
member and is a candidate for beatification
in the Roman Catholic Church
.
, Spain
in 1941. Montse, as she was known by everyone, grew up in a devout Roman Catholic family. After graduating from high school, she continued her studies at the Barcelona Women’s Professional School. A very pious and devout girl, she felt in 1957 that God was calling her to Opus Dei
, a Catholic institution that helps people to seek holiness in their ordinary life. After seeking counsel, she asked for the admission to Opus Dei
as a numerary member.
In June 1958, she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her leg. The cancer caused intense pain, which she reportedly bore with serenity and heroic fortitude. As a result, she continued bringing many friends and schoolmates closer to God during her illness. She died in Barcelona
on Holy Thursday, March 26, 1959. According to witnesses, she died looking at a picture of the Virgin Mary. Her last words were, "How much I love you! When are you coming for me?"
issued the decree on writings, and on May 15, 1992, the decree of validity of the process. Between June 10 and October 28 of 1993, a diocesan investigation took place to add new documents to the process. The Positio was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in December 1999, to be studied for a proposal to the Vatican
to authorize a declaration on her life and virtue
s.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
member and is a candidate for beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Life and Faith
Montserrat Grases was born in BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1941. Montse, as she was known by everyone, grew up in a devout Roman Catholic family. After graduating from high school, she continued her studies at the Barcelona Women’s Professional School. A very pious and devout girl, she felt in 1957 that God was calling her to Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
, a Catholic institution that helps people to seek holiness in their ordinary life. After seeking counsel, she asked for the admission to Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
as a numerary member.
In June 1958, she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her leg. The cancer caused intense pain, which she reportedly bore with serenity and heroic fortitude. As a result, she continued bringing many friends and schoolmates closer to God during her illness. She died in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
on Holy Thursday, March 26, 1959. According to witnesses, she died looking at a picture of the Virgin Mary. Her last words were, "How much I love you! When are you coming for me?"
Cause for canonization
The process for her cause of canonization was opened in Barcelona on December 19, 1962 — four years after her death — and was closed on March 26, 1968, the 9th anniversary of her death. On February 22, 1974, the Congregation for the Causes of SaintsCongregation for the Causes of Saints
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
issued the decree on writings, and on May 15, 1992, the decree of validity of the process. Between June 10 and October 28 of 1993, a diocesan investigation took place to add new documents to the process. The Positio was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in December 1999, to be studied for a proposal to the Vatican
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
to authorize a declaration on her life and virtue
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
s.