“Laura believed deeply in the dignity of people who were often forgotten, and her legacy continues to inspire today.”
—
LauraMontoya,betterknownasMotherLaura,isnotonlythefirstColombiansaintbutalsoanemblematicexampleofthe“femininegenius”inthehistoryofColombiaandtheChurch,asPopeSaintJohnPaulIIdescribedinhisApostolicLetterMulierisDignitatem.
BorninJericó,Antioquia,in1874,Lauragrewupinhardshipafterherfather’sdeathinthecivilwar.Fromayoungage,sheshowedadeepreligiouscallingandasteadfastdeterminationtochallengethelimitationsplacedonwomeninhertime.Shebecameagenerousteacher,aboldmissionary,aprofoundmysticandprophet,apassionatewriter,andacourageousfounder.
NoonecouldhaveimaginedthatLaura—asimpleteacher,likesomanywomenofherera—wouldbecomeatrailblazerandrolemodelforgenerationsofwomentocome.
HermissionaryworkamongtheIndigenouspeopleastonishedmanyandwasmarkedbythedifficultiesoftheerainwhichshelived.Yet,shebelieveddeeplyinthedignityofpeoplewhowereoftenforgotten,andherlegacycontinuestoinspiret
