Venezuela is poised to welcome its first female saint as Pope Francis has cleared the path for the canonization of Blessed María Carmen Rendiles. The Pope authorized a decree on Monday that acknowledges a miracle linked to her, allowing her to become a saint. Rendiles is the founder of the Congregation of the Handmaids of Jesus. As of now, a specific date for her canonization ceremony has not been decided.
María Carmen Rendiles was born on August 11, 1903, in Caracas, Venezuela, and passed away in the same city on May 9, 1977. Following the death of her father, she took on responsibilities at a young age, assisting her mother in supporting their family. She became actively involved in the local parish. In 1927, Rendiles joined a French religious congregation in Venezuela, beginning as a novice at 24 years old. By 1961, with the backing of the local Catholic hierarchy, she established a self-governing congregation. The Venezuelan Catholic Bishops Conference mentioned in a news release that despite the challenge of losing an arm, her physical limitations did not stop her from leading a noteworthy Christian life. Rendiles’ canonization process was initiated by Catholic leaders in 1995, and she was beatified in 2018.
The miracle attributed to Carmen Rendiles involves the healing of a young woman who was suffering from a type of hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Her situation had deteriorated until a Mass was held in front of Rendiles’ grave, where prayers were offered for her recovery. Following the celebration of this Mass and after the woman touched a portrait of Rendiles, her health experienced a significant improvement. The Holy See declared, “The young woman’s recovery was complete, stable and long-lasting, and the event was deemed scientifically inexplicable.”
In addition to Rendiles, Venezuela has seen another significant advancement in the Catholic Church this year. Pope Francis has also approved the canonization of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández, born on October 26, 1864. Known as “the poor’s doctor,” Hernández is recognized as the first Venezuelan layperson to achieve beatification.