Cordi-Marian Missionary Sister

Cordi-Marian Missionary Sister – Sister María Soledad de los Pobres, M.C.M.

Congregación de Misioneras Cordimarianas

“A Jesús Por María ” – “Ad Jesum per Mariam” – “To Jesus Through Mary”

Founder: Mother Carmen Serrano y Rugama, M.C.M.

Co-founder: Fr. Julián Collell y Guix, C.M.F. ( Claretian priest and Mother’s spiritual director )

Place: Mexico City, Mexico ( originally ) ☩ Re-established in San Antonio, Texas in 1926 to escape religious persecution in Mexico during the Cristero War ☩

Year: March 19, 1921 A.D. ( Feast of St. Joseph )

Her Charism: EVANGELIZATION. Rooted in the spirituality of St. Anthony Mary Claret (Claretian) this Sister is Christ-centered, Eucharistic, and Marian. A transmissible warmth and part of his spirit lives in her and defines her. Her entire life is committed to God in the following of Christ the Missionary as she carries out the mission of evangelization which is ecclesial, universal, and prophetic. She is a faithful daughter and apostolic missionary – a woman of deep prayer with a simple and pure heart, and great missionary zeal. Her guiding focus centers on total consecration to God and the Immaculate Heart of Mary which is the “burning forge” of love, tenderness, and missionary zeal. This is beautifully encapsulated in her foundational promise: “I dedicate myself and consecrate myself to the service of God, Jesus Christ, and Mary Most Holy.” With that profound intimacy with the Heart of Mary, imitating her humility, simplicity, charity, and sacrifice, she offers herself as a living host and victim for the redemption of souls. Like St. Anthony Mary Claret, she is sensitive to whatever is most urgent, opportune, and effective – and has a decided preference for the poor, the lowliest and most humble with whom Christ identifies Himself: the peasants, natives, the imprisoned and disabled. A special care is given to women and children through education, catechesis, and communication media (radio, TV and publishing). As an apostolic missionary she follows Jesus the Missionary, mirroring the spirit of the early Church, and lives the evangelical counsels (vows) in her community of faith. This Sister keeps alive the awareness of being called by the Holy Spirit to joyfully announce the Good News bringing Christ’s salvation to all people, bringing hope and doing the Will of God the Father through her teaching, evangelization, social work (humanitarian relief) and prayer. Little by little her “Claretian-ness” pervades her environment as she renews the Church. ☩ Her special Cordi-Marian Medal is a spiritual reminder of her charism, her mission, and the promise she made to dedicate her life to “teach all nations” for the sake of the Kingdom of the whole world through prayer, teaching, and spreading the Word of God. ☩