This post marks the conclusion of the sisters of the Final Probation’s journey through the sites associated with Saint Cándida in Spain. After the first leg in the Basque Country and Navarre, and the second in Burgos and Valladolid, the pilgrimage reached Salamanca, the city where “Juanitatxo,” Juana Josefa, became Cándida María de Jesús, Mother Cándida.
The People of Most, the Relics, and the Infirmary
With great excitement and joy, the sisters arrived in Salamanca on the evening of September 23, in this city so deeply connected to the history of Mother Candida. That same evening, they participated in a dinner gathering held by the Daughters of Jesus from all the communities in Salamanca as part of—and to conclude—the canonical visit to Salamanca by Graciela Francovig, Superior General, as we shared a few days ago.
The next day, they toured the Mostenses building, where Mother Cándida founded the novitiate, lived as a nun, and where her remains are interred. Walking through those spaces, steeped in memories, brought them closer to the story of a woman who worked with dedication and passion for God and for the Congregation.
One of the most meaningful moments was the visit to the relics of Saint Candida María de Jesús and Blessed Antonia Bandrés, and to the chapels where their remains are kept and venerated; it was an experience of deep gratitude and communion with those who preceded them on the journey of faith. In the afternoon, they shared a simple yet meaningful time with the sisters at the infirmary.
Casa San José, Casa Concordia, and Montellano
The sisters visited Casa San José, the first house where Mother Candida and the first sisters lived; Casa de la Concordia, where they began teaching and took their first vows; and, in particular, the Montellano Palace, where Mother Candida founded the congregation’s first school, wrote the Constitutions, gave her life, and rested in the loving arms of the Father. The houses are very close to one another and bore witness to her footsteps through the streets of Salamanca, especially while she was working on the approval of the Constitutions.
Montellano preserves numerous mementos of Mother Candida at the Santa Candida Exhibition Space. Among them is the room where she ended her earthly journey, which today serves as the community’s chapel and a special place of prayer. There, the sisters prayed together and shared the moment with the sisters of the community.
Alba de Tormes and the Gardens of Santa Cándida María de Jesús
The itinerary also included the convent of Saint Teresa of Jesus in Alba de Tormes. Mother Cándida had a special devotion to Saint Teresa and visited this place during her stay in Salamanca.
On Sunday the 27th in the morning, the Final Probation group visited the “Gardens of Saint Candida Maria of Jesus,” a couple of blocks from Mostenses, where there is a sculpture in honor of Saint Candida that was unveiled on May 31, 2011, shortly after her canonization, a testament to the gratitude of the people of Salamanca.
During these days, they were accompanied by Sister Carmen Sastre, who, with wisdom and warmth, helped them better understand Mother Cándida’s experiences in Salamanca. These days allowed them to grasp just how much Mother Cándida loved the Congregation and the sisters whom God had placed by her side. It was not merely a matter of visiting places, but of drawing closer to the roots of a history of faith, dedication, and trust in God: though their bodies felt the weariness of intense days, their hearts remained alive.
Eucharist of Thanksgiving
The pilgrimage concluded with a Mass of Thanksgiving presided over by Fr. Luis Salinas, S.J., attended by several sisters from the communities in Salamanca and the Provincial Superior for Europe and Africa, María del Mar Domínguez. Before the Lord, the sisters gave thanks for the journey, the encounters, the places they visited, and everything God allowed them to discover.
At the end of the Mass, María del Mar Domínguez offered a prayer of thanksgiving—words full of warmth and depth addressed to the junior sisters in their Final Probation—from which we share the following:
“I am all yours, my God. Take my whole being—it is yours: my innermost being, my emotions, my thoughts, my actions, and my will; for You have given me everything, and I give it all to You and to Your Gospel. Give me Your love and Your grace—that is enough for me.”
“Sisters, after following in Mother Candida’s footsteps, I am sure your hearts are filled with greater joy as you walk in her footsteps and make an inner pilgrimage with her. Savor and treasure in your hearts what you have experienced these past few days as a precious gift: you have gone to the very root of our vocation as Daughters of Jesus. Let us give thanks to God!”
Thank you, Lord, for our sisters in their final probation!
Next stop: Rome
With grateful, committed, and renewed hearts, the sisters will continue their experience in Rome, where a time of reflection, community life, the monthly Spiritual Exercises, and new encounters and experiences await them—all of which will continue to enrich this journey of deepening their vocation as Daughters of Jesus.
