MARÍA RAFOLS FACES

A DAUGHTER IN A LARGE FAMILY

She was the 6 th among 9 brothers and sisters: n Was born in a christian home n Grew in an atmosphere of simplicity, hard work, austerity… n Learned to share n Had to change her address many times n Lost her father and 5 brothers and sisters being just a girl

VOLUNTEER IN A HOSPITAL OF BARCELONA (Spain)

Full of dreams and very Committed n She is a member of a “group of handcrafters and spinster women who help in the Holy Cross Hospital on feasts” n There she meets Fr. Jonh Bonal: They share dreams and projects

SISTER IN CHARGE OF A SISTERHOOD

SISTER IN CHARGE n With moral authority n Working as a member of a team n Good at organizing n Close and helpful to her collegues’ need

With moral authority n Being 23 years old she is the Sister in charge, although there are some older sisters n Firm and Kind, very easy to reach for everyone n For her, authority means just service, and she is not trying to remain in her responsibility: she gives up whenever she thinks that is the best thing for the Sisterhood

Working as a member of a team n She had monthly meetings with her Sisters in order to improve the care of the sick

Good at organizing n In less than a year the Hospital was completely different than it used to be: – Clean and tidy, – Everything is well profited, they save money – Responsibility in work – Best and kind attention to the sick n “With these women it is very easy to manage in a Hospital, and without them it`s very difficult” (Conde de Sástago)

Close and helpful to her collegues’ needs n Several times she asked for the breastfeeding women more food and a higher salary n She knows how to become friend of those who where against her in the beginning

AN EXCELLENT PROFESSIONAL

She gives “Nurse Cares” n She tries to satisfy all the basic needs of the person, giving a complete attention (bedcare, sleep, food...)

She goes further n She organises and supervises home attention: children were cared children were cared in families in families

Updates her formation: She passes in Blebhetomy Exam (1806, acta 130 de la Sitiada) - In order to give a better service - She pratices the new techniques “in an admirable way”

She would also attend the spiritual needs of the person n She is really involved in pastoral attention n Encourages showing respect at the same time, without forcing anyone n She can see JC in every sick person

COMING BEFORE THE RED CROSS n Martínez Vargas in the Oficial Anuary of the Spanish Red Cross (1945) n Domenech Martí, J. in 1st National Congress of the Spanish Red Cross: “The very beggining of the Red Cross is Spanish”

She cares for the wounded ones both French and Spanish

She risks her life for everyone She gets food, forgiveness for those sentenced to death…

PIONEER IN TECHNICAL FORMATION Const. 1805: “We should teach the abandoned children so that they would become shoemakers, tailors, etc…”

QUIET AND CALM IN ALL DIFFICULTIES

A human woman n On April 14th (1813) she ask for permission to go back home: – She dosen’t complain – She feels “week, strengthless, not feeling like doing anything, prolonged loss of appetite and almost totaly lost” – and finnaly asking not to consider her letter.

Put into Jail and Unjustly Condemned n She faces bravely which she could not understand n Transforms the difficulties into Opportunities n Foregoing the same n Forgives and Forgets

HOPE TILL THE END

She died on 30th August 1853 n Worked till the end n Died without knowing the expansion of the Sisterhood

ONE JUST LIKE YOU ALL