With the recognition from the Holy See, Maria Conceição dos Santos, Sister Benigna, will now be called Venerable Sister Benigna. This is an important step in the beatification process of the nun from Minas Gerais.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Belo Horizonte, Dom Walmor de Oliveira Azevedo, thanks the Holy Father: “We give thanks to God for filling hearts with the strength of His love and we thank, with great joy, the Holy Father Francis for the promulgation today of the Decree recognizing the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Sister Benigna. Now, in the steps towards her beatification, Venerable Sister Benigna. Another very important step in the process until reaching the decisive step of her Beatification, an intention for which we continue to pray and insistently ask for this grace. With great gratitude, I unite myself with each one of you in prayer and communion, especially with the Congregation of the Auxiliary Sisters of Our Lady of Piety and AMAIBEM, friends of Sister Benigna, to celebrate this special moment of great joy. The ongoing beatification process, initiated in the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, shows that Sister Benigna is an admirable woman for her life guided by love for her neighbor, especially the sick and the poor. A story that reveals to us the path to holiness lived and witnessed in the specialty of fraternal love. Sister Benigna, from Minas Gerais, born in Diamantina, is present in the life of the Church in Belo Horizonte and, in a very special way, in the lives of simple and poor people, whom she has always welcomed with kindness, generosity, words of hope, and a witness of faith. Her most striking virtue, humility, is an example of a disciple always faithful to the teachings of the Master Jesus, challenging others to imitate her.”.

A life dedicated to the poor.

With the Pope's decree, the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Benigna Victima de Jesus, a professed religious of the Congregation of the Auxiliary Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, were recognized. The process began in the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte on October 15, 2011, marking the diocesan phase. The Roman phase in the Vatican began on April 15, 2013.

Charity and fortitude were strong characteristics of the personality of Benigna Victima de Jesus, born Maria Conceição dos Santos on August 16, 1907, in Diamantina, Minas Gerais. At the age of 28, she entered the Congregation of the Auxiliary Sisters of Our Lady of Piety and dedicated herself to welcoming the poor, humble, sick, and afflicted.

Sister Benigna was discriminated against because of her skin color, physical appearance, and various illnesses, including obesity and hormonal disorders, which caused her much suffering. She hid her sorrows through her peculiar sense of humor and Grace, from which she drew strength to overcome difficulties and continue to dedicate herself to others, doing good.

On October 16, 1981, after a life of dedication, giving, and sharing, her immense heart stopped. She passed away silently, peacefully, fighting until the end, finishing her magnificent work.

**With information from arquidiocesebh.org.br