Also known as

• Angela de la Cruz
• Angela Guerrero Gonzalez
• Angela of the Cross Guerrero y González
• Angelita (family nickname)
• Maria of the Angels
• María de los Ángeles
• Mother Angela of the Cross
• Mother of the Poor

Memorial

• 2 March

Profile

One offourteenchildren born to apoor but pious family; only five of her siblingssurvived to adulthood. Herfather worked as acook and hermother alaundress in aTrinitarian Fathersconvent, and Angela had to quitschool at age twelve to work in ashoe factory to help support her family. She made her FirstCommunion at age eight,Confirmation at nine; sheprayed therosary daily, and had a great devotion as a youth to ChristCrucified. Her piety was so obvious that her employer, Antonia Maldonado, brought her to the attention ofFather José Torres Padilla. He became her spiritual director when she was 16, and helped discern if Angela had a call toreligious life.

She first tried to join theCarmelites, was refused, and when she was finally accepted at age 19, became sosick that she was forced to return to her family. When she recovered, she began caring forcholera victims, and those evenpoorer than herself. In1868 she entered theconvent of theDaughters of Charity ofSeville,Spain, but again her healthfailed, and she was forced to return to her parents and theshoeshop. In1871, withFather Padilla’s blessing, she started a plan whereby she lived at home under a particular Rule, yearly renewing her vows.

While inprayer in1873 Angela received avision that she understood was calling her to a mission to thepoor, and she began keeping a spiritual diary to record what she understood of the life to whichGod was calling her. Others were attracted to her life, and on2 August1875 theCongregation of the Cross was born. TheCongregation works with thesick, thepoor,orphans, thehomeless, finding them food, medicine, housing, and other needs, living solely onalms, and keeping only enough for themselves to continue their work. Though they started with onlyMother Angela and three sisters, they had grown to 23convents during her life, and continue their good works today.

Born

• 30 January1846 atSeville,Spain asMaria of the Angels Guerrero Gonzalez

Died

• 2 March1932 inSeville,Spain of natural causes

Venerated

• 12 February1976 byPopePaul VI (decree ofheroic virtues)

Beatified

• 5 November1982 byPopeJohn Paul II atSeville,Spain

Canonized

• 4 May2003 byPopeJohn Paul II at Plaza de Colón,Madrid,Spain

Readings

The nothing keeps silent, the nothing does not want to be, the nothing suffers all. The nothing does not impose itself, the nothing does not command with authority, and finally, the nothing in the creature is practical humility.–Saint Angela

Love and sensitivity to the poor…prompted Saint Angela of the Cross to found her “Company of the Cross” for the most deprived with a charitable and social dimension that made an enormous impact on the Church and society ofSeville in her day. Her distinctive traits were naturalness and simplicity, seeking holiness with a spirit of mortification and at the service of God in her brothers and sisters.–PopeJohn Paul II in his homily at the canonization of Saint Angela

MLA Citation

• “Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero“.CatholicSaints.Info. 29 June 2023. Web. 15 February 2026. <>