Laura Vicuña

Laura Vicuña ( born April 5, 1891 in Santiago de Chile, † January 22, 1904 in Junin de los Andes ) is a Blessed of the Salesian family, whose memorial day the Catholic Church celebrates on January 22.

Laura Vicuña was the daughter of a distinguished family of Chile and, related to the first Archbishop of Santiago, Vicuña Emanuel. During the Civil War her family had to flee to the plateau of the Andes. Her father, however, died soon after, when Laura was two years old.

Shortly thereafter, the sister Laura was born. With her ​​two daughters, the mother went to Argentina. The farmer Manuel Mora took on the family and lived at once with Laura's mother together in sin. Beginning of 1900, she confided her two daughters to the Salesian Sisters in Junin de los Andes on. When the life companion of the mother wanted to pass to Laura, she remained strong, but was beaten and abused by him. Laura then asked for admission to the novitiate of the Order, but she was still too young. In 1902, she vowed their lives to God, if this should turn her mother. While Laura Vicuña ill and a year later died, her mother actually separated by Manuel Mora and turned back to the faith.

In 1988, at Colle Don Bosco, the birthplace of St. John Bosco, beatified Laura Vicuña of Pope John Paul II.