Homily on the Memorial of Bl. Laura Vicuna 22 January 2025, DBPH Chapel, Talamban
Many parents nowadays complain about their growing up children. They lament that today’s youth seem to be so liberated and self-entitled, lacking in obedience and respect for elders, and so on. Ironically however, we also find young people who complain about their parents not so much on their parenting style but rather on their parents’ failure to set the good example, leading to the loss of their moral ascendency and credibility in teaching.
More than a century ago this was the situation of a girl named Laura in their house in Argentina. They were supposed to be well-off in Chile where she was born. But after her father’s untimely death when she was only two years old, her mother Mercedes took her and her little baby sister to Argentina in search of greener pastures. Her mother soon found work in a hostel owned by a certain man named Manuel Mora, who promised to shoulder the education of her two kids. So Laura was soon enrolled in a school run by the Salesian Sisters (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians). There she learned how to be prayerful and how to be a good Christian. And very soon she realized that her mom, who had began to live-in together with Manuel was not living out according to Christ’s teachings. The sad fact is that her mom had become his mistress in exchange for their education.
One day, after school Laura attempted to talk to her mom regarding this matter in the hope that she would listen and follow her request that she break her relationship with Manuel. But that proved to be futile. On the contrary matters became worse for her at home. Laura herself began to suffer physical abuse from her mom’s live-in partner, who by then, had already discontinued sponsoring her studies. Poor Laura while she learned so many good values in school, she saw only conflicting values and counter witnessing at home. If you were in the shoes of this little girl, what would you do? Would you run away from home?
Brothers and sisters, we continue our reflective reading of the Gospel according to St. Mark. The passage today presents Jesus as one who goes out of his way to do something good. At times he goes even beyond the rules of society just to pull out someone from the paralyzing situation of bodily illness. And so while he was in the synagogue on one Sabbath Day when he noticed the man with a withered hand among the crowd, he was immediately moved with pity. Then after a brief conversation with him he stretched out his hand to cure him. At once the man’s hand got cured, and from then on he was enabled to stretch out his hand to others who were in need.
The story I shared with you earlier was actually the life story of Bl. Laura Vicuna. What did she do in that difficult and paralyzing situation at home? Do you think she run away or did she just close an eye and let the sinful relationship to go on? The good news is, through the kind generosity of the Salesian Sisters, Laura was given a scholarship grant which enabled her to continue her schooling for free. Moreover, enlightened by the advice and guidance of her priest confessor, Laura learned how to pray patiently for her mom’s conversion.
And so, for this intention, she prayed often to our Blessed Mother and received Holy Communion devoutly. She also learned how to make sacrifices for her. Everyday she offered to Jesus her pains, her sufferings, her good deeds and all that she had been going through in the house for the salvation of her very own mother. And because of these, her second attempt to help her mom proved to be very fruitful and powerful.
Moments before Laura died, worn out with sacrifice and ill health, she had the opportunity to talk to her mother again at her deathbed. With a frail voice she said to her “For almost two years I have been offering my life to Jesus for you, for your conversion. Mother, before I die, shall I not have the joy of seeing you repent? After hearing those words, her mom started sobbing. And she finally assured her little daughter that she would grant her wish and return to the Lord. Laura passed away at twelve years old on this very day in 1904 with the consolation of seeing her mother turn away from her sinful life. She was eventually beatified by Pope St John Paul II in 1988 during the centenary of the death of Saint John Bosco.
Her blessed life is an amazing witness to the whole world that young people today are capable of becoming saints, despite the counter witnessing of adults. Like Jesus, she went out of her way to save her mom who had gone astray. We pray in the Eucharist today that we may become inspiring guides of young people following the spirituality and educational method of St. John Bosco.
We pray also that many young people may be moved by the amazing life story and inspiring holiness of Bl. Laura Vicuna. GiGsss!