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Matilde Téllez Robles was born on May 30, 1841 in Robledillo de la Vera, Cáceres, Kingdom of Spain, second of four children.
In her teen years, Matilde found herself called to serve God in a special way. Her father, who wanted her to get married, tried to block her religious practices, but he was unsuccessful. Eventually, when he saw how strong Matilde’s commitment was, he gave her his blessing.
Spiritually, Matilde felt pulled in two directions. On the one hand, she felt called to the contemplative life, as evidenced by her desire for Eucharistic adoration. But on the other hand, she felt called to the missionary/apostolic life by serving those who were sick and poor.
With the help of a priest spiritual director, Matilde decided that perhaps God was calling her to found a religious community of women who would blend the missionary life with the contemplative life. So, she gathered eight women who were members of a group of which she was part, the Hijas de María (Daughters of Mary).
Matilde got a house to start the new order, and the group of nine decided to come together on March 19, 1875, to begin their new life together. But when the day finally arrived, only two people showed up: Matilde and a 23-year-old woman named María Briz.
Matilde and María did not let the lack of support get them down. On the contrary, they threw themselves into their new life. They opened a school for orphan children and worked with the poor and the sick. On January 20, 1878, they received the habit of their new order which was called Hijas de María Madre de la Iglesia (Daughters of Mary Mother of the Church).
As time went on, new members joined them, and they received formal approval from the Church authorities.
María Briz, who faithfully served from the very first day with Matilde, died in 1885 during a cholera epidemic.
Matilde, known as Mother Mary Matilde of the Sacred Heart Téllez Robles, died at the motherhouse of the order in Spain on December 17, 1902 from a stroke she had suffered two days earlier. Pope John Paul II beatified Matilde in 2004. Blessed Matilde’s feast day is December 17, and she is patron of the order she founded.
Today, the sisters of her order serve in nations of Europe, North America, and South America.
