a year of prayer: 365 Rosaries

Today, August 25, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Maria Micaela Desmaisières López de Dicastillo of the Blessed Sacrament (1809-1865), Spanish aristocrat and foundress of the Institute of Religious Adorer-Slaves of the Most Blessed Sacrament and of Charity. She is often referred to as “Madre Sacramento” due to her undying devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and her tireless work to bring this devotion to others through her community.


Micaela Lopez Desmaissières and Dicastillo was born in Madrid, Spain, daughter of noble parents. Her mother died while she was quite young, and her father arranged for her to receive a thorough secular and religious education. She attended school with the Ursuline sisters in the city of Pau, France, between the ages of 9 and 12. At thirteen, her father—a general in the royal army—died, and she lived with her brother, an ambassador, for some time. During these years, she felt continually drawn to the religious life, but also enjoyed the privileges of nobility, including festivals, holidays, and frequent travel.

At 35, her eyes were opened during a trip to Madrid, where she visited the Hospital of Saint John of God. There, she observed first-hand the dire plight of young girls in the city, forced into dissolute lives, and living without their basic needs met. Uneducated and untrained in an employable skill, these girls were in need of both spiritual and practical direction. Micaela established a school, and personally undertook direction of their education.

Drawn into service through her mission, she committed herself to live fully for the Lord, and began daily devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. The grace and ardent love of God grew within her, and over time, this influenced the direction and instruction of the school. Within a decade, she had formed an apostolate for the young women of Madrid, naming her school the Institute of Religious Adorer-Slaves of the Most Blessed Sacrament and of Charity. Upon founding her order, she took the name Maria.

Under the direction of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, and Micaela’s dedicated and pious leadership, the foundations multiplied. Her Institute of the Blessed Sacrament was definitively approved by the Holy See in 1866, a year after her death. She had perished from cholera, having contracted the illness while tending to poor and suffering victims of a nearby outbreak.

Madre Sacramento, as she was known, consecrated herself to the love of the Lord. She is known to have said: “I saw Him large, benevolent, loving and merciful, and I decided to serve no one but Him, who has everything necessary to fill my heart.” She modeled poverty, chastity, and obedience with near-perfection, joining her suffering to that of Our Risen Lord. Throughout her life, she lived simply, but heroically in the adoration of the Eucharist, and the reflection of the charity and love of God on earth.



Year 2: Day 236 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Heroic love and charity; giving of ourselves to others for the Lord
Requested Intentions: Successful examination results (D); Safety of family, strength, courage, wisdom (C); For the souls of a departed father and brother, finding of a suitable marriage partner (R); Successful pilgrimage, deepening of prayer life (R); Restoration of health (J); Restoration of health (S); Freedom from pride (A); For children and marriage (M); For the birth of a healthy baby (Y); For personal family intentions, for the sick, poor, hungry, and homeless (G); Financial security and peace (J); Grace, peace, and obedience to the will of God in a marriage (H); Successful and blessed marriage for sin, freedom from anxiety for husband, spiritual contentedness for family (N); Employment and health for a husband (B); Recovery and health of a mother (J); For a family to grow closer to the Church, salvation for all children (D); Successful employment (L); Successful employment (S); Renewal of faith life (A); Support for an intended marriage, health for friend and aunt (J); Mental health assistance for son (G); Freedom from illness (S); Successful employment (C); Financial assistance and employment (B); For a family’s intentions (T); Successful examination results (B); Healing of a friend with cancer, for all those who help others (B); Healing and love (L); Grace and healing (V); Healing of a heart, consecration of a marriage (M); Health of a family, intentions of apostolate (H); For repentance (J); For a family in trouble (R); Healing, successful relationships for son, financial success (J); Success of a company (L); For a religious society (J); Healing of a husband, strength as a faithful caregiver (D); Healing of a son (T).