Blessed Laura Vicuña was born on April 5, 1891 in Santiago, Chile. She was the first daughter of the Vicuña Pino family. Her parents were José Domingo Vicuña, a soldier with aristocratic roots, and Mercedes Pino.

At the end of the nineteenth century, civil war erupted in Chile. A key figure in one of the warring factions was related to José Domingo, Claudio Vicuña. Now Claudio did not achieve his goal of becoming president; and unfortunately his enemies began pursuing the whole Vicuña family, forcing them to flee their homeland.

In 1894, after the birth of a second daughter, Julia Amanda, José Domingo died, leaving his wife and daughters with no money and in real danger. Mercedes decided to travel to Argentina with her two girls, where she ended up living with an abusive man.

Even when Laura was very young, she understood her mother's problems, which included, as she saw it, Mercedes' distance from God. This motivated her to pray every day for her mother's salvation.

One day, remembering the phrase of Jesus: “There is no one greater than the one that gives his life for his brothers," Laura made a decision to give her life in exchange for her mother's salvation. As time passed she became seriously ill with pulmonary tuberculosis. Before she died, Laura told her mother: “Mama, I offer my life for you, I asked our lord for this. Before I die, Mother, would I have the joy of seeing you repent?”

Blessed Laura Vicuña is the patron of abuse victims.

Prayer:

Give me the grace and help to adhere to the sweet will of the Father with a pure heart. Amen.