In a significant announcement, Pope Francis has sanctioned a decree affirming a miraculous event attributed to the intercession of the revered Argentine Blessed Maria Antonia of Saint Joseph, affectionately known as Mama Antula. The decision was made following a meeting between Pope Francis and Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

The Holy See Press Office disclosed that on Tuesday afternoon, the Pope granted authorization for the promulgation of the decree pertaining to the miracle associated with Blessed Maria Antonia of Saint Joseph, who was born as Antonia de Paz y Figueroa in 1730 in Silipica, Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Mama Antula, as she is fondly called, was the founder of the House for Spiritual Exercises in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and passed away on 7 March 1799.

Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from the country, Mama Antula embarked on a journey across various towns in the impoverished regions of north-eastern Argentina. Her mission was to advocate for retreats in the Ignatian tradition. Remarkably, within a span of just eight years, she succeeded in organizing retreats for an astounding 70,000 individuals. This decree underscores the profound impact of Mama Antula's spiritual endeavors and her enduring legacy in promoting faith and retreat experiences in Argentina.