Venerable Alexia Gonzalez-Barros died at 14 years old from a malignant tumor that paralyzed her. But in the last year of her life, the Spanish native offered her intense suffering for the Church, the pope and others.
In her prayers, Venerable Alexia often said, “Jesus, I want to get good, I want to be healed myself, but if you do not want that, I want what you want,” according to the official website for the cause of her beatification and canonization.
In an email sent to OSV through the Asociación Causa Beatificación Alexia, Venerable Alexia’s siblings told OSV that the pope’s recognition that their sister had lived a life of heroic virtue confirmed what many devotees throughout the world over the past 30 years have been expressing.
“In a special way, her calm acceptance of pain, her constant concern for others, her solid faith and her conviction that Jesus was with her at all times,” they said.
Alexia was born in Madrid, Spain, as the youngest of seven siblings. She grew up in a devout home with parents who were members of Opus Dei. She made her first Communion on May 8, 1979, in Rome, next to where St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, was residing. That same week, she attended a weekly general audience and ran up to Pope St. John Paul II, who gave her a blessing and a kiss.
Alexia was described as a happy, normal girl with the same tastes and hobbies as her classmates. She studied, made plans with her friends and vacationed with her family.
The year before she died, Alexia and her relatives visited the Holy Land, giving her the opportunity to kiss the birthplace of Christ.
Her life changed on Feb. 4, 1985, when she was found to have a malignant tumor. She went to various doctors, underwent four long operations and received several painful treatments that turned the 10 months of her illness into a tough ordeal, which her siblings said she decided to face with peace and joy.
“To many people, what inspires them in Alexia’s life is her joy, her love for the Eucharist, her strength in the face of pain, the way she treated her friends, her devotion to her guardian angel and her completely normal life,” her siblings said.
Alexia died in Pamplona, Spain, surrounded by her family.
Her reputation for holiness quickly grew among the faithful. The cause for her beatification and canonization was introduced in Madrid in April 14, 1993.
Alexia’s siblings said they know many people pray for her canonization, adding: “We do not doubt the sanctity of our sister, nor that when God wants it, the desired miracles will be produced that will allow for her beatification and subsequent canonization.”
In her prayers, Venerable Alexia often said, “Jesus, I want to get good, I want to be healed myself, but if you do not want that, I want what you want,” according to the official website for the cause of her beatification and canonization.
In an email sent to OSV through the Asociación Causa Beatificación Alexia, Venerable Alexia’s siblings told OSV that the pope’s recognition that their sister had lived a life of heroic virtue confirmed what many devotees throughout the world over the past 30 years have been expressing.
“In a special way, her calm acceptance of pain, her constant concern for others, her solid faith and her conviction that Jesus was with her at all times,” they said.
Alexia was born in Madrid, Spain, as the youngest of seven siblings. She grew up in a devout home with parents who were members of Opus Dei. She made her first Communion on May 8, 1979, in Rome, next to where St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, was residing. That same week, she attended a weekly general audience and ran up to Pope St. John Paul II, who gave her a blessing and a kiss.
Alexia was described as a happy, normal girl with the same tastes and hobbies as her classmates. She studied, made plans with her friends and vacationed with her family.
The year before she died, Alexia and her relatives visited the Holy Land, giving her the opportunity to kiss the birthplace of Christ.
Her life changed on Feb. 4, 1985, when she was found to have a malignant tumor. She went to various doctors, underwent four long operations and received several painful treatments that turned the 10 months of her illness into a tough ordeal, which her siblings said she decided to face with peace and joy.
“To many people, what inspires them in Alexia’s life is her joy, her love for the Eucharist, her strength in the face of pain, the way she treated her friends, her devotion to her guardian angel and her completely normal life,” her siblings said.
Alexia died in Pamplona, Spain, surrounded by her family.
Her reputation for holiness quickly grew among the faithful. The cause for her beatification and canonization was introduced in Madrid in April 14, 1993.
Alexia’s siblings said they know many people pray for her canonization, adding: “We do not doubt the sanctity of our sister, nor that when God wants it, the desired miracles will be produced that will allow for her beatification and subsequent canonization.”
Venerable Alexia Gonzalez-Barros died at 14 years old from a malignant tumor that paralyzed her. But in the last year of her life, the Spanish native offered her intense suffering for the Church, the pope and others.
In her prayers, Venerable Alexia often said, “Jesus, I want to get good, I want to be healed myself, but if you do not want that, I want what you want,” according to the official website for the cause of her beatification and canonization.
In an email sent to OSV through the Asociación Causa Beatificación Alexia, Venerable Alexia’s siblings told OSV that the pope’s recognition that their sister had lived a life of heroic virtue confirmed what many devotees throughout the world over the past 30 years have been expressing.
“In a special way, her calm acceptance of pain, her constant concern for others, her solid faith and her conviction that Jesus was with her at all times,” they said.
Alexia was born in Madrid, Spain, as the youngest of seven siblings. She grew up in a devout home with parents who were members of Opus Dei. She made her first Communion on May 8, 1979, in Rome, next to where St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, was residing. That same week, she attended a weekly general audience and ran up to Pope St. John Paul II, who gave her a blessing and a kiss.
Alexia was described as a happy, normal girl with the same tastes and hobbies as her classmates. She studied, made plans with her friends and vacationed with her family.
The year before she died, Alexia and her relatives visited the Holy Land, giving her the opportunity to kiss the birthplace of Christ.
Her life changed on Feb. 4, 1985, when she was found to have a malignant tumor. She went to various doctors, underwent four long operations and received several painful treatments that turned the 10 months of her illness into a tough ordeal, which her siblings said she decided to face with peace and joy.
“To many people, what inspires them in Alexia’s life is her joy, her love for the Eucharist, her strength in the face of pain, the way she treated her friends, her devotion to her guardian angel and her completely normal life,” her siblings said.
Alexia died in Pamplona, Spain, surrounded by her family.
Her reputation for holiness quickly grew among the faithful. The cause for her beatification and canonization was introduced in Madrid in April 14, 1993.
Alexia’s siblings said they know many people pray for her canonization, adding: “We do not doubt the sanctity of our sister, nor that when God wants it, the desired miracles will be produced that will allow for her beatification and subsequent canonization.”
In her prayers, Venerable Alexia often said, “Jesus, I want to get good, I want to be healed myself, but if you do not want that, I want what you want,” according to the official website for the cause of her beatification and canonization.
In an email sent to OSV through the Asociación Causa Beatificación Alexia, Venerable Alexia’s siblings told OSV that the pope’s recognition that their sister had lived a life of heroic virtue confirmed what many devotees throughout the world over the past 30 years have been expressing.
“In a special way, her calm acceptance of pain, her constant concern for others, her solid faith and her conviction that Jesus was with her at all times,” they said.
Alexia was born in Madrid, Spain, as the youngest of seven siblings. She grew up in a devout home with parents who were members of Opus Dei. She made her first Communion on May 8, 1979, in Rome, next to where St. Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, was residing. That same week, she attended a weekly general audience and ran up to Pope St. John Paul II, who gave her a blessing and a kiss.
Alexia was described as a happy, normal girl with the same tastes and hobbies as her classmates. She studied, made plans with her friends and vacationed with her family.
The year before she died, Alexia and her relatives visited the Holy Land, giving her the opportunity to kiss the birthplace of Christ.
Her life changed on Feb. 4, 1985, when she was found to have a malignant tumor. She went to various doctors, underwent four long operations and received several painful treatments that turned the 10 months of her illness into a tough ordeal, which her siblings said she decided to face with peace and joy.
“To many people, what inspires them in Alexia’s life is her joy, her love for the Eucharist, her strength in the face of pain, the way she treated her friends, her devotion to her guardian angel and her completely normal life,” her siblings said.
Alexia died in Pamplona, Spain, surrounded by her family.
Her reputation for holiness quickly grew among the faithful. The cause for her beatification and canonization was introduced in Madrid in April 14, 1993.
Alexia’s siblings said they know many people pray for her canonization, adding: “We do not doubt the sanctity of our sister, nor that when God wants it, the desired miracles will be produced that will allow for her beatification and subsequent canonization.”
