María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo
A Spanish laywoman, wife, and mother of eleven children, Amparo Portilla was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2021 for her heroic family dedication.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
Birth in Valencia, youth marked by the Civil War, and marriage to Federico Romero Pérez.
María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo was born on May 26, 1925, in Valencia, Spain. The daughter of Alberto Portilla Hueso and Amparo Crespo Baixauli, she grew up in a Christian family. Her youth was marked by the death of her father in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. A qualified teacher and childcare worker in 1946, she became involved as a catechist. She married Federico Romero Pérez on November 29, 1950, and settled in Madrid.
Life and work
Mother of eleven children and active involvement in the Christian Family Movement.
Mother of eleven children, she dedicated herself fully to their upbringing. From 1953, she became involved with her husband in the Obra Apostólica Familiar, which later became the Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, where they assumed national responsibilities. She participated in the II Congress of the Spanish Family in 1961, gave testimony on national television (TVE) in 1963, and carried out charitable work for the poor and the sick.
Path to holiness
Heroic acceptance of illness and peaceful death in Madrid in 1996.
Afflicted with lung cancer diagnosed in 1994, she welcomed the illness with serenity, offering it for the Church and for priests. She endured heavy treatments without complaint and passed away peacefully in Madrid on May 10, 1996, at the age of 70. Her remains rest in the crypt of the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid.
Beatification and canonization
Recognition of heroic virtues by Pope Francis in 2021.
The diocesan process was opened in Madrid on December 17, 2001, by Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela. On April 24, 2021, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing her heroic virtues, conferring upon her the title of Venerable.
Spirituality and legacy
A model of ordinary holiness anchored in the Eucharist, Marian devotion, and charity.
Her spirituality was based on the daily Eucharist, a filial devotion to the Virgen de los Desamparados (family rosary, consecration of her children), and benevolent charity. Her spiritual leitmotif was: "We have an appointment in heaven" (Tenemos una cita en el cielo).
Frequently asked questions about María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo
Who was María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo?
A Spanish laywoman, wife, and mother of eleven children, Amparo Portilla was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2021 for her heroic family dedication.
Which saints were contemporaries of María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo?
Contemporaries include: Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Felipe de Jesús Munárriz and 50 companions, Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos and Teresa of Jesus of the Andes.
When did María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo die?
María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo died around 1925.
What are the other names of María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo?
Other forms of the name: Amparo Portilla.
Who are the relatives of María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo?
Relatives of María de los Desamparados Portilla Crespo: Alberto Portilla Hueso (father), Amparo Crespo Baixauli (mother) and Federico Romero Pérez (spouse).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1925-1996
- Decree of venerability by Francis
Quotes
-
We have an appointment in heaven
https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHYswwEeNz-Q4tYmMgSAyEjmy_iaLlv4uslViXVouZ2DUCT2lqg6tgiCpPb1hcG0h0F3FWSS5jIgn3S1HQlpVx_DCzCUsW83dyeZ3LiRkGUKko5-nSqkzmO66XWn5z1Uu27pSWEvGMuX_dTqxg07wegJtx4fPRHLjM0A5k97RGiEtXUsZ9RqUlKLOZpRA==