Dolores Márquez Romero

The work of the Venerable Dolores Márquez Romero is inseparable from the foundation of the Congregation of the Philippian Religious Daughters of Mary of Sorrows (Religiosas Filipenses Hijas de María Dolorosa), which she co-founded in 1860 with Father Francisco García Tejero, with the initial help of Rosario Muñoz Ortiz.

The charism of this institute is centered on the reception, rehabilitation, education, and social reintegration of the most excluded women whose dignity has been wounded, particularly those from prostitution (historically called the arrepentidas). At a time when these women were rejected by society, the congregation offered them a secure home, human and Christian formation, as well as the learning of a trade to enable them to rebuild their lives in an autonomous and dignified manner.

Under the impetus of Dolores, who assumed the role of Superior General, the congregation developed rapidly. In 1865, the Archbishop of Seville approved the first constitutions of the institute. In 1869, the community established itself permanently in the former convent of Santa Isabel in Seville, which became the motherhouse. Between 1874 and 1884, Dolores oversaw the expansion of the work by founding new houses and schools for young girls in several cities in Andalusia, notably in Antequera, Jerez de la Frontera, Cordoba, and Malaga.

In 1886, Dolores went through a period of deep personal trials when she was removed from the general government of the congregation after the election of a new superior. Accepting this removal with heroic humility, she was sent successively to Malaga, to Madrid (where she was tasked with begging to provide for the needs of the work), and then to Cadiz to establish a new foundation there. In 1897, Pope Leo XIII granted definitive pontifical approval to the congregation, thus crowning decades of dedication.

After the death of Dolores Márquez Romero in 1904, her reputation for holiness and heroic charity prompted the Archdiocese of Seville to introduce her cause for beatification and canonization. The diocesan inquiry made it possible to collect testimonies and analyze her writings, highlighting her unwavering faith, her patience in the face of humiliations, and her boundless love for marginalized people.

The process for the recognition of her holiness reached a decisive stage under the pontificate of Benedict XVI. On April 28, 2006, the Sovereign Pontiff authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues. By this official act, Dolores Márquez Romero was declared Venerable. For her beatification to be pronounced, the Church now requires the official recognition of a miracle obtained through her intercession.

The spirituality of the Venerable Dolores Márquez Romero is rooted in the mystery of the Compassion of Mary (Our Lady of Sorrows) at the foot of the Cross and is inspired by the joy, simplicity, and active charity of Saint Philip Neri. Her method of accompaniment, described as a "pedagogy of love," relied on absolute trust in divine mercy and on respect for the freedom and dignity of every person welcomed.

The legacy of the foundress remains alive through the work of the Philippian Religious Sisters, Daughters of Mary of Sorrows. Today, the sisters continue their mission of welcoming and reintegrating women who are victims of exclusion, violence, or social vulnerability, while also managing educational institutions. The congregation is present in Spain, Latin America (notably in Colombia and Ecuador), and Africa, thus perpetuating the spirit of charity initiated by Dolores Márquez in the 19th century.