Bl. Maria Mercedes Prat, Virgin and Martyr

Mercedes Prat was born on March 6th, 1880, in Barcelona. From her childhood she gave herself completely to God, whom she received every day in Communion. She displayed a great love for her neighbor and tried to foster this kind of love in others. During her years in school, she was known for her goodness and her dedication to school work. Entering the novitiate of the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus in 1904, in Tortosa, she made her temporary profession in 1907. She was a religious “according to the heart of God:” prudent and truthful, calm and gentle in her reactions, having a natural goodness in all her dealing with others, but firm in character. God was her one love, and her love for God kept growing to the point where she would give her life for Him.

In 1920 she was assigned to the mother house in Barcelona. From there the path to martyrdom began on July 19th, 1936, when the community was forced to give up the school and flee. On July 23rd, because she was a religious, Sr. Mercedes was arrested and shot and died the morning of July 24th, 1936.