Esperanza Ayerbe, a nun of the Real Monasterio de la Encarnacion, in Madrid, and Angela Garcia and Carmela Ruiz, nuns of the Convento del Corpus Christi, in Granada, are the three who left in 1931 a tranquil cloistered life to enter into a rhythm of life in which the material, cultural and spiritual needs of the mission do not allow nor of relaxation nor of looking at the other way.
On December 10, 1918 Esperanza Ayerbe made her religious profession at 28 years of age, which meant for her an ardent and unconditional surrender to Christ and his cross, as is well expressed in the chosen name during her profession: Esperanza Ayerbe of the Cross. Fourteen years in the monastery of the Encarnacion nurturing her desire of surrender to Christ were sufficient enough in order that, faced with the calling of Monsignor Francisco Javier Ochoa, her missionary spirit would be stirred up and would offer herself to go to the mission of Kweitehfu in China.
For almost ten years, from 1931-1941, she stayed in China totally dedicated in attending all sorts of needs and giving off goodness. With this baggage of missionary and contemplative experiences established, together with Bishop Ochoa, the Congregation of Augustinian Recollect Missionaries of Mary, opening a novitiate house in Monteagudo.
The foundation of the congregation forced her to travel around to several countries in order to consolidate the emerging religious institution: Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador and Brazil. On June 5, 1964, she got the pontifical approval of the congregation. The final years of her life Esperanza Ayerbe was stricken with a harsh illness which she calmly endured until her death on May 23, 1967 in the mother house which she founded in Monteagudo.
Known as “servant of God”
Before such a remarkable exemplary life of Esperanza Ayerbe, Sister Rosa Lopez, general superior of the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries, requested in 1991 the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints the authorization to open the cause of canonization of Esperanza. Granted the authorization, Fr. Romualdo Rodrigo was given the faculty, postulator of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects, to enter in contact with the archbishop of Pamplona, Monsignor Jose Maria Cirarda.
The final years of the life of Esperanza Ayerbe was stricken with a harsh illness which she calmly endured. Three years later, on December 1994, the diocesan process of the cause of canonization was closed and in April 4, 1997 the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints recognized her “servant of God”.
The present general government, which is directed by Myrian Neira, desirous of promoting her more and that her virtuous life would serve as a stimulus and example for the religious of her own congregation and for all the people of God, decided to proceed for the exhumation of her body.