Mother Elisa Martinez

Foundress of the Daughters of St.Mary of Leuca

The Venerable Servant of God Mother Elisa Martinez was born in Galatina (LE) on March 1905. Always moved by the ideal of consecration, on 20 March 1938-the day after the Solemnity of St.Joseph, Under whose protection she wanted to place her person and her companions – began in Miggiano (LE) the Pious union of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Inspired by the evangelical maxim of Jesus the Good Shepherd: “Whatever you will have done to the least of these brothers of mine, you will have done it to me”(Mt 25,40), living his religious consecration with a Marian motivation.

On 15 August 1941 the bishop of Ugento Msgr, Giuseppe Ruotolo, erected the Pious Union as an Institute of Diocesan Law, Suggesting the change of its name to Sisters Daughters of Santa Maria di Leuca”, in honor of the largest Marian shrine in the Diocese and in Salento, In 1943 the Institute obtained the Decree of establishment of Pontifical Right as it was expanding into several parts of Italy and later in different parts of the world, starting with Europe, up to America and the Asian continent.

After a long life spent for the greater glory of God, for the honor of the virgin Mary and for the good of brothers and sisters, the neediest, purified as gold in the Crucible from great physical and moral sufferings, Mother Elisa, rich in merits on physical and moral sufferings, Mother Elisa, rich in merits, on Feb 8, 1991 she went to meet the Divine Spouse.

Her reputation for holiness is growing more and more and her tomb in Rome, at the Generalate of the institute, in the destination of continuous pilgrimages by those who invoke her intercession with God.On 25.06.2023 Pope Francis declared her Blessed.

Foundress