Maria Sagrario di San Luigi Gonzaga

Elvira was born in Lillo, Spain, on January 8, 1881, to Ricardo Moragas and Isabel Cantarero, the third of four children. Following in her father’s footsteps she became the first woman in her country to obtain a degree in pharmacy.

On 15^th of June 1915, she entered the  Discalced Carmelite nuns in the monastery of Saints Anne and Joseph in Madrid. On 24^th of December 1916 she made her simple vows and on 6^th of January 1920 her solemn vows. 

She was fervently devoted to the mystery of the Most Blessed Sacrament, so much so that she received the religious name of «Sagrario», which in Spanish means «Tabernacle», becoming Sr Mary Sagrario of St Aloysius Gonzaga.

From 1927 to 1933, she was prioress of the monastery, later she was entrusted with the humble task of porter or Turn Sister. On 1^st of July 1936, she was re-elected prioress of the community, and had to face the precipitating political events that led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and anti-Catholic persecution.

Despite the intimidation pressuring the community to leave the monastery, she remained there with some sisters. On July 20, the monastery was stormed by militiamen, and she was taken to a «checa», an installation used by the Republican faction to detain, torture, judge and execute those who were suspected sympathizers of the opposing side. Finally, taken to the town of «Pradera de San Isidro» near Madrid, she was shot in the early hours of August 15, 1936.

The decree on martyrdom was promulgated on March 8, 1997. The beatification ceremony took place on May 10, 1998.