The audience granted by Pope Francis to Cardinal Marcello Semeraro was a significant event for the Catholic Church. During the audience, the Pope authorised the Congregation to promulgate decrees.

Promulgation of Decree of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints

The Holy See Press Office communicated that on Tuesday afternoon Pope Francis met with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, when he authorized the promulgation of the decree on the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Maria Antonia of Saint Joseph (born Antonia de Paz y Figueroa in 1730 in Silipica, Santiago del Estero, Argentina).
Mama Antula founded the House for Spiritual Exercises in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she died on 7 March 1799.

Mama Antula, whose baptismal name was María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, was a consecrated laywoman from Argentina who lived in the 18th century, born in Santiago del Estero in 1730 to a wealthy family. From a young age, she felt called to religious life, but could not enter a convent due to the restrictions for women at the time.

In 1760, Mama Antula gathered a group of young women who lived together, prayed, practised charity and collaborated with the Jesuit fathers. At that time they were called ‘beatas’ (today called consecrated laywomen).

In 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from Spain and its colonies. Mama Antula strove to keep Ignatian spirituality alive in Argentina. To this end, she went to Cordoba, where she obtained the bishop’s approval to found the Holy House of Spiritual Exercises.

On 27 August 2016, Mama Antula was beatified by Pope Francis. The miracle attributed to her intercession was the healing of a woman suffering from terminal cancer.