Madre Laura Montoya Upegui is one of the most important Catholic and religious figures in Colombia. Her life was a blend of unwavering faith, social commitment, and love for Indigenous peoples, to whom she dedicated her entire life. Designed a saint by Francis in 2013, Madre Laura remains a symbol of devotion and hope for many Colombian Catholics.
Biography of Madre Laura
Laura Montoya was born on May 26, 1874, in Jerico, Antioquia, into a humble family. Her childhood was marked by tragedy: at the age of two, she lost her father, who was killed amid the political violence that plagued the region. This loss forced her to live under difficult conditions, spending part of her early years in an orphanage.
Montoya’s adolescence was defined by service and family dedication. She cared for a sick aunt on a rural farm in San Cristóbal while deepening her spiritual life through reading and prayer. When she returned to Medellín, her family was going through economic hardship, and Laura felt the need to find a dignified path to help.
Later, at the age of 16, she enrolled in the Escuela Normal de Institutoras of Medellín, where she trained as a teacher thanks to a scholarship. From that moment, she knew her vocation was to serve through education, combining her faith with teaching in rural areas. She worked as a teacher in various municipalities across Antioquia, often facing intolerance and political sectarianism, especially during the Thousand Days’ War, which deeply affected the country.
In 1907, while working as a teacher in Marinilla, a town in Antioquia, she experienced a mystical encounter during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the local church. In that moment, she had a deep revelation about the Holy Trinity, understanding God as a complete unity reflected also in human beings. This inner experience marked a turning point in her spiritual life and future mission.
After enduring painful episodes—such as the forced closure of the Colegio de la Inmaculada in Medellín due to defamatory publications in a local magazine—Montoya decided to fully devote herself to missionary life.
Missionary and spiritual mother
In 1914, she founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate and Saint Catherine of Siena, with the purpose of evangelizing and supporting the Indigenous communities of Colombia. Together with a small group of women, she ventured into the jungles of Chocó, Urabá, Cauca, and other forgotten regions, where she preached by example: serving, listening, and sharing the lives of the native peoples.
Unlike many religious figures of her time, Laura did not seek to impose beliefs but chose to walk respectfully and lovingly alongside Indigenous communities, promoting their dignity, culture, and rights. She was a tireless advocate for their value as human beings and as children of God.
Beatification, canonization, and everlasting legacy
Laura Montoya died on October 21, 1949, in Medellín, after dedicating her life to the service of others. Her legacy did not fade with her death. She was beatified in 2004 by John Paul II and canonized in 2013 by Francis, thanks to miracles attributed to her intercession, particularly in cases of unexplained healings.
Today, her life is a symbol of active faith, of the fight against discrimination, of unconditional love for the poor, and of the defense of Indigenous peoples. The congregation she founded continues its mission in countries across Latin America and Africa, inspired by the same spirit that moved Laura: “To educate, love, and serve as Christ would.”