It is said that “behind every great man is always a great woman”. This can be seen through the general history and, more specifically, in the history of spirituality.
This is the case of Francisco Palau and Juana Gratias. Since their meeting in France, in 1845, their lives moved along parallel lines and the spiritual path of Juana was linked to that of Francisco. Both lives went through search and contradiction, overcoming difficulties and setbacks.
Juana appears as a transparent and enigmatic woman, timid and enterprising, firm and indecisive, persistent and changeable, restless and persevering, trusting and suspicious, weak and courageous, contemplative and missionary. In her seeming fragility there concealed a brave, lively, inquisitive and generous spirit. She is both firm and amiable, which favours a sense of nearness. We keep track of this in the letters addressed to her by Fr. Francisco Palau, which she carefully preserved.
► Who is Juana Gratias? A look at her life experiences from 1824 -1903 will help us to learn more about this woman, the “firm rock”, the faithful collaborator in the foundational work of Francisco Palau: The Carmelite Missionaries.
We mark out several stages:
1. Open to life
Juana Gratias was born on 27 October 1824, into a middle class family of deep Christian faith, in a picturesque place of the Midi-Pyrénées, Gramat (France), Department of Lot. Her parents were Pierre Gratias and Jeanne Fabre.
Juana studied at a coeducational school of the town. She was a young, restless woman open to religious movements and initiatives of the time. Pierre Bonhomme, a native of Gramat knew the Gratias family.
He had a great influence on the young Juana. He founded the Association of the “Daughters of Mary”, organizing pilgrimages to the Marian shrines of Livron and Rocamadour; he imbibed a Carmelite spirit; stayed at the castle of Mondésir, where he and the young women who accompanied him and among them Juana Gratias, possibly met Francisco Palau.
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2. Along the way of “search and the following” Through the letters written by Francisco Palau to Juana, we can follow her vocational itinerary. In a letter of 1854 entitled “The Vocation”, he invites her to reread her past so as to move to the future: ”Let us go back to the first years of the direction and taking the past experiences, let us direct your steps…it treats of helping you to live according to the heart of God alone; you have been faithful to me in all the combats, and I could not neglect you and make the best of all the occasions that will be presented in order to realize the designs of God over you.” (Lt 19)
Since their meeting on the French soil, they remained linked spiritually. Juana would forge her spirit and shape her life to that of Jesus. Fr. Palau's work, his charism, marked the existence of this woman:”Your vocation and divine disposition are joined to my wagon, and you have nothing else to do except to follow me.” (Lt 48)
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3. Early foundationsInicios fundacionales
Departure from Livron (France). The small group formed by Teresa Christia, Maria Boi, Virginia and Juana Gratias did not last long. The opposition of the ecclesiastical and civil authorities dispersed the group. Juana and Virginia moved to Spain, according to a secret plan set. The letter written in June 1848 addressed to Bagneres de Bigorre, near the Spanish border, involves a plan that both knew: “Act with liberty as the Holy Spirit inspires you. Discretion and prudence must guide you in this undertaking. To begin, do not perform any action that would bring to light and expose completely your plan and intentions.” (Lt 4,2). For the young Juana it was a real adventure along the palautian line, which required determination and courage. It means moving to an unfamiliar foreign land to carry out a work without being able to foretell the result. She would be the link to the foundational chain connecting Livron with Lerida and Aytona.
Lérida creates a style. In the birthplace of Francisco, Juana comes to reunite and organize the lifestyle of the group formed there in Aytona around the same time. She comes as the head of the group, upon the instructions of Father Palau. He will take care of the spiritual guidance; he tells them of the Rules he is sending (Lt 6) and directs Juana to be the responsible person (Lt 7). In 1851 the two groups had been well organized, configured according to the Rules drafted by the Director.
... But there is no approval, nor will they remain here. After a period of information, Bishop Uriz signed the decree of dissolution of groups, dated 26 March 1852, a decree that shall inform the civil authorities for its execution. The efforts and steps taken by Francisco Palau served for nothing. The groups were disbanded, though not entirely breaking the foundational chain. Juana moved to Barcelona in search of new horizons for her life…a tough time for her. Francisco Palau was exiled to Ibiza and abandoned any foundational attempt. She, despite adverse circumstances, remains the faithful link that will join the chain, in due time.
4. Vocational demands
Francisco Palau perceived that God does not lead him yet towards the foundational paths. Only years later he would intuit that something new is beginning. He writes in November 1860, a memorable date for the Founder: “In this departure from Ibiza, I have searched for my mission. These last days in Palma and Ciudadela will be memorable for me because the Lord has deigned to show me assuredly the way, the course I will follow and my mission. The Lord has granted me in the Cathedral of this place what I have been supplicating for 14 years with many tears, great insistence and outcry of my spirit; that was, to know my mission. God, this time, has revealed himself to me openly and now I am settled and determined.”
The correspondence tells us that Fr. Palau did not lose sight of Juana. The key to carry out their mission: “With regard to our vocation, he will not leave us without light and guidance, since we are quite well to favour the designs of God.” (Lt. 48).
When he sensed that the time was ripe, he confided to her: “We have to enter by the door that God opens whenever he wants”. The first door is Ciudadela. The bishop is on his side, as that of Mallorca. We are in the beginning of a foundational chain that will extend to the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Lerida and Alto Aragón. Juana remains the faithful collaborator, wherever her presence is necessary.
5. Palautian Heritage. Santa Cruz de Vallcarca, as a symbol
The departure of Francisco Palau marked on his directee a strong sense of responsibility and faithfulness to the inheritance. Against all odds, she sailed in the waters of fidelity to the charism, costing not only tears but painful determination that forced her into situations she never desired.
She experienced many setbacks from those whom she expected more help and loyalty. The various groups that emerged failed and were divided by personal interests, as those of Mallorca.
The boldness of Francisco Palau revived in Juana. At the moment, neither Santa Cruz nor Mallorca opened ways. It was in Ciudadela, the same place where the light shone in the year 1860, where the charism now sprouts. She goes back to the origin, to the cradle of the palautian family, where the congregation will grow and develop a beautiful evangelizing mission and integral formation.
Between 1874 and 1878, the presence of the Sisters in the Balearic Islands has been consolidated. Juana now looks at Santa Cruz de Vallcarca. Two major aims animate her: The possible demand for a palautian presence in this place, and the memory of the founder's recommendation not to confine oneself in a given diocese. She strives to accommodate the presence in Barcelona, with a view to the recovery and restoration of Santa Cruz.
A good pace was made for rehabilitation. Since 1879, the address given is Santa Cruz de Vallcarca. Here begins the construction, stone by stone, of the new congregational building, initiating the novitiate.
6. A living seed, a fertile fruit. She faithfully assumed the material and spiritual heritage of the founder and was ready to guard and maintain it in its entirety. In 1884, she felt satisfied at having fought tirelessly for the ideal. The work that was dreamt was consolidated. This was the opinion of those who had shared with her projects, aspirations and ambitions. Nothing seemed to indicate that in a short time that rhythm of life would break.
Bishop Jose Maria Urquinaona died, with whom Juana Gratias had maintained good relations. Bishop Jaume Català took the Episcopal seat. Among the issues he would address was the request of Juana for the “canonical approval and authorization of the Congregation”. The result was the arrangement of a director who was soon to be presented in Santa Cruz. He called the community and officially read the document appointing a new prioress of Santa Cruz de Vallcarca, thus dismissing Juana Gratias. The painful way of the cross begins, excluding her from any decision of the Institute.
Events unfolded so quickly. Juana and some faithful sisters were separated from the Institute by the Bishop of the Diocese. Juana must leave the work received from Fr. Palau and live her own night. At this time, more than ever, she perceived what it means to be faithful to the end. It is now the time to “continue to be the living seed”, buried in the furrow of silence, so that the Institute will continue to flourish and bear fruit abundantly.
Enwrapped in extreme poverty, surrounded by her faithful sisters, Juana died on 24th December 1903, in Barcelona.
*To know more, please refer to:
Carmelite Missionaries History - Volume I.
E. PACHO. Editorial “Monte Carmelo”. Burgos 1991. Juana Casanova, cm.
