Gaudencia Benavides Herrero
Daughter of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, martyr of the persecution in Spain
Who they were
Gaudencia Benavides Herrero was born in the village of Valdemorilla near Leon on 12 February 1878 and made her religious vows as a Daughter of Charity of St Vincent de Paul in 1904; after missionary work in Puerto Rico she returned to Spain and taught at a Madrid home for orphaned children. She was seized and held in prison for nearly five months, left without food or care, and died on 11 February 1937 after harsh ill-treatment; she was beatified on 13 October 2013 by Pope Francis.
The miracles
As a martyr she was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
She was held for nearly five months without food or care, and died of the treatment she received.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
Connected on this site
- Vincent de Paul Saint“Gaudencia Benavides Herrero was born in the village of Valdemorilla near Leon on 12 February 1878 and made her religious vows as a Daughter of Charity of St Vincent de Paul in 1904; after missionary work in Puerto Rico she returned to Spain and taught at a Madrid home for orphaned children.” — this site's research
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis 105 (2013), p. 1009 - decree on martyrdom
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - beatifications of 13 October 2013
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.