Anna Maria Lozano Diaz, was born on 24 September 1883 at Oicatá, in Colombia, and in 1897 with her family moved to the leper colony in Agua de Dios after her father had contracted the disease. Here the young woman was attracted by the charism of Fr Luigi Variara, and decided to enter the Institute of the Sisters he was founding. Mother Anna was Superior General for a very long time, on several different occasions (1907-1919; 1922-1925; 1928-1968), and firmly consolidated the sacrificial charism within Salesian spirituality. She died with a reputation for holiness in Agua de Dios on 5 March 1982.
The Institute of the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts, a Religious Institute for Women of Pontifical Right founded in 1905 by the Salesian Blessed Luigi Variara for the spiritual assistance and care of lepers, is the only one which admits to consecrated life sisters suffering from Hansen’s disease.
The “nulla osta” was signed on 15 December by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato SDB. Sr Anna Maria Lozano is the one hundred and sixty third member of the Salesian Family whose cause has been introduced, and the twenty ninth Servant of God.
Published 01/02/2011
