JOSÉ VILALLONGO and Bl. RAFAELA YBARRA

The couple had seven children together, although two of them (the third and fourth) died in infancy. José was generous and was in full agreement with his young wife’s charitable activities rooted in her growing relationship with God. When Rafaela’s sister Rosario died in 1875, leaving her five young children (3 daughters and 2 sons, all less than 10 years old) orphaned of mother, Rafaela took in her five nieces and nephews so that the family would not be broken up, and to make sure they had a loving, Christian upbringing. She used to refer to her own brood as “my children”, and the adopted ones, as “children of my heart”.