The monastery of Bérriz, founded in 1550 as a community of devout Mercedarian nuns, was transformed in 1741 into a Mercedarian monastery under papal enclosure. In 1919, through the efforts of Mother M. Maturana, it embraced the missionary ideal and established the first “Missionary Youth” group in Spain.
In 1926, indeed, the first expedition set out for China; in 1927 the nuns went to Saipan (Mariana Islands), in 1928 to Japan and the Caroline Islands. In 1931, with the unanimous consent of the sisters and the approval of the Holy See, the community became a missionary institute while retaining the name and privileges of the former monastery.
The nuns already professed retained their solemn vows; the new members made simple vows. New constitutions were drawn up, first approved on 14 August 1930 and definitively on 3 January 1939.
The special aim of the institute is the Christian education of young women in schools and missionary work. In 1951 the institute numbered 417 members, of whom 91 were engaged in missions across Japan, China, the Mariana and Caroline Islands, the Truk Archipelago and the United States. It publishes a bulletin, Angeles de las Misiones, first monthly (1926–36) and then bimonthly (from 1937 onward). The motherhouse is at Bérriz.