PÉREZ FLORIDO, ANNA. - In religion, Piera di S. Giuseppe, foundress of the Madrì degli abbandonati, b. at Valle de Abdelajis (diocese of Malaga) on 6 Dec. 1845, d. at Barcellona on 16 Aug. 1906.
She refused marriage in order to devote herself entirely to the care of poor and lonely persons, abandoned by all; and, after unsuccessfully attempting to enter Congregations that also cared for these unfortunate people, she founded, on the advice of the bishop, on 25 Dec. 1880, a new Congregation, to which the bishop himself gave the name of Madrì degli abbandonati. The first vows were taken in 1881; the decree of praise was issued on 25 July 1892. Meanwhile many houses were established in Spain, where countless destitute persons found bread and comfort. Extraordinary was the foundress’s devotion to S. Giuseppe, to whom she dedicated all the new houses, and in whose honor she erected, beside the foundation at Barcellona, a sanctuary that became famous: S. José de la Montaña. The foundress died there not long afterwards.
The cause of beatification was introduced on 3 Dec. 1944.