Teresita Barajuen (16 September 1907 – 12 June 2013) was a Spanish Roman Catholic nun and member of the Order of Cistercians. Barajuen is believed to hold the world record for the longest service in cloister.[1][2][3][4][5]

The Santa María de Buenafuente del Sistal monastery

Biography

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Barajuen entered the Monastery of Santa María de Buenafuente del Sistal on 16 April 1927, when she was nineteen years old.[1] She remained as a cloistered nun at the monastery for 86 years.[1] In an interview with Portal de tu Ciudad Barajuen said that she did not originally intend to become a nun, but entered into religious life at the monastery due to family pressures.[1][4] She and her fellow nuns were forced to flee the monastery during the Spanish Civil War due to fighting in the region.[1] In August 2011, Barajuen left the monastery for the first time in forty years to meet with Pope Benedict XVI, who was visiting Madrid for World Youth Day 2011.[1][2] Barajuen had entered the cloistered monastery on 16 April 1927, the same day that Benedict XVI was born.[1][6]

Barajuean was one of ten Spanish nuns featured in a 2013 book, What is a Girl Like You Doing In A Place Like This?, by Jesús García, a journalist with El Mundo.[1] Barajuen died during the night of 12 June 2013, at the age of 105.[1] Her death was reported by Sister Maria Romero, abbess of the Buenafuente del Sistal monastery.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Teresita Barajuen: A world-record 86 years in a monastery". Christian Science Monitor. Associated Press. 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  2. ^ a b Levy, Gabrielle (2013-06-12). "Cloistered nun dies after serving for 86 years". United Press International. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  3. ^ Mintz, Zoe, World's "Longest-Serving" Cloistered Nun, Sister Teresita Barajuen, Dies at 105-years-old, International Business Times, 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  4. ^ a b Siddique, Ashik, Cloistered Nun Sister Teresita Barajuen Spent 86 'Happy' Years in Convent, Dies At Age 105, Medical Daily, 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2018-01-29
  5. ^ Alvarez, Itsaso (2013-01-15). "Sor Teresita, la monja que más años lleva en un convento de clausura". ABC. Archived from the original on 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  6. ^ "Notable deaths around the nation and world as of June 16, 2013". Oregonlive.com. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2013-07-09.