María Magdalena Santa Cruz: Between “Gods” 

María Magdalena Santa Cruz carries religion in her first and last names, a constant “god-sidence,” as she calls it. Chilean, married to Patricio for 28 years, with four children, faith and dealing with the saints have deeply marked her life. Her story, always lived in an atmosphere of joy, is also marked by a path that was not always easy.

His name, which he likes so much, is no coincidence: “says a lot about me”, he assures us. Although his parents gave him his name, over time, his name and his vocation “were sealed”, linking it in some way to Mary Magdalene, the saint who loved Jesus deeply and was present both at Calvary and at the Resurrection.

Fighting against difficulties

Alongside her husband, Magdalena has been a supernumerary member of Opus Dei since before they married. The education that both of them have received has left its mark. “the way we face difficulties and problems”. They define themselves as a couple. “very simple and from this planet”. As in many successful couples, the dynamic between the two is a balancing act: Patricio is a man of “infinite patience”, while she confesses “passionate, restless, and changeable”.

Magdalena has no qualms about acknowledging her limitations with refreshing candor. She suffers from hemiparesis on her right side, a condition that caused her to walk and talk late and has made her “everything is a little more difficult”. Added to this is a noticeable tendency toward absent-mindedness and clumsiness. She describes herself as “very limited” and to have a “deficit”. She takes everything in good humor. She is famous in her family for her car accidents, such as “scratch the car or crash while parking”.

However, in her life, the support of others is key to moving forward. Her husband always supports her in her endeavors. “ideas” and remains calm when she makes mistakes. Likewise, she has the unconditional support of her friends, a large group that, at her express request, I will name in full: Orietta, Jesica, Carola, Fran U, Fran B, Fran V (from heaven), Cote, Magu, Anita, Peca, Angélica J, Luz, Carola M, Angelita, and Colomba. They have guided her. “and they never let me go”, and, out of necessity, “You have to be patient with me.”. Despite these limitations, their enthusiasm and passion are inexhaustible.

Devotion to Saint Monica

On a personal level, her love for her family has led her to have a deep devotion to Saint Monica, the patron saint of mothers who pray for their children. Because one of her children has not received the sacrament of Confirmation, Magdalena has taken matters into her own hands: to ask God for him, she has organized a group of university students who prepare young people from schools where religion is not an important subject for Confirmation. The classes are held in a parish near her home.

Her faith is woven into these everyday realities. She remembers her grandmother Marta, who taught her to pray the Rosary every day. 

The work of uniting 

Although his academic beginnings were difficult, over time he managed to become “among the top 10 averages (albeit in the final year of high school)”. Her first degree, Geography, was a test of character, as it required her to climb “steep hills”, an effort that he often had to overcome thanks to the fact that “My colleagues promoted me.”.

After many jobs, he ended up focusing his attention on those most in need, specifically in deprived neighborhoods, and devoted himself to working on the outskirts and “bringing worlds together: unite, unite, unite”. It is a calling that sometimes keeps her away from those of “upper neighborhood”, where his work “has always been short-lived”.

He has now returned to his natural home: Bajos de Mena, in the municipality of Puente Alto. It is a difficult environment. There, he faces a harsh reality where young people have only two options: “study or drugs. That's how drastic it is.”. In this environment, she is “Dreaming and helping with various training projects for my kids, their moms, their families, and my teachers, who are the best.”.