Santa Dulce dos Pobres
Dulce Lopes Pontes, known as Santa Dulce dos Pobres, was born on May 26, 1914, in São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Named Maria Rita, she was the second of five children of Augusto and Dulce Maria de Souza Brito Lopes Pontes. His life was marked by an unwavering dedication to charity and caring for those most in need. Orphaned by her mother at the age of six, she grew up under the influence and moral education of her father, who inspired her to follow a path of generosity and love for others.
From a young age, Santa Dulce already demonstrated her most distinctive quality: charity. At the age of 16, she began her work of welcoming the poor and needy in the basement of her home. With the help of her family and neighbors, she obtained food, clothing, medicine and financial assistance to alleviate the suffering of those most in need.
The Religious Vocation
While studying for her master's degree in São Salvador da Bahia, Dulce joined the Franciscan Third Order. Later, he met the Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception, and on February 8, 1933, after graduating, he joined this Congregation, which is part of the great Franciscan family. On August 15, 1934, she took her religious vows and adopted the name Dulce, in memory of her mother.
Santa Dulce Social Work
Throughout her life, Santa Dulce committed herself to founding several institutions to help those most in need. In 1935, he founded the first Christian labor movement in São Salvador, the São Francisco Workers' Union. In 1937, he founded the Clube dos Trabalhadores da Bahia, providing leisure and cultural activities to workers. In 1939, he opened Colégio Santo Antônio, a public school for workers and workers' children in the Massaranduba neighborhood, in São Salvador.
Another important milestone was the reception of the sick in abandoned buildings in the city in 1939. And in 1949, with the permission of the Superior, she managed to welcome seventy sick people in a shelter obtained in the chicken coop adjacent to her congregation's house.
Meeting Great Personalities
Santa Dulce had the privilege of meeting great personalities of the Church. In July 1979, Cardinal Archbishop Avelar Brandão Vilela invited Saint Teresa of Calcutá to Salvador to open a house in Alagados. On that occasion, Sister Dulce took the opportunity to meet her. Exactly one year later, she had another important meeting, this time with Saint John Paul II.
On February 8, 1983, the new Santo Antônio Hospital was inaugurated, considered by Bahians to be another “miracle of Sister Dulce”.
The Last Years
The last months of Santa Dulce's life were characterized by illness. It got worse in November 1990, and in October 1991, Saint John Paul II went to Salvador and wanted to visit her in her Works. The Holy Father said several times: “This is the suffering of the innocent, like that of Jesus.” She faced all her suffering abandoned in the arms of the Lord.
Santa Dulce died on March 13, 1992, in São Salvador da Bahia. His life was a confession of the primacy of God and the greatness of the man, son of God, even where the divine image seems obscured, degraded and humiliated. Throughout Brazil, she was and still is known as the “Mother of the Poor” and the “Good Angel of Bahia”.
On October 13, 2019, Pope Francis performed the act of canonization of Saint Dulce, officially recognizing her holiness and her example of generosity and love for others. His life continues to inspire millions of people around the world to dedicate their lives to charity and serving those most in need.