María Josefa Recio
and
María Angustias Giménez

Both young women were natives of Granada; they heard God's call to dedicate their lives to the cause of the poor and the sick. After several ups and downs they succeeded in placing themselves under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Menni, who gave them the following invitation from Ciempozuelos in the summer of 1880: "You may come, if you wish..." And the two went there. Because of family opposition, they scaped from their own homes and travelled all night from Granada. They settled in Ciempozuelos and soon they were given the motto, which summed up all their ascetic demands: pray, work, endure, suffer, love God and be silent.

On 31st May 1881 they began the Congregation, and on 30th October 1883 María Josefa Recio died, a victim of hospitaller charity. Her companion lived on for 14 years, dying in 1897.