Carmen Villa, author of book about the Paisa saint
The Woman Who Embraced the Jungle is a fictionalized biography of the only Colombian elevated to sainthood.
Taken from: www.elcolombiano.com
Journalist and writer Carmen Villa recalls that the idea of writing a fictionalized biography about Saint Laura Montoya occurred to her before the COVID-19 pandemic, during a visit to the sanctuary of the only Colombian saint, located in Belencito, San Javier. Titled The Woman Who Embraced the Jungle, the book was published by Paulinas publishing house and aims, in the words of its author, to bring the life and work of Mother Laura closer to both Catholic and non-believing readers. "For me, she has the stature of Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Ávila, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta," Villa told El Colombiano.
A journalist from the Pontifical Bolivarian University and with a master's degree in Narrative Writing from the Alberto Hurtado University in Santiago, Chile, Villa has resided in Chile since 2019, where she works at the Catholic University and directs the magazine Diálogos. Her professional experience includes working at the Zenit news agency in Rome, in the communications office of the Archdiocese of Denver, USA, and for the newspapers El Mundo and El Colombiano. She has published the books Al servicio de Dios (2012) and Opinar desde la fe (2014).
The idea of writing the fictionalized biography remained on her to-do list for several years. The author recounts that during the health lockdown due to the Wuhan virus, she found the time to seriously work on that project. In the midst of that process, she enrolled in a master's degree in Narrative Writing, which provided her with literary construction tools as she progressed in her research.
The project began as her thesis for that postgraduate degree. Initially, she wrote six chapters, covering Mother Laura's life from her birth until the founding of her religious community: the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate and Saint Catherine of Siena. Later, she completed the remaining eight chapters to have a book of 14 chapters.
For her research, Villa consulted multiple sources. Her main documentary basis was Mother Laura's own memoirs, in addition to other texts written by her, particularly Lampos de luz, Aventura Misional en la Selva, and Cartas Misionales. She also consulted archives of the Mother Laura Sanctuary, personal letters, historical documents, and specialized bibliography on the history of Antioquia and Colombia.
According to the author, one of the greatest revelations of the process was discovering Mother Laura's literary quality. "She had an impressive pen," Villa states. She highlights not only her spiritual depth but also her narrative ability. In her writings, Laura Montoya constructed scenes, developed dialogues, and reflected with an honest and critical voice.
Villa emphasizes Laura Montoya's intellectual profile. From a young age, she showed a deep interest in reading and education. She was fortunate to overcome the barriers imposed on women of her time. She had to fight to be allowed to read some of the books from the major seminary in Medellín.
Among the readings that influenced her thinking are The Imitation of Christ and the autobiography of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Furthermore, Villa stresses that Laura Montoya was linked to intellectual and literary circles, even sharing stages with Tomás Carrasquilla.
Beyond the supernatural elements that appear in her autobiography, such as mystical visions or extraordinary spiritual experiences, Villa believes that Laura Montoya's true holiness lay in her human strength.
The author highlights her ability to face adversity, her forgiveness, and her commitment to marginalized communities, especially indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples.
What is the book The Woman Who Embraced the Jungle about Mother Laura?
The Woman Who Embraced the Jungle is a fictionalized biography written by Carmen Villa that narrates the life, work, and spiritual legacy of Saint Laura Montoya, the only Colombian canonized by the Catholic Church.
Who is Carmen Villa, author of the book about Mother Laura?
Carmen Villa is a journalist from the Pontifical Bolivarian University, holds a master's degree in Narrative Writing from the Alberto Hurtado University, and is the author of several books on religious and spiritual themes.
Why does Carmen Villa compare Mother Laura to Mother Teresa of Calcutta?
The author considers that Laura Montoya's spiritual and human dimension is on par with figures like Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint John of the Cross, and Saint Teresa of Ávila due to her dedication to the most vulnerable communities.
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