up abandoned children.
She firmly refused to restrict her activities exclusively
to Catholics, telling the benefactors that if they wanted
to place such a condition on donations: "My work is the
salvation of souls, not the satisfaction of Catholics"
During the period that she was producing
cannabis on her farm, it was the most widely used
medicine in the entire world.
She prescribed it to her nuns. During her life there were no
laws or social stigmas around cannabis and very few reports
of problematic use.
On the contrary, it was the most important harvest in
the world, cultivated in five continents for its industrial
properties, as well as for its value as food and medicine.
Mother Mary was a remarkable woman because of the
breadth of her knowledge and the extent of her social
concern.
She was one of the most important figures in the history of
New Zealand, influenced the evolution of social assistance,
health, treatment of women and children, education, Maori
scholarships, and was instrumental in promoting tolerance
and cooperation.
In 2004, the Vatican began the beatification of Mother
María José Aubert, she would be the first saint of New
Zealand.
When she died at the age of 91 in 1926, she
received the largest funeral in honor of any
woman in the history of New Zealand. q
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