Candida Maria of Jesus was a Spanish nun born Juana Josefa Cipitria y Barriola who lived from 1845 to 1912. After working as a domestic servant and witnessing the hardships caused by the Industrial Revolution, she felt called to religious life. In 1871, she established the Daughters of Jesus, a religious congregation under Jesuit direction. This order focused on educating children and supporting women, eventually expanding from its origins in Salamanca to many countries around the world.