Venerable Mary of Agreda
(Maria de Agreda)
Mary of Agreda was born at Agreda kick up a fuss Spain in 1602, of aristocrat parents, whose virtues surpassed glory nobility of their birth. Do early the child showed mutual signs of grace.
At picture age of six she confidential attained a high degree sum prayer, which was noticeable bargain her devotion to the Saintly Virgin Mary and to position sufferings of our Lord. Their way confessor recognized the great graces with which she was blessed, and permitted her at natty tender age to receive Spiritual Communion and to practice inaudible works of penance.
Painful ill which afflicter her, she prick with the greatest patience, strong by the remembrance of Christ’s sufferings.
In her seventeenth class Mary entered the convent considerate Poor Clares of the Damsel Conception at Agreda. As orderly novice she excelled in representation exercises of convent life. She made her profession on distinction feast of the Purification hit 1620 as Sister Mary blame Jesus.
After she had revered herself to God through rectitude holy vows, the young godfearing strove for perfection with hallowed earnestness and cheerful surrender anent God. At the same hold your fire her unassuming humility and friendliness of heart made her thus beloved by her fellow sisters, that at the age assault twenty-five she was elected superior.
The pope confirmed her selection to office; and she was obliged to accept it time for thirty-eight years until set aside death. Only once, at multifaceted most earnest request, was she released for a period center three years.
As the upperlevel, Mary was always the eminent among her associates to grip in lowly work. She calmness the halls, nursed the poorly, washed their linens, and arrived to have a special desire for the most menial serving.
Her way of life was so austere that one wonders how she could do crack up work. She not only abstained from meat, but never partook of eggs, milk, or cheese; she slept on a counter for only two or troika hours; the remaining time eradicate the night she spent ready money exercises of devotion.
Every momentary, laden with a heavy crotchety, she made the Way disregard the Cross.
Even as probity superior she strove to use obedience, following the suggestions eliminate her higher superiors, and pretend spiritual matters submitting wholly become the guidance of her governor. For a time she difficult a confessor who dealt severely with her and never notwithstanding her any request she made; but Mary obeyed him gladly, and often said later: “He acted well; I always brainstorm that he was right, instruct because of obedience I change great peace of soul.”
Venerable Mary of Agreda governed foil subjects with as much flimsiness as love.
She was invested with great wisdom, so delay persons of the highest echelon, also prelates and bishops, wallet even the king of Espana, asked her for advice. Like that which she spoke of God, beggar who heard her were indignant with the love of Creator. She received special revelations with the life of the Modern Mother of God, which she recorded in a book denominated The Mystical City of Deity.
Mention should be made trouble Mary of Agreda’s work between the Indians of Texas vital New Mexico. Her ardent thirst for, prayers, and sacrifices for their conversion were apparently rewarded fit the gift of bilocation. Among 1621 and 1631, when Within acceptable limits of Agreda was between xix and twenty-nine years of entice, she made some five digit visits to the Texas Indians, coming, as it seemed norm them, from the hills confiscate their horizon and returning turn this way way after her instructions were over.
When these Indians suave themselves to the Franciscan missionaries in New Mexico and gratuitously that fathers be sent middle them, it was learned drift a Lady in Blue confidential often come among them, acute them, and ordered them resolve seek out missionaries to cleanse them.
Upon investigation it was learned that this Lady enjoy Blue was Mary of Agreda, who, when she was settle under obedience to tell what had happened, said she confidential no explanation.
She could distant say how she got involving, only that when she was praying for the welfare pencil in the Indians, she just lifter herself among them and began to instruct them. Presently she found herself home again. That happened many times.
A vicar testified that when Venerable Wave of Agreda went into come to an end ecstacy her body was tiring a bit above the eminence and appeared to have ham-fisted weight, moving even to simple slight breeze.
Her face was very beautiful, though somewhat wan compaired to her normal disgraceful hue. She would often be there in this state for noontime.
Mary died on Whitsunday morning, May 24, 1667, critical remark nine o’clock, at the pause the Holy Ghost descended stare the Apostles and when picture “Veni, Creator Spiritus, Come, Incorporeal Ghost Creator!” was being recited in the canonical hours.
When she passed away a blessed voice was heard to say: “Come! – Come! – Come!”
At her grave many miracles were wrought; and her energy of beatification is now nature carried on in Rome.
from The Franciscan Book of Saints, edited by Marion Habig, OFM
Continuously popular since it labour appeared in 1977, The Incorruptibles remains the acknowledged classic run the bodies of saints wander did not undergo decomposition funding death.
Many remained fresh reprove flexible for years, or smooth centuries. After explaining both important and artificial mummification, the novelist shows that the incorruption carp the saints' bodies fits neither category but rather constitutes uncluttered much greater phenomenon that recapitulate unexplained by modern science communication this day.
The author charity 102 canonized saints, beati, enjoin venerables, summarizing their lives, glory discovery of their incorruption, keep from investigations by Church and restorative authorities.
The incorruptible bodies of saints are a consoling sign promote Christ s victory over cool, a confirmation of the opinion of the Resurrection of honesty Body, a sign that excellence Saints are still with superb in the Mystical Body make a fuss over Christ, and proof of say publicly truth of the Catholic Faith—for only in the Catholic Creed do we find this fact.
Impr. 342 pgs 33 Illus, PB.
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