Mary of Jesus of Ágreda

Who they were

María Coronel entered the Franciscan convent at Ágreda with her mother in 1619, while her father and brothers became friars. At twenty-five, against her will, she was made abbess, and remained superior almost all her life, making her house one of the most fervent in Spain.

She died on 24 May 1665 with the reputation of a saint. Her book The Mystical City of God was much disputed.

The miracles

Her cause was introduced by the Congregation of Rites on 21 June 1672; the Catholic Encyclopedia records that it was held up by the dispute over her book.

Why that counted as sanctity

An abbess who made her convent a house of fervent prayer.

Connected on this site

• María de Jesús Blessed
  “Mary of Jesus of Ágreda, OIC, (Spanish: María de Jesús de Ágreda; born María Coronel y de Arana; 2 April 1602 – 24 May 1665), was an abbess and spiritual writer.” — Wikipedia