Blessed María de Jesús de Ágreda

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Blessed María de Jesús de Ágreda
Feast Day	May 24
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Ágreda; mystics; New Mexico missions (informal)
Birthplace	Ágreda, Soria, Spain
Death Place	Ágreda, Soria, Spain
Cause of Death	natural causes
Primary Shrine	Convent of the Immaculate Conception, Ágreda, Soria, Spain

Blessed María de Jesús de Ágreda (religious name María de Jesús; 2 April 1602 – 24 May 1665), popularly known as the Blue Lady or Lady in Blue, was a 17th-century Spanish Conceptionist Franciscan nun, mystic, and spiritual writer renowned for her bilocations to the Americas and her controversial work Mystical City of God. Born María Coronel y Arana in Ágreda, Castile, to a noble family, she professed solemn vows at age 16 in the Convent of the Immaculate Conception (founded by her mother), becoming abbess at 25 and guiding the community for 47 years while experiencing ecstasies and mystical phenomena, as documented in convent annals and Inquisition processes. Between 1620 and 1631, she reportedly bilocated over 500 times to the Jumano and other tribes in New Mexico and Texas, instructing them in Christianity and preparing the ground for Franciscan missions, a claim investigated by the Spanish Inquisition and supported by contemporaneous missionary testimonies from New Mexico. Her eight-volume Mystical City of God (1655–1660), a life of the Virgin Mary dictated by heavenly command, was condemned then rehabilitated by the Holy See, remaining influential despite theological controversy.

Beatified on 28 June 1777 by Pope Pius VI after heroic virtue was declared in 1673 and her writings cleared of error, María de Ágreda’s cause—opened in 1672—has never advanced to canonization despite multiple attempts, with her body remaining incorrupt in the Ágreda convent. Her feast day is 24 May in the Franciscan calendar. While the bilocations—described as “flights of the spirit” in her own words—remain unverified by primary historical documents beyond missionary corroboration, her verified contributions include extensive correspondence with King Philip IV (over 600 letters) advising on governance and reform. Revered as patroness of Ágreda and informally of New Mexico missions, she is a model of contemplative influence in the Counter-Reformation Church.

Biography

Birth

María Coronel y Arana was born on 2 April 1602 in Ágreda, province of Soria, Castile and León, Spain, to Francisco Coronel and Catalina de Arana, noble parents who later founded the Conceptionist convent in their family home. Baptized the same day in the parish church of San Miguel, her birth coincided with Spain’s Golden Age mysticism. No contemporary records attribute prodigies, though family piety is confirmed.

Early Life

From childhood, María displayed intense devotion, receiving visions from age four and desiring religious life by six, as recounted in her approved spiritual autobiography submitted to the Inquisition. In 1618, at age 16, her parents converted their home into the Convent of the Immaculate Conception, with María, her mother, and sister professing as the first Conceptionist Franciscans.

Adolescence involved austere penances and study of Scripture; while visions are devotional, her education under Jesuit direction is verified.

Occupation

As a Conceptionist nun from 1618, María’s occupation was contemplative prayer, community governance as abbess from 1627, and mystical writing under obedience. She dictated Mystical City of God (1655–1660) and corresponded with Philip IV on state matters.

Vocation

María’s vocation as a mystic unfolded through 1620–1631 bilocations to the Americas, instructing Jumano tribes, per her dictated accounts and New Mexico missionary reports. As abbess, she reformed the Conceptionist order and advised the king, blending contemplation with influence.

Death

Weakened by decades of illness and ecstasies, María died peacefully on 24 May 1665 in Ágreda, aged 63, as recorded in convent necrology. Her body, exhumed multiple times, remains incorrupt in the convent church, a phenomenon noted in official reports but not declared miraculous.

Blessed María de Jesús de Ágreda met her end peacefully in old age.

Significant events

• Family founded Conceptionist convent in Ágreda, 1618.
• First bilocations to New Mexico reported, 1620.
• Elected abbess of the convent, 1627.
• Began writing Mystical City of God under obedience, 1637.
• Died in Ágreda on 24 May 1665; body found incorrupt.

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Ágreda, Soria, Spain
• Death location: Ágreda, Soria, Spain
• Notable location: Convent of profession and mystical life (Convent of the Immaculate Conception, Calle de la Concepción 1, 42100 Ágreda, Soria, Spain)
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Parishes

Blessed María de Jesús de Ágreda
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Shrines

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List of shrines

Convent of the Immaculate Conception

• The 17th-century Conceptionist convent in Ágreda, founded by her family and where she lived, houses her incorrupt body in a side chapel, designated a diocesan shrine for mystical devotion; qualifies under Canon 1230 through perpetual exposition and May 24 pilgrimages.
• Pilgrimage details: Calle de la Concepción 1, 42100 Ágreda, Spain; founded 1618; plenary indulgences; Diocese of Osma-Soria.
• Facts: "Contains María's tomb and original manuscripts."

Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de los Milagros

• Ágreda parish church linked to her early life, elevated for local devotion with her relics; meets Canon 1230 via processions invoking the Blue Lady.
• Pilgrimage details: Ágreda, Soria, Spain; medieval origins; annual May feasts; Diocese of Osma-Soria.
• Facts: "Site of her childhood piety."

Canonization

Servant of God

Process opened in 1672 in Osma; heroic virtue declared 28 January 1673 by Clement X.

Venerable

Declared Venerable with heroic virtue decree in 1673; writings approved 1686 and 1715 after earlier condemnations.

Beatification

Beatified 28 June 1777 by Pope Pius VI after confirmation of heroic virtue and incorruption.

Canonization

Not canonized; multiple attempts (18th–20th centuries) stalled due to lingering controversy over Mystical City of God.

Miracles

No authenticated miracles required for 18th-century beatification; incorruption noted but not declared miraculous.

Miracle for beatification

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Miracle for canonization

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Other notable miracles

• Over 500 reported bilocations to New Mexico (1620–1631), per her dictation and Jumano testimony.
• Incorrupt body since 1665, examined multiple times.

Patronage

Blessed María de Jesús de Ágreda is patroness of Ágreda and informally of New Mexico missions.

Feast day

May 24

Veneration

Blessed María de Jesús de Ágreda is venerated through May 24 liturgies in Ágreda, with readings from Mystical City of God. Relics, including incorrupt body, in convent chapel.

Depicted in blue habit with book. Literature centers on her writings; media includes Spanish documentaries. Shrine promotes Marian mysticism.

Books

Written about the saint

• The Mystical City of God by María de Ágreda (primary work)

Written by the saint

• Mystical City of God by Blessed María de Jesús de Ágreda

External links

• Wikipedia: María de Ágreda
• Catholic Online: Bl. Maria of Agreda
• New Advent: Ven. María de Jesús de Ágreda
• Mystics of the Church: Blessed Mary of Jesus of Ágreda