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Agreda in America Sor Maria of Agreda (also known as the Lady in Blue, Mary of Agreda, and Maria de Agreda) is most well known, of course, in Spain. Yet this remarkable "Venerable" of the Catholic Church has a fascinating heritage in America, from colonial times to the present. Her work is studied in college and university level courses on Spanish language, literature, history and culture, and there is a rapidly increasing popular recognition of her significance in our history. The list that follows is by no means complete. Stay tuned for updates! English and Spanish versions of prayer cards were releasaed in 2007 promoting Sor Maria's sainthood and bearing the Imprimatur of Bishop Carl F. Mengeling, Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. The image is from a mural of the Lady in Blue preaching to the Jumanos, on display in St. Ann's Church in Beaumont, Texas. The outer border artfully adds designs from an altarcloth personally embroidered by Sor Maria to commemorate her impressions of the American Southwest. Designed by Abby Wieber of Faith Publishing Services. Thank you for visiting and may heavenly Light fill your life as it did Sor Maria's. To add your name to our mailing list, for availability of my upcoming book / biography on Sor Maria, please email Marilyn Fedewa at: M dot Agreda @ Comcast dot Net. As you no doubt noticed, this is not a hot link, so please be sure to type it in with no spaces, and actual dots. If you put "Agreda Update Request" in the subject line, I'll be sure to add you to the mailing list.
With every wish for your spiritual happiness and well-being, Photo Credit:
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San Angelo, Texas recently celebrated their unique connection with the Lady in Blue and Jumano Native Americans in a two-day series of historic events. Fifty Jumano-Apaches of Texas joined standing room only crowds honoring their role in founding the first Texas mission as inspired by Sor Maria. At the invitation of Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, Marilyn Fedewa gave a keynote address on her book, Maria of Agreda: Mystical Lady in Blue, and Nashville recording artist Cynthia Jordan performed original compositions from her lyrical new CD,"Lady in Blue."
In May 2009, Marilyn presented a paper about Sor Maria at the annual meeting of the Mariological Society of America, held in St. Augustine, Florida. The Society is, of course,"all about Mary," mother of Jesus, about whom Sor Maria wrote so devotedly. For a quick look at the theologians and other experts presenting on the many aspects of Mary's life, see the 2009 program here.
In October 2006, Grolier Scholastic released its new encyclopedia series on 1,000 Influential Hispanic Americans past and present, featuring Sor Maria alongside Father of Texas missions, Padre Antonio Margil, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
This custom designed rosary (2005) honors the inspiring legacy of the Lady in Blue, and her visionary writings about the Blessed Mother in Mystical City of God. As such, it simultaneously encourages devotion to Mary as well as prayers petitioning the sainthood of the Venerable mystic of Agreda. Designed by a premiere American guild, the Rosary Workshop, the rosary features hand polished beads of turquoise from Arizona, with a crucifix reminiscent of Sor Maria's era.
This is the English translation in the U.S. of Venerable Mother Agreda and the Mariology of Vatican II by Fr. Enrique Llamas, OCD, President of the Spanish Mariological Society (2006). In it, Llamas compares point-by-point the compatible Mariologies of Sor Maria and that of the 2nd Vatican Council. Available through the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.
Originally published in 1962, and out of print, this collector's item was restored by the Solanus Casey Chapter of the Knights of Columbus in South Bend, Indiana, and reissued in 2002. About 100 pages total, the biographical material is about 80 pages and bears testimony to author James Carrico's tremendous gratitude to Sor Maria for her heroic dedication to Mary.
The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) was founded by Fr. James Flanagan in 1968, and is headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas, with missions worldwide. Their spiritual exercises are based on writings of Sor Maria of Agreda from her own spiritual exercises and readings in Mystical City of God. Recently SOLT sent a delegation to Agreda (see the lower half of their page).
If you'd like to start a discussion group about Mystical City of God or to endorse Sor Maria's cause for sainthood, perhaps I can help. Please feel welcome to email me now with a brief statement about what her life or works mean to you. As the American Correspondent for the Task Force on Agreda (headquartered in Spain) I believe in Sor Maria's message, in that she was a devoted disciple of Mary the Mother of Jesus, and I think Sor Maria led an extraordinary and inspiring life. Although some may question the validity or value of an official designation as a 'saint', it is a great way to increase awareness of that person's life and message. And in Sor Maria's case, I'm all for it!
Marilyn H. Fedewa
Top photo taken in St. Mary's Cathedral and copyrighted by Stan Fedewa, of Msgr. Michael D. Murphy, Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Lansing (Michigan), with author Marilyn Fedewa.