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Embajadora de Dios por el mundo West Texas Angelus, February 2007
The Mystical "Lady in Blue" of the American Southwest Tradicion Revista, December 2005
Agreda Nuns Consider John Paul II a Saint CatholicNews Digest, April 12, 2005
Cloistered Nun Wields a Quiet Power © Coloquio Revista Cultural, December 2004
Sor María de Jesús y la Concepción Inmaculada en América © Heraldo de Soria, December 3, 2004
Mel Gibson's Spanish Connection © MiGente Magazine, March 2004
Millions Flock to Passion Film © MiGente Magazine, March 2004
Gibson Reportedly Inspired by Agreda in Making "The Passion" © NEWSWEEK, February 16, 2004
En Tejas Veneran a Sor María © Heraldo de Soria, April 25, 2004
Throngs Visit Agreda Hoping for Beatification Summarized from Publicación Para Beatificación, December 2003
The Beatification of Sor Maria Goes to Rome
Diario de Soria, Spain, 6 September 2002
Historians Find Treasure Trove in Sor Maria's Work
Revista de Soria, Vol. 36, 2002
Vatican Official Directs Course on Sor María
Heraldo Soria, Spain, 7 August 2001
Venerable’s Writing Slowed Down Her Beatification
Diario de Soria, Spain, 24 June 2001 Thanks for visiting and come back soon! In the meantime, to add your name to our mailing list, for update information on Sor Maria, or for news on my upcoming book / biography on her, please
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“Creo con todo mi corazón que la Venerable Sor María vivió de forma desbordante la heroicidad de virtudes y que a ella se le pueden atribuir muchos milagros tanto en vida como después de su muerte. (Criterios estos para declarar santa a una persona, según el papa Juan Pablo II en la constitución apostólica “Divinus Perfectionis Magister” del 25 de enero de 1983).
Y, puesto que soy una americana puedo también atestiguar que el lugar de sor María en la historia americana es destacado. Ella es la “Dama azul” que se apareció sobrenaturalmente a los americanos jumanos . . . ." Siga leyendo en español
© by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“Maria de Agreda -- a cloistered 17th century abbess who never set foot outside her birthplace of Agreda, Spain -- will soon be featured in Grolier Encyclopedia's upcoming biography series on 800 influential Hispanic Americans, alongside Joan Baez, Carlos E. Castaneda, and Cesar Chavez. At the same time, historians at the Smithsonian Institution describe Maria de Agreda as a 'key cultural phenomenon in the American Southwest,' and plan to feature a life-sized portrait of her at the grand reopening of its National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC in July 2006. . . . . How does a Spanish nun who never physically visited the New World earn such acclaim? The answer lies in her legendary appearances between 1620 - 1631 as the 'Lady in Blue,' through which she mystically 'bilocated' to New Mexico, Texas and Arizona to preach Christianity . . . ." Click here to read entire text
© by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“Like Pope John Paul II, the Conceptionist nuns in Agreda, Spain, are known for their uncommon devotion to the Blessed Mother. . . . In their quiet cloistered order, embracing almost round-the-clock spiritual exercises and meditative prayer, the Agreda nuns seldom watch the small television set usually relegated to a dark corner outside their dining hall. The Pope's recent funeral services, however, provided a notable exception. . . ." Click here to read entire text
© by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“December 2004 marks the 150th anniversary of the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and a unique opportunity to appreciate our Hispanic heritage. . . . Behind cloistered convent walls in 17th century Agreda, in northeastern Spain, Sor María de Ágreda [also known as Mary of Agreda] exuded a quiet saintly power that reverberated all the way to the king’s court in Madrid, and even across the ocean to the New World in America. . . ." Click here to read entire text
by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“Los estadounidenses cuentan con numerosas razones para venerar la memoria de esta mística del siglo XVII. Desde sus apariciones sobrenaturales en la Texas colonial y en Nuevo Méjico, hasta sus escritos visionarios en "La Ciudad Mística de Dios", los estadounidenses no necesitan mirar muy lejos para encontrar oportunidades para admirar su vida heroica, llena de virtudes y logros extraordinarios. . . ." Siga leyendo en español
by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“The link between a 17th century Spanish mystic and a 21st century popular icon is not as far-out as it might first seem. Mel Gibson, in preparation for making his film, The Passion of the Christ, read not only biblical records of the last 12 hours of Christ's life, but also other background works, including Mystical City of God by Venerable Maria de Jesus of Agreda, Spain. . . ." Click here to read entire text
by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“Mel Gibson's powerfully profound film, 'The Passion of the Christ,' depicts the last 12 hours of Christ's life. . . Many people exit the theaters silently respectful, changed somehow, shocked at the violent pain and suffering Christ endured out of love for all mankind. . . Yet many have commented that much of the film seems to be seen through Mary's eyes, sorrowfully but resolutely following the brutality inflicted on her Son. Since Maria de Agreda's work is written entirely from Mary's perspective, that indicates a possible influence. . . ." Click here to read entire text
by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“A controversial new movie directed by Mel Gibson, 'The Passion of the Christ,' . . . is likely to be the most watched Passion play in history. . . . To tell his story, Gibson has amalgamated the four Gospel accounts and was reportedly inspired by the visions of two nuns: Mary of Agreda (1602-1665) of Spain and Anne Catherine of Emmerich (1774-1824). . ."
by Jon Meacham
“La pasión de Marilyn H. Fedewa por la figura de Sor María de Jesús de Ágreda comenzó en 1997 con la lectura de "La Mística Ciudad de Dios", lo que le llevó a estudiar su vida. Escritora y Consejeras de Comunicaciones, vive en Michigan (Estados Unidos), donde se ha convertido en una defensora de la causa de beatificación de La Venerable. . . ." Siga leyendo en español
An Interview with Marilyn H. Fedewa
12,000 people flocked to Agreda, Spain in 2002 for the 400th anniversary of Venerable Maria de Agreda’s birth. Newspapers echoed popular support for her beatification and bemoaned the lengthy process. Padre Angel Martinez Monux reminds advocates of the solid progress in her Cause since the Centennial began. First, the Vatican Secretariat of State confirmed that he found no theological errors in Mystical City of God, an issue that had clouded her Cause in the past. Second, the Franciscan Postulator General, Luca M. DeRosa recently submitted a new petition for the ”nihil obstat” (go-ahead) for the pursuit of her Cause for Sainthood, an official action necessary to proceed.
Translation © Marilyn H. Fedewa
"The Spanish Mariológy Society petitioned the hierarchy of Rome to . . . [move] forward the beatification process for the venerable Maria de Jesus de Agreda, according to society president, Enrique Llamas Martinez, during the 54th annual Week of Marian Studies." Click here to read entire text
Translation © by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“American historians and scholars of foreign language and literature found in Sor Maria’s Mystical City of God, and the 600+ letters between her and King Felipe IV, a treasure-trove of cultural insight into 17th century Spain and the New World from a religious and political point of view. . . . [Noted Mariologist] Dr. Miravalle said . . . that Sor Maria’s description of Mary ‘mirrors the thoughts of the great Marian doctors St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Bernardine of Sienna, St. Albert the Great, and even later authors such as St. Alphonsus Liguori and St. Maximilian Kolbe’.” Siga leyendo en español
© by Marilyn H. Fedewa
“The minister of the Presidency, Sorian Juan José Lucas, visited Ágreda today to officially inaugurate a new year-long series of courses offered by the University of Alfonso VII about the life and work of Sor María de Jesús. . . . . The president of the Pontifical International Marian Academy of Rome—Gaspar Calvo—will direct the course. Calvo commented with satisfaction on the importance of making ‘more and better known’ ‘such an important figure as Sor María.’ ”
Translation © by Marilyn H. Fedewa
In Summary: According to Father Ángel Martínez, Sor Maria’s beatification was hindered by her “mystical literary style” of writing in Mystical City of God. Martínez addresses this and many other issues in his 2001 doctoral thesis, a 33 year effort on the life and works of Sor Maria.
Click here to read entire text
Translation © by Marilyn H. Fedewa