Blessed
Maria di Gesù (Lopez de Rivas)
Biography
María López de Rivas Martínez was born in Tartanedo (Spain) to a wealthy family, lost her father at the age of four and found herself heir to a large fortune. In 1577, when the reformer Teresa of Jesus was still alive, she entered the monastery of the Discalced Carmelites of Toledo.
She lived in the monastery of Toledo for the rest of his life, except for a brief period when she participated in the foundation of a Teresian Carmel in Cuerva. Initially she had humble duties, but was later appointed mistress of novices and then sub-prioress.
She was elected prioress, but because of accusations made against her by an envious nun, Sister Catherine of the Ascension, in front of the visitator, in 1600 she was deposed. In 1619, after nineteen years of ruthless and fierce persecution, Sister Catherine was reconciled with Mary of Jesus and died peacefully. Thus Mary of Jesus in 1620 was recognized as innocent and was unanimously re-elected in 1624.
The last ten years of her life were marked by illness: she died at the age of eighty years on September 13, 1640.
The beatification ceremony took place on November 14, 1976.
Procedure
1. The canonical norms concerning the procedure to be followed in the Causes of Saints are stated in the Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister promulgated by John Paul II on 25 January 1983 (AAS LXXV, 1983, 349-355).
2. To initiate a Cause it is necessary that at least five years pass after the death of the candidate. This is to allow for greater balance and objectivity in the evaluation of the case and to allow the emotions of the moment to decant. There must be a clear conviction among people about his/her sanctity (fama sanctitas) and about the efficacy of his/her intercession with the Lord (fama signorum).
Iconography
