Using what the Vatican called an “equipollent” or equivalent beatification, Pope Francis recognised as “blessed” a 15th-century Spanish abbess, mystic and preacher.
The pope signed decrees in four sainthood causes as well as the beatification declaration 25 November for Blessed Juana de la Cruz, who was born Juana Vázquez Gutiérrez in what is today Numancia La Sagra, Spain.
The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints said she probably was born 3 May, 1481, and fled to the Monastery of Santa Maria de la Cruz in La Ciroleda, joining a group of Third Order Franciscans after her father and uncle promised her in marriage to a local nobleman. She made her religious profession in 1497.
She had mystical visions and received the stigmata, which are wounds resembling the crucifixion wounds of Christ, and for six months lost the ability to speak. A biography on the dicastery’s website said, “Completely healed, she obtained the gift of preaching.”
The following year, she was elected abbess although she had yet to reach her 28th birthday.
She died 3 May, 1534, and the official cause for her canonisation opened. After decades the process was halted because the Vatican said the original documents needed for the case had been lost. The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints said they were found again in 1977 and the cause proceeded.
With panels of historians and theologians verifying her virtues and writings, as well as the fact that since her death there has been an uninterrupted remembrance and veneration of her, the cardinals and bishops who are members of the dicastery voted 5 November to petition Pope Francis to declare her blessed.
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