María de los Dolores López facts for kids

María de los Dolores López was a Spanish woman who lived in Seville in the 1700s. She was known as Beata Dolores and was believed by some to have special visions. She was put on trial and sentenced to death for her beliefs.

María was born in Sevilla. Her family was involved with the church; her brother was a priest and her sister was a nun. When she was about twelve years old, she lost her eyesight.

Her Visions and Claims

Around 1767, María became known for her visions. She said she could talk to Jesus Christ and angels. There were also rumors that she had connections with evil spirits. The Spanish Inquisition, a powerful religious court at the time, knew about these rumors but did not act right away.

Before the court, María said that she had been blessed with special connections to heaven since she was four years old. She claimed to have had a special bond with the Virgin Mary and that she had been "married" to Jesus in heaven. She also said that she had helped many souls leave purgatory.

The Inquisition's Trial

At this time, the Spanish Inquisition tried to avoid putting people to death, even though it was still allowed by law. During their investigation, several smart people were asked to try and convince María to change her mind and say she was sorry. However, she refused to change her beliefs. She said that God had told her she would die as a martyr, someone who dies for their beliefs.

On August 22, 1781, María de los Dolores López was sentenced to death for her beliefs, which the court called heresy. On her way to her execution, she told a priest that she was sorry for her actions.

See also

In Spanish: María de los Dolores López para niños