Sister María Justa de Jesús facts for kids

María Justa de Jesús (born January 6, 1667 – died 1723) was a Spanish nun. She belonged to the Franciscan order. People believed she had special spiritual gifts. She was even investigated during the time of the Inquisition.

Her Early Life

María Justa was born on January 6, 1667. Her birthplace was La Victoria de Acentejo. This town is on the north side of Tenerife island. Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands in Spain.

She decided to become a nun. She trained with the Franciscans. This happened at the Saint Joseph Convent in La Orotava. Her life became known for her deep spiritual experiences. It also involved some disagreements.

Her Spiritual Journey

María Justa was known for her spiritual gifts. People believed she could heal the sick. She was said to help blind people see. She could also make deaf people hear. Some even believed she could help mute people speak. She was also thought to heal various illnesses.

Healing the Sick

Sister María Justa healed people in a special way. She would take on their sickness herself. This meant she would feel their pain. Her body would get sores. Her temperature would rise very high. Sometimes, she would almost die from this. People who saw this were amazed.

Facing Challenges

The Holy Inquisition investigated her. This was a powerful religious court. They looked into her beliefs and actions. She was accused of following certain ideas. These ideas were called "Molinist doctrines." The Church did not agree with these beliefs.

Her biographer, Andrés de Abreu, wrote about her life. He was also her confessor. He later burned the book he wrote. This might have been because of the accusations.

However, a Dominican friar named Jose Herrera defended her. He said she had many good qualities. He believed her healing abilities were true gifts.

The Alumbrados Movement

Sister María Justa's case was linked to a group called the "Alumbrados". This Spanish word means "enlightened ones." This group appeared about two centuries before her time. They lived in small towns in Castile, Spain.

Their Beliefs

The Alumbrados had different ideas about faith. They believed they could connect with God directly. This connection came through special spiritual experiences. They also thought private prayer was enough. They felt they did not need all the Church's rituals. The Catholic Church saw these beliefs as wrong. They were considered "heretical."

Her Passing

Sister María Justa died in 1723. Stories from that time say her body showed signs of holiness. It remained flexible after death. It also gave off pleasant smells. Her blood was said to remain fluid.

After she died, the Franciscan Order in the Canary Islands started a process. They wanted her to be recognized as a saint. This process is called canonization. However, it was later stopped.

See also

In Spanish: María Justa de Jesús para niños

• List of saints of the Canary Islands