Pope Francis approves the beatification of Joan of the Cross

More than five centuries after her death and three canonization processes, Pope Francis has approved the beatification of Juana de la Cruz, a Franciscan nun who received the stigmata, was a parish priest and even an advisor to the Spanish Empire without barely knowing how to read or write.

The Vatican reported on November 25 that the Holy Father has approved the promulgation of the decree of beatification of the Servant of God Sor Juana de la Cruz, known as “Saint Juana” of Cubas de la Sagra, Madrid (Spain).

The Pontiff has given the green light to her beatification without the need for a miracle, an unusual but understandable concession, given the reputation for sanctity that Juana Vázquez Gutierrez, one of the most relevant figures of the Catholic Church of the 15th and 15th centuries, had during her lifetime. XVI whose legacy survives to this day.

With the approval of the immemorial cult, every May 3 will mark the day of the new Spanish blessed on the calendar. An unusual date, since he was born on the Feast of the Cross in 1481 and died on the same day in 1534.

He was born in Azaña (current Numancia de la Sagra), into a poor family. In 1496, despite her family’s opposition and after running away from home dressed in men’s clothing, she arrived at the Franciscan convent of Cubas de la Sagra, where she entered on her 15th birthday with the name Juana de la Sagra. the Cross.

Today, this place is known as the Monastery and Sanctuary of Santa María de la Cruz y Santa Juana, built after the Virgin Mary appeared in 1449 to Inés Martínez, a simple girl between 12 and 13 years old. From this time there are 72 miracles proven with notarial records and a copy of the original manuscript of the apparitions is preserved.

During the first years in the convent, Juana de la Cruz began to experience ecstasy and the appearance of the stigmata. He began to preach and this caught the attention of many, especially Cardinal Jiménez de Cisneros, primate of Spain and regent of Castile, who appointed him his advisor and also parish priest.

Emperor Charles V, who visited her several times, appointed her advisor to the empire. She was also admired by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, known as “the Great Captain.”

Amazing miracles were soon attributed to the nun. In addition, she had abundant gifts and charisma, such as the gift of languages ​​even though she was illiterate, as well as the gifts of inspiration, bilocation, and healing.

In the paintings and images, Saint Joan is represented with a cross and the phylactery with the text: “What is given to me from me, if not from you my God.” It also usually appears with a pot or vase with flowers from which several souls emerge from purgatory and an angel with rosaries.

Juana de la Cruz died with a reputation for holiness in 1534 and was buried at the door of the convent’s communion room. Years later they found his body incorrupt and flexible, with the habit in perfect condition.

In 1810, Napoleonic troops desecrated the monastery and stole everything in their path. The place was also affected, 20 years later, by the expropriation process of ecclesiastical assets known as the Confiscation of Mendizabal and Madoz; and, in 1936, by the Spanish Civil War. The monastery was looted and the tomb of “Saint” Joan was desecrated. On May 3, 1994, his body was found, which was not incorrupt.

Saint Joan canonization process

The path to the altars of Sor Juana de la Cruz has been dotted with complications, so much so that up to three different causes have been investigated about her life.

The first canonization process was not completed because Pope Urban VIII changed the canonization norms, eliminating the path of immemorial worship, which established that if, 100 years after a person died, the people hailed him or her as a saint, he or she would be canonized. directly. Sor Juana’s cause would have been covered by this precept, but it disappeared when 96 years had passed since her death.

The second process was based on a book that gathered Juana’s preachings under the title of “conhort” (comfort), whose purpose was to comfort the faith of the simple. These are 72 sermons that form a complete liturgical cycle, which include a beautiful theatrical recreation of heaven.

This second process, known as the Toledo process, could not be completed because the Vatican requested the original book, but Philip II had taken it to the library of the Escorial Monastery.

On March 18, 2015, Pope Francis again signed the decree of heroic virtues of Sor Juana de la Cruz. The recent decision of the Pontiff corresponds, therefore, to the third canonization process.