Saint Mariana de Jesús de Paredes

Life story

Mariana de Jesús de Paredes was born on 31 October 1618 in Quito, then part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru and now in Ecuador. She was the youngest of eight children and lost both parents when she was about four. She was raised by an older sister and her brother-in-law in their household in Quito.

From childhood she led a life of prayer and self-denial. She frequented the Jesuit church in Quito, joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and took the name Mariana de Jesús. She lived almost in seclusion in a small room of her sister's house, going out only to attend church or to help poor families and children nearby; her contemporaries remembered her for the severity of her way of life.

In 1645 Quito suffered earthquakes and an epidemic. According to early accounts, Mariana asked to offer herself as a victim so that the city might be spared. She fell ill soon afterwards and died on 26 May 1645, aged twenty-six. Tradition holds that a white lily sprang up where her blood had been buried, which is why she is called the Lily of Quito; this is a pious tradition rather than a documented event.

Pius IX beatified her on 10 November 1853, and Pius XII canonised her on 9 July 1950. She was the first person from Ecuador to be canonised and is regarded as a national heroine. Her relics rest in the Jesuit church in Quito. Her feast is 26 May, though the Franciscan Order keeps it on 28 May.

Works and witness

• Orphaned young and raised by her sister's family in Quito
• Joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and lived in seclusion and penance
• In 1645 offered herself for the city during earthquakes and an epidemic
• Beatified in 1853 and canonised on 9 July 1950
• First person from Ecuador to be canonised

Patron of

Ecuador

Saints from the same country

Saint Narcisa de Jesús

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Canonisation decree of Pius XII, 1950

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.