A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Agreda, (Mary de)
AGREDA, (MARY DE) of Agreda, in Spain. Born 1602, died 1665.
Superior of a convent of nuns, founded by her mother. She supposed herself commanded and inspired by God, to write the History of the Virgin Mary. She accordingly began; but an enlightened confessor, who supplied the place of her own, during a short absence, desired her to desist, and burn what she had written. She obeyed; but, on the return of the other, was persuaded to re-commence the work; and, on her death, she gave a written attestation, that all had been revealed to her by the Almighty. The Inquisition at Madrid, after mature consideration, permitted her books to be printed, which they were, first in that city, and afterwards at Lisbon, at Perpignan, and at Antwerp. With all their strange and wild conceits, they had influence enough to disturb, for a long time, the peace of three kingdoms, Spain, France, and Italy. The Inquisition at Rome was not so favourable as that at Madrid; and this cause, in which the king of Spain interfered, without effect, was transferred to the Sorbonne, where the works of Mary de Agreda were finally condemned, notwithstanding the opposition of the head of the Jesuits, and the whole body of Cordeliers, who were strong partisans of this visionary.