Saint Mariana de Paredes
Saint Mariana de Paredes (born October 31, 1618 AD in Quito, Audiencia of Quito (modern Ecuador); died May 26, 1645 AD in Quito, Ecuador) was an Ecuadorian laywoman and mystic of the Third Order of Saint Francis, venerated as the "Lily of Quito." She was the first person born in South America to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Known for extreme austerity, mystical gifts, and sacrifice of her life during a plague and earthquake crisis, she was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Her feast day is May 26.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Mariana de Paredes
| Saint Mariana de Paredes | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | May 26 |
| Profession | Franciscan tertiary; laywoman; mystic; recluse; sacrificial victim for Quito |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Third Order of Saint Francis; Quito; first South American native saint; patron of Ecuador |
| Patronage | Ecuador; Quito; South America; those who offer sacrifice for others; plague victims; earthquake victims; mystics; Franciscan tertiaries |
| Attributes | Lily (the ''Lily of Quito''); crown of thorns; Franciscan tertiary habit; Quito's colonial churches; earthquake and plague; public sacrificial offering |
| Birthplace | Quito, Audiencia of Quito (modern Ecuador) |
| Death Place | Quito, Ecuador |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; she publicly offered her life as a sacrifice for Quito during the plague and earthquake of 1645; she died shortly after this public offer on May 26, 1645, at age 26 |
| Primary Shrine | Church of La Merced and associated chapel, Quito, Ecuador — relics and principal veneration site; also the Church of La Compañía de Jesús where she spent her spiritual life; Old Town Quito broadly is associated with her; her image appears in many of Quito's colonial churches |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); May 26; feast in Ecuador |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; widely observed in Ecuador |
Biography
Mariana de Paredes y Flores was born on October 31, 1618, in Quito. She was orphaned young and raised by her older sister. She felt a deep call to the religious life but remained in the world as a Franciscan tertiary, living in her family home and eventually in a small cell near the Jesuit church of La Compañía.
She was known for intense prayer, severe mortification, and mystical gifts. She reportedly survived for long periods on the Eucharist alone. She cared for the poor and sick.
In 1645 Quito was struck by earthquakes and plague. During a sermon at La Compañía, she stood and publicly offered her life to God for the salvation of the city. The disasters reportedly ceased; she fell gravely ill and died on May 26, 1645, at age 26.
A lily grew from the ground where her blood fell — giving her the title "Lily of Quito."
Pope Pius IX beatified her in 1853. Pope Pius XII canonized her on July 9, 1950 — the first person born in South America to be canonized.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Quito, Audiencia of Quito (modern Ecuador)
Death location: Quito, Ecuador
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Church of La Compañía de Jesús, Quito — her spiritual home; one of the finest Baroque churches in the Americas.
- Church of La Merced, Quito — relics and veneration.
Feast day
May 26
Veneration
Saint Mariana de Paredes is the patron of Ecuador and the first person born in South America to be canonized. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Her feast is May 26.
Prayers
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