The incorrupt bodies of Mother Mariana and the other seven foudresses are kept in glass cases dressed in their habits.
Going Home to Heaven
At three o’clock on the morning of February 2, 1634, Mother Mariana had just finished her prayer in the upper choir when she noticed that the sanctuary lamp had gone out.
Instinctively she prepared to descend to the church in order to re-light it, but an unknown force immobilized her so that she could not take a single step. At this moment Our Lady of Good Success appeared carrying the Divine Infant in her left hand and the crosier in her right. Calmly approaching, she said: “My beloved daughter, today I bring you the pleasant notice of your death, which shall occur in eleven months. Your eyes will then close to the material light of this world in order to open to the brilliance of eternal light. Prepare your soul so that, purified ever more, it may fully enter into the enjoyment of your Lord.”
And so it happened. Mother Mariana’s health began to fail, but she still went about her duties in the convent for as long as possible. Yet, a time came when she had to be confined to bed.
Knowing the day and hour of her death, she prepared her aggrieved daughters for her final voyage to eternity. She was to go to her Lord at 3 p.m. on January 16, 1635. She was then seventy-two years of age.
Around one o’clock of that day, she asked the Mother Abbess to summon the community. When they arrived she read aloud her magnificent testament, which began by affirming that she died a faithful daughter of the Holy, Roman, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Then, with a voice vibrant with emotion but firm with the strength of faith and sincerity, she echoed Her Master’s words: “It is necessary that I go but I will not leave you orphans. I go to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God, and the Divine Consoler will descend to comfort you.”
After receiving the Holy Viaticum, she, on fire with love, calmly closed her eyes and ceased breathing. Mariana of Jesus was with God.
A rose at her feet – after death miracle
We cannot refrain from mentioning a most touching and golden episode as an ending to our story.
Several years before, an anxious expectant mother had come to ask Mother Mariana to pray for her condition, which had been diagnosed as precarious.
Cordial and kind as ever, the holy nun gave her some aniseed water — with which she had performed innumerable cures — and allayed her fears by assuring her she would give birth to a beautiful baby girl. The comforted mother then asked her protectress to pray for her baby.
Mariana of Jesus responded: “You do not have to ask for my prayers, for this girl is more mine than yours. She is a soul chosen by God and will perfume this cloister with the aroma of her virtues. Bring her here often, for I wish to see her. She shall dress my body for burial.”
As predicted, a beautiful and healthy girl was born, receiving the name Zoila Blanca Rose. At the age of ten she begged to be admitted to the convent where she was already an example of virtues as well as a ray of sunshine by her ever joyful and innocent disposition. In the convent she became Zoila Blanca Rose of Mariana of Jesus.
When her beloved Mother Mariana fell ill for the last time, Zoila devotedly nursed her. Yet, the sunshine left her beautiful face, for she could not bear the thought of living without her saintly Mother.
One day she emerged from the sick room radiant again. On being asked the reason for such unbecoming joy in view of her Mother’s approaching death, she explained that Mother Mariana had promised to take her with her.
As Mother Mariana’s body was laid out in the low choir, surrounded by a profusion of flowers, Rose of Mariana knelt at her Mother’s feet and leaned her head on them. After a while, the prioress approached to bid her take some rest. She did not answer. On moving her, the nuns saw that she was cold and her mouth was filled with blood. They immediately summoned the doctor. After a thorough examination the doctor said, “She died instantly when the main artery of her heart was wrenched.”
All the flowers prescribed by the Rule for the adornment of their sisters’ bodies had been used for Mother Mariana. Improvising a bier, they carried the body of their youngest member to the low choir devoid of flowers, amidst sobs and canticles. As they passed the patio, they saw it abloom with most magnificent white roses, fragrant and double the normal size. Zoila’s body was covered with those roses, laden with perfume and the essence of miracles, and placed by that of her holy Mother Mariana. Blessed be God in his saints!
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