Marina de Escobar

Childhood Marina was born in Valladolid, Spain, on 8 February 1554. Her father, Diego de Escobar, was a professor of civil and canon law, a lawyer in the Royal Chancellery of Granada, and, for a time, governor of Osuna; her mother was Margaret Montaña, daughter of the Emperor Charles V's physician. After she returned to living with her parents, her father criticized her for taking care with her appearance and for insufficient asceticism. Later, in 1604, Marina spoke to about her desire to join Mariana's Augustinian convent, but was unable to do so due to her health. In fact, although she devoted her life to religion, making a vow of chastity and taking frequent communion, Marina remained in her family home in Valladolid for most of her life. Marina's funeral, in 1633, was widely attended, and she was honored by an elaborate funeral procession. She was later declared Venerable. == Spirituality ==

Like her parents, Marina generally turned to the local Jesuits for spiritual advice. Marina experienced visions of saints including Bridget of Sweden, Gertrude the Great, Matilda of Ringelheim, Ignatius of Loyola, Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Dominic, Francis of Assisi, and the Virgin Mary, While sometimes comforting, her visions were often harsh and demanding, such as one in which Christ had her guardian angel beat her as punishment. == Writings ==

Marina, whose health made it difficult for her to write, dictated accounts of her visions to the de la Puente brothers and to a secretary. Although often published in one large volume, the work is divided into six books, on the following topics: ==References==