A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Agreda, Marie d'
AGREDA, MARIE D'
Superior of a convert at Agreda, in Spain, founded by her parents, wrote a fanatical book on the life of the Virgin Mary, which she said had been revealed to her from heaven. A translation of this extravagant book, which was prohibited at Rome, was published at Brussels in 1717. Notwithstanding the absurdities of this work, it was deemed so fascinating and dangerous by the theological faculty of Paris, that it was thought proper to censure it. A violent opposition was made to the censure by some of the doctors of the Sorbonne, which, on this important occasion, were divided into two fierce parties, to one of whom the name of Agredians was given, which they long retained. One of the propositions of this singular work was—"That God gave to the holy virgin all that he would, and would give her all that he could, and could give her all that was not of the essence of God."
Marie d'Agreda died in 1665, aged sixty-three. Great efforts were made at Rome to procure her canonization, but without effect.