Луиза Карвахаль и Мендоса: Испанская поэтесса и миссионерка XVI-XVII веков.

16th and 17th century Spanish religious poet

Luisa Carvajal y Mendoza (formerly known as Doña Luisa de Carvajal y Mendoza; January 2, 1566 – January 2, 1614) is best known for her mystical religious poetry as well as her fight to spread Catholicism throughout England, by preaching against Anglicanism. She was imprisoned on two occasions, once in 1608 and again in 1613 for her Catholic proselytizing activities in England. Although her cause of death makes her ineligible to be considered a martyr, she took a vow for martyrdom in 1598.

Carvajal y Mendoza was born in Jaraicejo, Spain. She was born into a family of wealth and royal lineage. Her father was Francisco de Carvajal, whose father was a respected theologian and enthusiast of the Jesuit order. Carvajal's mother was Maria de Mendoza, who was a descendant of one of the most recognized families in Spain. However, at the age of six, both of her parents died of illness, and she was placed under the care of her aunt Maria Chacon, who was a governess in Madrid. Following the death of her uncle in 1592, Carvajal in her writings suggests that this granted her a sense of freedom in that she could now fully live for Christ as she so desired to do. In a time where women either got married or went to convents to become nuns, she opted to pursue neither of these paths. Although she was acquainted with religion, it was not something that she was willing to give her life for until later on in her life.

Carvajal's motive to move England was for the sole purpose of converting Anglicans to Catholicism and she was willing to die as a martyr for this cause. This would come true when on January 24, 1605, Carvajal made her way from Valladolid to London. Father Henry Garnet had arranged the arrival of Carvajal to England, and she would arrive late 1605 shortly prior to the Gunpowder Plot but did not take part in the plot. Her poetry ranges from different styles such as pastoral poetry to sonnets. Carvajal's letters depict the ongoing political turmoil Catholics were facing in England at the time. Her letters contain extensive descriptions of her daily life in England as well as prayers asking those close to her for spiritual strength and prayers. Perhaps the most frequent correspondents of Carvajal was Magdalena de San Jeronimo; who after a close friendship would not write again after he opposed Carvajal leaving to England. Ines de la Asuncion was another woman who kept extensive communication with Carvajal. Asuncion lived with Carvajal in Madrid and wanted to go to England but was not allowed to because her motive was not religious enough.

Shortly after being released from her second imprisonment, Carvajal contracted a bronchial disease resulting in her death on her forty eighth birthday in 1614. She died in London, England in the Spanish embassy. Immediately after her death, friends and priests such as Ines de la Asuncion began to circulate her life story throughout Europe with hopes of beginning the beatification process for Carvajal. However, there has been a great deal of controversy regarding Carvajal's death. Since Carvajal died from a respiratory disease, meaning that she was not directly assassinated for her faith, this disqualifies her from being considered a martyr. After Carvajal took her vow of poverty, she stated that she wanted to have her remains lie in a Jesuit church or college, however, Carvajal's will went unfulfilled as her desires were not met as the Jesuits did not honor her will. The Spanish ambassador Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, was ordered by King Phillip III to send her remains to Madrid, where they lay in the Royal Monastery of la Encarnación to this day. The Iberian Airbus A340 313X located in Mexico City was named after Carvajal y Mendoza in 1990.