Luisa Carvajal y Mendoza

• Born — January 2, 1566 • Birthplace — Jaraicejo, Spain • Died — 2 January 1614 • Place of death — London, England • Occupation — Missionary • Religion — Catholicism

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. She would live with her aunt until the age of ten. When her aunt died, Carvajal went to Pamplona, where she was placed under the care of her uncle Francisco Hurtado a recognized diplomat and the First Marquis of Almazán. However, under his care, she felt as though she was in a prison. In one of the letters Carvajal wrote, she vividly depicts the penitential practices she was subject to. Carvajal attended a private university where she obtained an education in literature and theology. 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 when 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.

Between 1593 and 1598 Carvajal took a series of religious vows. These included vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and spiritual perfection.

Although she grew up in an elite and aristocratic home, she refused these privileges and rather lived a humble life centered on spirituality. After the death of her uncle in 1592, Carvajal engaged in legal battle with her brother over their inheritance. Carvajal obtained her dowry and controversially decided to give the money to Jesuit priests. Carvajal rejected her nobility and began to distance herself from her family members as she began to abandon her royal customs. Family members often criticized and rejected Carvajal's behavior of associating herself with the poor. Carvajal became engaged in social reversals going as far as putting herself under the obedience of other women, cooking, fasting and even begging for food.

In 1598 she took a formal vow of martyrdom. She felt becoming a martyr served a double purpose. First to forgive the individual of their sins and second to die for Christ. In 1601, she was living in Valladolid, near a Jesuit College. She was able to meet and read some of the works Jesuits, further fueling her cause of martyrdom and proselytization. As a result of this vow she would be granted permission to journey to England where she joined the Catholic underground. Carvajal writes about the importance of martyrdom:

Carvajal's motive to move to England was for the sole purpose of converting Anglicans to Catholicism and she was willing to die as a martyr for this cause. On January 24, 1605, Carvajal made her way from Valladolid to London. Father Henry Garnet had made the arrangements. She arrived in late 1605 shortly prior to the Gunpowder Plot. The failed plot led to heightened hostility against Catholics. Just six months after Carvajal had arrived in England, Father Henry Garnet was executed for having knowledge of Catholic plans against the English government. Carvajal worked in London as a teacher and missionary. She was often referred to as a "Roman Priest in Women's clothing". She was a leader in charitable service to the poor such as taking care of the sick and helping prostitutes obtain a better life in England. She frequented prisons where she would visit imprisoned priests to encourage them to continue fighting for the Catholic cause. She would also, obtain money through needle work to give to the poor and distribute Catholic literature throughout England and abroad.

Records indicate that the majority of Carvaja's letters and conversations were with a woman who went by the religious name of Magdalena de San Jeronimo, although letters show her name affiliated with that of a nun such as monja or sor (in Spanish), it is believed that she was not involved in a religious order. Their conversations largely dealt with the political situation of Catholics in England and Spain. Although Carvajal and San Jeronimo had been great correspondents, as hostility grew against Catholics in England, San Jeronimo began to become skeptical of Carvajal's stay in England and pleaded her to return to Spain, which would create tension between the two. In one of her letters, Carvajal lists the reasons as to why she wants to stay in England even though San Jeronimo and others urge her to come back: San Jeronimo would stop writing to Carvajal in 1607, thus ending their friendship. San Jeronimo later started a Galera, or a female prison which was built for female delinquents and prostitutes. Its goal was to reform the lives of these women so that they could marry or join a religious community upon release.

Carvajal's first imprisonment occurred in June 1608. While in Cheapside, she began proselytizing about the virtues of Catholicism at great length. On a street she began arguing with citizens defending Catholicism as the true religion. This led to the arrest of her and two of her friends. Carvajal would remain jailed for four days. She was able to gain release with the help of the Spanish ambassador Pedro de Zuñiga, whom she stayed with at the Spanish embassy upon her arrival to England, however, Zuñiga begged her to leave London and return to Spain to which she declined.

Carvajal's second imprisonment would occur on October 28, 1613, when sheriffs were ordered by George Abbot, the Archbishop of Canterbury to break into her home and arrest her because she was allegedly planning on opening a convent, which went against English laws, as women were not allowed to gather together for religious purposes. This created a diplomatic conflict, as the King wanted to maintain peace with Spain. Once again, the Spanish Ambassador, this time Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, managed to set her free after three days of imprisonment. This time, however, she was forced to leave England. Sarmiento obtained her custody and did not deport her immediately; she stayed at the Spanish Embassy. Shortly after her release from prison, Carvajal would die from bronchial illness.

Below is one of Carvajal's poem titled Spiritual Sonnet (18) which illustrates through analogy the process of allowing the word of God to enter one's life. Spiritual Sonnet (18) Receive, Silva, from your sweet Beloved this close embrace, with immense love brimming, and through my right side's opening enter, little dove, within my breast. Repose on the sacred flowering bed and inflame yourself with love so passionate that not until the strong knot has fully tied will it ever be wholly satisfied. See how I relinquish to you, my love, all my being and eminence sublime. cherish this gift by my love proffered, You will find in me such glorious company, and in my very own arms held tenderly you will enjoy what no one has deserved.