“Everyone should see Queen Elizabeth as a saintand God will grant it”: with these words, the person in charge of the Commission for the Beatification of Isabel la Católica Jose Luis Rubio Willen has been trying to highlight for years the importance of popular devotion to the same. It might seem nonsense since she has not yet been beatified, but it is precisely one of the last necessary steps in the process, “seeing the saint as such and praying directly to her as her intercessor.”
For this reason, acts such as the one organized last weekend by the Catholic University of Ávila (UCAV). Throughout Saturday, November 26, the day of his death and which could be his holiday in the future, the III Academic Conference on Isabel la Católicafollowed by more than five hundred people from both hemispheres, from Spain as well as from Peru, Argentina, Chile or Mexico.
Under the title Queen’s Spirit Profilesthe president of the Board of Directors of the UCAV, Lydia Jimenez; and the coordinator of the day, José Antonio Calvo, proclaimed their conviction and urgency of the “early canonization of the queen“.
During the inauguration, Jiménez was proud to be able to participate in the conference around Isabel la Católica “in order to contribute to the knowledge of this great figure of universal history who is urgently waiting to be canonized“.
The dr. Anna Isabel Peirats Navarro gave the inaugural conference “A look at feminine spirituality in the late medieval European West”, making a scholarly presentation on the “modern devotee” in the prolegomena of the spirituality of Isabel la Católica.
Throughout the day, relevant personalities participated around the figure of Isabel la Católica as the doctor of History Daniel Jesus Garcia Riol -on the reform of the Church during the reign of Isabella- the professor of the UCAV Victorian Martin Hi teacher Beatriz Jimenezwhose presentations addressed prominent figures who surrounded the queen such as Alonso de Madrigal or fray Hernando de Talavera.
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Doctor of Art History David Sanchez Sanchez highlighted Isabel’s devotion through art, while the director of the Academia de la Hispanidad, Luis Manuel de la Pradaaddressed the case of the Piedad and the pious foundations of the Catholic queen.
More than 500 people from both hemispheres attended in person or virtually the day dedicated by the Catholic University of Ávila to delve into the spiritual profile of Queen Isabel the Catholic.
The director of the Isabel la Católica Chair, Francisco Trullen Galveshowed the importance of Isabel as a mirror of virtues, followed by the teacher Juana Sanchez Gey and her approach to trust in God as the root of Elizabeth’s supernatural life.
Jose Luis Rubio Willenresponsible for the cause of beatification, addressed the evangelization of America promoted by the queen. Jose Maria Gomez Gomezgrand master of the Chapter of Noble Knights and Dames and professor of Language and Literature, who explained the reasons for Isabel’s canonization.
You can contribute to the beatification of Queen Elizabeth through the Web page of the commission: they offer all kinds of devotionals and information about it.
As a closure of the conference, the attendees went to the bust of Isabel la Católica who has presided over the wall of Avila for three years to inaugurate a commemorative plaque dedicated to the queen. In this last act, the poetic composition inscribed next to the bust and made by the poet was presented. Jose Maria Gomez Gomez about Ávila and Queen Isabella:
You were always firm on my side
Well-walled city-castle,
In my legitimate cause committed,
Bold bastion, undaunted bulwark.
I was seduced in childhood by your mystery.
And of that love they are ineluctable proof
Your strong Cathedral and my endearing
Santo Tomas, palace and monastery.
Today, in this intimate and silent bronze
I dream again standing on your wall
That so many times defended my privileges.
And how happy I feel here by your side,
Mirror of Castile, high watchtower,
My faithful Avila of the Knights!