Sister Mariana de Jesus Torres is said to have seen the Blessed Mother, who asked her to have a statue made to her likeness in Quito, Ecuador. (Wikipedia image)
The incorrupt body of Mariana de Jesus Torres (1563-1635) in San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador) reminds people of the incredible death experiences of this extraordinary nun in 1582 and 1589.
One day in 1582, while praying before the Blessed Sacrament, Sister Mariana heard an overwhelming sound, and saw the whole church had become immersed in darkness, as from dust and smoke. Looking up, Sister Mariana saw the main altar illuminated, the tabernacle opened, and Christ himself emerged, suffering, as on Golgotha in his agony. With him were the Blessed Virgin, St. John, and St. Mary Magdalene.
The Blessed Virgin was shedding tears and Sister Mariana asked her, “My Lady, am I to blame for this sadness?”
Our Lady replied, “No, it is not you, but the criminal world.” Then as Our Lord began his agony, Sister Mariana heard the voice of the Eternal Father saying, “This punishment will be for the 20th century.”
She saw three swords hanging over the head of Christ. On each was written, “I shall punish heresy”, “I shall punish blasphemy”, “I shall punish impurity.”
Our Lady asked, “My daughter, will you sacrifice yourself for the people of this time?” Sister Mariana replied, “I am willing.” And immediately the swords moved away from the agonizing Christ and buried themselves in the heart of Sister Mariana, who fell dead through the violence of the pain.
Sister Mariana found herself before the judgment seat of God, and the nuns in her community were praying for her life. Our Lord presented Sister Mariana with two crowns: the first crown was immortal glory of indescribable beauty, and the second crown was of white lilies surrounded by thorns. Sister Mariana understood that if she chose the first crown, she would remain in heavenly glory, and if she chose the second one, she would return to suffer in the world.
Sister Mariana struggled over the decision. Our Lady approached her and said, “My daughter, I left the glories of heaven and descended to earth to protect my children. I desire that you also imitate me in this and return to life, for your life is most necessary for the Order of my Conceptionists.”
“Woe to the Colony in the 20th century! If, in Ecuador, already so guilty, there are not souls who by their lives of immolation and sacrifice appease the Divine Justice, fire will rain from heaven, consuming its inhabitants and purifying the soil of Quito. Until the end of time, one of these sacrificial souls will inhabit this convent and, imitating you, will appease Divine Justice.”
Sister Mariana chose the second crown and returned to the world to suffer. The nuns and the Franciscan Friars were overjoyed to see Sister Mariana alive.
After returning to the world, Sister Mariana dedicated herself with greater zeal to the practise of the monastic life, carrying out the offices of bursar, choirmaster, and novice mistress.
On Sept. 17, 1588, Sister Mariana was praying at night and suddenly her body shuddered violently. Marks of stigmata appeared on her hands, feet, and side. Her body was very weak and she experienced dark night of the soul as well. The devil tempted her to despair. After months of torture by the evil one, Sister Mariana was freed by calling upon Our Lady.
However, her health continued to worsen and she died on Good Friday at 3:30 pm. Her body was taken to the low choir for the people to view. Her funeral was set for Easter Monday. However, on Easter Sunday, when the nuns entered the upper choir at 4 a.m. to pray, they found Sister Mariana praying there. The nuns were terrified and fled.
Sister Mariana explained to her Abbess and confessor that after her second death, she suffered a “mystical purgatory” until 3 a.m. Easter morning. According to her, it was the same hour Christ had resurrected.
After the second experience of death, Sister Mariana led a prayerful and sacrificial life until her final death in 1635.
為二十世紀作犧牲者
厄瓜多爾的聖方濟各基多，安放了瑪利娜.耶穌.陶麗詩 (1563-1635) 沒有腐朽的遺體。這位傑出的修女，使人想起她在1582年及1589年兩次經歷的死亡。
1582年的一天，瑪利娜修女在聖體前祈禱；她清楚地聽到聲響，看到整個教會被似煙塵的黑暗所籠罩，舉頭一望，見到主祭台被光照，聖體龕打開，耶穌出現，表情痛苦，猶如祂在加耳瓦略山上與聖母、若望宗徒和瑪利亞.瑪大肋納一起時一樣。
瑪利娜修女看到童貞聖母流著淚，於是問聖母說：「聖母，我是否讓妳傷心了？」聖母回答說：「不是你，是那罪惡的世界。」目睹痛苦中的基督，瑪利娜修女同時聽到永生聖父的聲音，說：「這懲罰是為二十世紀的。」她又看到基督頭上出現了三把利劍，每把利劍寫上：「我將懲罰異端」、「我將懲罰褻瀆」、「我將懲罰不潔」。
聖母問瑪利娜修女：「我的女兒，你願意為這時代的人犧牲你自己嗎？」瑪利娜修女表示「願意」。即時，那三把利劍離開痛苦的基督，卻埋進瑪利娜修女心窩，頓時她感到自己在劇痛難當中死去。
瑪利娜修女發覺她在天主審判台前。同會的修女們，正為她的性命祈禱。吾主向瑪利娜修女遞上了兩個花冠：一個是美絕不朽光榮的花冠，另一個是長有荊棘的百合花花冠。瑪利娜修女明白如果她選擇光榮的花冠，她會立刻處於天堂的光輝中；如果她選擇另一個花冠，她會回到世上，繼續忍受世苦。
當她正在選擇中掙扎時，聖母趨前向她說：「我的女兒，我選擇了離開天堂的光榮，來到世上為保護我的兒女。我渴望你能效法我，返回生命，因為無玷修會極需要你的生命。」聖母續說：「二十世紀的殖民地是有禍的！厄瓜多爾已如此有罪，若沒有靈魂以他們的奉獻及犧牲的生活來賠補神聖的公義，天火就會降臨，以焚燒它的居民和淨化基多的泥土。直到時間終結，其中一位犧牲的靈魂會居住在這修院，將效法你來賠補神聖的公義。」
瑪利娜修女選擇了第二個花冠，返回世上受苦。其他修女及方濟會會士回復生命，都非常雀躍。後來，瑪利娜修女以更大的熱誠去遵守隱修會生活，被指派管理修院財務和聖詠團，並當修院的初學師。
1588年9月17日晚上，瑪利娜修女在祈禱中，身體突然劇烈顫抖，耶穌的聖傷，出現在她的手、腳和肋旁。之後，她感到極度虛弱，而且靈魂經驗到黑暗之夜。靈魂經過幾個月遭到魔鬼的折磨，被誘於絕望。瑪利娜修女向聖母呼求，終於得到解救。
不過，她的身體持續虛弱，瑪利娜修女終於在苦難日下午三時三十分死去。她的遺體放在聖詠棚的下層供人瞻仰，並定在復活瞻禮二（星期一）舉行殯葬。復活節當天早上四時，修女們到聖詠棚上層祈禱時，赫然見到瑪利娜修女正在那裡祈禱，眾人嚇得四散奔逃。
瑪利娜修女向院長和告解神師解釋，在她第二次死亡，在奧妙的煉獄受了苦，直到復活節的上午三時------基督復活的時刻。
瑪利娜修女之後繼續渡她的祈禱和奉獻生活，到1635年逝世。