The New Feminism

“The moral and spiritual strength of a woman,” wrote Pope John Paul II in Mulieribus Dignitatem, “is joined to her awareness that God entrusts the human being to her in a special way...a woman is strong because of her awareness of this entrusting...

“Thus the ‘perfect woman’ (cf. Prov 31:10) becomes an irreplaceable support and source of spiritual strength for other people, who perceive the great energies of her spirit. These ‘perfect women’ are owed much by their families, and sometimes by whole nations.”

Indeed sometimes by more than nations. After considering how the femininity of Mary guides men to God, Fr John Saward lists nine such women in his book The Beauty of Holiness and the Holiness of Beauty. He writes, “The immaculate beauty of Mary challenges men to love and look upon women in a more than merely erotic way. True Marian devotion initiates a man into the chivalry of the gospel. It is a Christ-given remedy against the threefold concupiscence, and instrument of the cauterizing fire of the Holy Spirit, purging away the dross of male pride and lust. Turning to their spiritual Mother helps men to be small and therefore strong, small like her in themselves, strong like her in the Spirit of the Father and the Son. Devotion to Our Lady has not been tried and found wanting; it has not been properly tried. The Reformation cut it short, and Europe, the world, has ever since been paying a terrible price.

“In the Middle Ages, the healing influence of devotion to Our Lady was starting to be felt. There was a place for women. The Mother of God was mediating to men and women a sense of the ‘feminine genius’. For the bridal love of the Prince of Heaven, Etheldreda and Frideswide resisted the potentates of the world. A peasant girl, Joan of Arc, took up the sword for the truth of Christ and the honor of France, shaming the lies of the greybeards. In the service of incarnate Wisdom, the abbess of Hildegard excelled as musician, physician, metaphysician, theologian and prophetess. Gertrude, the Mechthilds, and Lady Julian received revelations from the Heart of Jesus. Ever faithful to the Lamb, Birgitta of Sweden and Catherine of Sienna, widow-queen and virgin-daughter of a dyer, corrected, even commanded, His Vicars [the Popes]. In the lifetime of Fra Angelico, Christine de Pizan (1364-1430) wrote an exhilarating Mary-centred paean of womanhood in L’Epistre au Dieu d’amours. ‘All this tempered male authority’, says Jack Scarisbrick, ‘and…asserted the dignity of womanhood.’”

There is much to ponder here! And the more familiar we are with the women listed, then the more impact Saward's analysis makes.

Below are (sometimes approximate) dates for the lifetimes of the nine women.

Etheldreda 630-679
Frideswide 650-735
Hildegard 1098-1179
The Mechthilde 1210-1285
Gertrude the Great 1256-1302
Bridget of Sweden 1303-1373
Julian of Norwich 1342-1416
Catherine of Sienna 1347-1380
Christine de Pizan 1364-1430
Joan of Arc 1412-1431

And at the end of the Middle Ages, building on what all these women had achieved, indeed pro-active in bringing the world to a new stage of awareness, is the Servant of God Queen Isabel (1451-1504). Isabel reached unprecedented heights in what was formerly a man’s world. She became the pre-eminent political person in the world’s pre-eminent political power (and indeed she forged Spain to be such). Yet it was not in opposition to Isabel’s roles as devoted wife, loving mother and prayerful daughter of Mary that she achieved this, but in many respects it was a very fruit of her feminine vocation.

Was it in reaction to these developments that in the following century the world launched its most furious attack yet on womanhood? More to follow. Meanwhile we welcome your comments.

[Image: The Blessed Virgin of Vladimir, icon]

Isabel & Islam

Isabel won the longest war in history achieving in 1492 what 24 generations of kings had been unable to do: she and Ferdinand won back Andalusia from the Moors. William Thomas Walsh describes how, “All Europe joyfully celebrated the reconquest of Granada...Men felt the regaining of Granada in the west was a compensation for the loss of Constantinople in the east…Bonfires blazed and churchbells rang deliriously from the Mediterranean to the North Sea.”

In Rome when Pope Innocent VIII received the news he and the cardinals made a solemn procession from the Vatican to the Spanish Church of St James. The celebrations in Italy and elsewhere lasted several days. Walsh writes, “When the news reached England, [King] Henry VII commanded all the nobles and prelates who were in the Court to march with the Lord Mayor and Aldemen of London in great solemnity to the Church of St Paul. There the Lord Chancellor addressed them, saying, ‘These many years the Christians have not gained new ground or territory upon the infidels, nor enlarged and set farther the bounds of the Christian world. But this is now done by the prowess and devotion of Fernando and Isabel, sovereigns of Spain, who to their immortal honour have recovered the great and rich kingdom of Granada from the Moors…for which this assembly and all Christians are to render [praise] and thanks to God, and to celebrate this noble act of the King of Spain…’”

In 2003 one of al-Qaeda chief theoreticians, Yussuf al-Ayyeri, wrote that democracy in Iraq would “represent Islam’s biggest defeat since the loss of Andalusia.”

Even at this epochal moment, Isabel was gracious and just. Isabel and Ferdinand’s terms of victory stated: “It is established and agreed that the governors and officers of justice appointed by Their Highnesses shall be such as will be capable of respecting the Moors, and treating them well.” Thus, according to French historian Louis Bertrand, the Moors “were of course granted complete liberty of conscience and freedom of public worship. They preserved their mosques, their minarets, and their muezzins. Conversions to Christianity were to be unforced. Christian soldiers were forbidden to enter the mosques without the permission of the faquis, to go into Moorish houses, steal fowl or beasts, or give balls or feasts against the wishes of the inhabitants.”

The terms further stated: “The Moors shall be judged by their own laws, in accordance with the decisions of their cadis. They shall maintain, and be maintained in, their usages and good customs.” Despite these generous conditions the policy failed. The Moors preferred not to live under Catholic monarchs and fought to regain dominion, aided as ever by armies from North Africa. Thus, in 1502, on political grounds the Moors were expelled.

[Image: The Rendition of Granada by Francisco Pradilla Ortiz, 1878]

Discovery and Evangelisation of the Americas

Queen Isabel’s sponsorship of the exploration of the Atlantic by Christopher Columbus led to the discovery of the New World, perhaps the single most significant historical event of the second millennium.

Isabel's decision required vision and sacrifice. Every monarch of the age had countless petitions coming to them. Columbus had been spurned elsewhere. But Isabel listened. Despite opposition from her own court she supported his voyage and when the discovery of the new lands was reported Isabel understood the spiritual opportunity and responsibility. Royal decrees from 1493 show her priority was evangelisation.

When Columbus returned from his second voyage with Indians as slaves Isabel was indignant, saying no one had permission to make slaves of her subjects. She had the Indians freed and on 29th July 1496 became Godmother to the first who were baptised.

In 1501, Queen Isabel instructed Nicholas de Ovando, Governor of Hispanola, “We desire that the Indians should be converted to our Catholic faith and their souls saved, since this is the greatest good one can wish for, so for this reason the Indians should be informed of everything about our Faith.”

And so it is that today more than half the world’s Catholics live in countries evangelised from Spain, the greatest evangelisation in Church history since the apostles. The Spanish evangelisation reached almost all of South America, Central America, Mexico, the Southwest USA and later the Philippines. Religious orders born from Isabel’s reforms included the Jesuits, who reached, notably, China, India, Japan, Canada and elsewhere.

Thanks to Isabel’s support of Columbus, the two hemispheres of the globe were united for the first time in international exchange of ideas and goods.

[Image: Christopher Columbus lands in Hispaniola, October 1492]

Servant of God, Queen of Faith

Love seeks to honour every aspect of the Beloved. Thus Isabel's surpassing love of Jesus showed itself in her devotion to the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother and the Pope, who are the Real Presence of Christ, the Mother of Christ and the Vicar of Christ.

The Eucharist
Isabel wrote to the Bishops of Castile: “In many of the local churches of our diocese the Blessed Sacrament is not treated with the proper solemnity and reverence, nor is it kept in a silver container or replaced at the appropriate times. I wanted to write to you about this—she says to the bishops—asking you then to make a visit to these churches and give orders so that all the above-mentioned may be provided and done as it should be in the service of God our Lord.”

The Virgin Mother of God
370 years before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was declared, Isabel co-founded in 1484 the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception with her friend St. Beatriz de Silva. The order is still thriving today.

Queen Isabel wrote to Pope Alexander VI: “I entreat your Holiness to see that no one, whatever law or government he may live under, should dare to contradict the teaching about the Immaculate Conception, since from it so much good comes for the service of the Lord.”

The Pope--Christ's representative on earth
In a typical letter of hers to the Pope, Isabel wrote: “Very Holy Father. From Your devoted and very humble daughter, Queen of Castile, of Leon, of Aragon, of Sicily, of Granada, etc. I kiss your holy hands and feet and I commend to Your Holiness what I have written to my ambassador who resides in the court of Your Holiness, so that on my behalf he would ask you for some things concerning the foundation and endowment of a college. Very humbly I ask Your Holiness to hear him and believe him and to order it to be done the best way possible, which I will receive as a very singular grace and benefit from Your Holiness whose very holy person may the Lord Our God at all times guard and make prosper for the good ordering of His Universal Church. Written in Seville the 20th of March, 1500. Your Holiness I remain your very humble and devout daughter that kisses your holy hands and feet. The Queen of Castile, of Aragon and Granada.”

Isabel's piety was manifest in many other ways--her care for the weak and the poor, her generosity to the Church, her assistance every day at Holy Mass and reciting the Divine Office each day. This blog will post on each in due course.

[Image: Dream of St John Bosco, 1862; Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Turin. The barque of St Peter is safely secured to the pillars of the Eucharist and the Virgin.]

Greatest woman?

Queen Isabel is possibly the greatest woman in history after the Mother of God.

An objective measure of historical greatness is to consider how many people someone influenced (positively) whether in their own lifetime or subsequently. Below we list seven of Isabel's most outstanding qualities and accomplishments. There are not many--men or women--with such a solid record.

(When we talk here of greatness, we do not mean ‘holiness’. While the Vatican has already recognised Isabel as a Servant of God, the question of who, after the Mother of God, is the holiest woman in history is one we cannot even begin to answer: the field is very crowded!)

Seven outstanding qualities and achievements of Queen Isabel:

Holy reform of the Church. In the 16th century the Church underwent savage doctrinal and personal attacks. Across Europe Christendom was divided and shattered. But in Spain the Church remained intact—undivided and loyal to Rome—even until today. Fundamental to this strength and purity were the exacting religious and ecclesial reforms initiated by Queen Isabel.

Discovery and evangelisation of the Americas. Christopher Columbus was rejected by many monarchs, financiers and scientific experts in Europe as he sought backing for his proposed voyage westwards. But Queen Isabel--a shrewd judge of character--recognised his vision and determination and against advice she sponsored him. Thus in 1492 America was discovered. As soon as Isabel learnt of new lands her priority was evangelisation. Consequently about half the Catholics in the world today--500,000,000 souls--live in lands discovered and evangelised by Spain.

Decisive defence of Christendom. Queen Isabel won the longest war in history, ending 770 years of Islamic invasion and occupation by re-conquering Granada, the last kingdom in Spain to be won back to Christendom. Isabel also gave crucial support for the defence of the Pontifical States, saving the Vatican from potential destruction. And so great was Isabel’s good influence on Jerusalem and the Holy Land that Sultan Kayt Bey (who then controlled the area) and Pope Innocent VIII jointly named Isabel and her husband Ferdinand “Protectors of the Holy Sepulchre”.

Inspired piety. Isabel prayed the Divine Office daily and assisted at Holy Mass daily. She promoted reverence to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was fervent. Pope Alexander VI gave her the title Isabel "the Catholic" for her service to the Church. Queen Isabel’s Last Will and Codicil ordered a total of 40,000 Masses be said for her and for those who had died in her service.

Devoted wife and mother. Isabel was devoted to her husband Ferdinand throughout their 35-year marriage. Ferdinand himself was not always faithful. Isabel carried the hurt and forgave him. Isabel was also a devoted mother to their five children, taking great care that the children received a strong education. When her five-year-old daughter fell into danger, being imprisoned in 1476 by rebels in the Alcázar of Segovia, Queen Isabel rode right through the hostile mob outside to secure the safety of her child. Isabel’s grandson Charles became the Holy Roman Emperor, father of Phillip II of Spain, who between them continued her great work of defence and zealous propagation of the Catholic Faith, without which Europe may have been stripped of her greatest treasure, and America might hardly have known it.

Incorruptible commitment to justice. From her coronation aged 23 to her death aged 54 Isabel led Spain from broken disorder to becoming the pre-eminent world power and laid the beginnings of an Empire which was to last over 300 years. When Queen Isabel acceded to the throne in 1474 her country was in chaos and the royal court despised across Europe as corrupt. In the cities and in the countryside groaned countless victims of violent crime or corruption of the civil powers. By Isabel’s implacable campaign for justice—showing no favours whatsoever even to the exceedingly rich and powerful—peace and order descended with astonishing rapidity. Powerful people respected her; common people adored her; rogues feared her. Thus the Queen unified 27 separate kingdoms into one strong nation, then brought Spain to the beginning of a Golden Age. The foundation was justice.

Codified universal human rights. Queen Isabel promoted women and opposed slavery. Having studied assiduously herself, Isabel ensured a good education was available to other women in Spain and the Americas. She appointed Beatrice Gallando (b.1475) as Professor of Latin for the Royal Court. Isabel legislated for future women’s right to rule. Isabel liberated untold numbers of slaves in the Canary Islands and the Americas. On her deathbed she dictated her Last Will and Codicil, saying: “…no consent nor place is given for the mistreatment of the Indian natives and inhabitants of said Indies and Mainland, already gotten and still to gain, to their persons or their possessions, but it is so ordered that they be well and justly treated and if they receive any grievance that it be remedied, and that it be provided for…” Building on her foundation, Isabel’s successors created a corpus of legislation—the Laws of the Indies—comprising some 6,000 articles which strongly underlined the dignity, rights and defence of American Indians.

For a person to have one or two of these qualities would mark them as rare, as quite outstanding. To have any three or four of these qualities makes a towering historic figure. But to have all seven! This shows a Divine touch throughout Isabel’s life. As far as we can tell, the explanation for her virtue and her accomplishments is that she gave herself to God from her earliest years and stayed constant throughout. So—to paraphrase St Paul—it was not Isabel who lived, but Christ who lived in her.

We are interested to hear who you think is the greatest woman in history (after your mum) and interested too to hear your reasons...

Daw Suu Kyi--virtue in politics

Who believes that the political world must run on virtue if it is to truly serve people? Who believes that freedom is a fruit of truth? Queen Isabel believed it in her day, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi believes it today.

The Noble Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 11 of the past 17 years under house arrest. Her crime was to win an landslide victory for freedom against the savage junta in Burma. Daw Suu Kyi could leave Burma at any time, but she refuses to abandon her people and abandon a just cause.

Today a letter signed by 59 former Presidents and Prime Ministers (including US Presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton) has been made public calling on the leader of the Burmese junta Than Shwe to release Daw Suu Kyi and all [1,200] political prisoners in Burma.

Daw Suu Kyi's term of house arrest expires on 27th May 2007--which is the 17th anniversary of her overwhelming election victory of 1990. If she is not released then in June the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is due to issue a legal opinion on her case.

Pray for Daw Suu Kyi, pray for Burma, pray for the military regime.

[Image: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi]

Benedict's book on the Saviour of the World

The English edition of Pope Benedict's book Jesus of Nazareth goes on sale today.

John Allen writes: "Benedict rejects any attempt to minimize the importance of the Old Testament for Christianity...[T]he exegete whom Benedict quotes at greatest length, and with most evident fondness, is Jewish. The pope devotes pages 129-140 to reflections on the book A Rabbi Talks with Jesus by Jacob Neusner, whom Benedict calls a "great intellectual."...He praises the "great love" with which Neusner writes of Jesus, and applauds him for seeing clearly what Benedict believes too many Christian exegetes, in their passion for dissection, fail to grasp: that the Jesus of the New Testament is precisely the Christ of Faith, one who claims for himself the authority that belongs only to God.

"Jesus was not simply another reforming rabbi," Neusner writes, in a passage Benedict cites with approval. "What's in discussion are the claims of authority on the part of Jesus." In that sense, Benedict claims, Neusner "liquidates" the image of Jesus as a preacher of liberal morality promoted by Harnack and others.

Benedict adds that he also wants to walk along the same path with Neusner in order to better understand "our Jewish brothers."

Isabel was a longtime patron and protector of the Jews, something widely over-looked.

Time Line: Key Dates of Isabel's life

This entry is rather lengthy. Its purpose is for reference rather than easy reading. However even a glance through reveals some of the great and diverse accomplishments of Isabel.

1405, March 6.—Juan II of Castile, father of our Servant of God, is born in Toro (Zamora), Spain.

1421.—Marriage of King Juan II with Maria of Aragon.

1425, January 5.—Enrique, their third child and first son, is born in Valladolid. He will inherit the Crown as Enrique IV “the impotent”.

1440, September 15.—Prince Enrique marries in Valladolid, Blanca of Navarre.

1447, July 22.—Maria of Aragon having died, King Juan II remarries Isabel of Portugal, who will be the mother of our Queen.

1447, August 2.—Isabel of Portugal takes possession of the village of Madrigal.

1451, April 22.—The Princess Isabel is born in Madrigal de las Altas Torres. She will become Queen Isabel I of Castile.

1453, May 11.—The marriage of Enrique and Blanca is declared null (without descendants, after 12 years and 8 months of marriage).

1453, November, 13.—Prince Alfonso, brother of Isabel, is born in Tordesillas (Valladolid).

1453, December, 20.—Marriage capitulations of Enrique IV with Juana of Portugal.

1454-1461.—Isabel, from the age of three till the age of ten, lives in Arevalo with her brother, mother and grandmother.

1454, July 8.— Juan II dictates his will through which in defect of legitimate succession of Enrique and Alfonso, Isabel will inherit the throne.

1454, July 21.—Juan II dies in Valladolid.

1455, February 25.—Remarriage of Enrique IV with Juana of Portugal celebrated by proxy in Lisbon.

1461.—Isabel and Alfonso are taken to the Court of Enrique IV in Segovia.

1462, February 28.—Juana a.k.a. “la Beltraneja (daughter of Beltran)” or “the daughter of the Queen” is born to Juana of Portugal.

1462, May 9.—Juana “la Beltraneja” is sworn as Princess Heir in the Courts of Madrid.

1464, October 25.—Designation of Prince Alfonso as Heir to the Kingdom of Castile.

1464, November 30.—Naming of Alfonso as Heir to the Crown. Reunion of the King and nobles in a meeting between Cabezon and Cigales.

1464, December 4.—Royal document of Enrique IV declaring Prince Alfonso heir and successor to the throne of Castile.

1465, June 5.—Enrique IV breaks the agreement made in the meeting between Cabezon and Cigales.

1465-1467.—Residence of the Princess Isabel with her own household in Segovia.

1465, June 6.—“The Farce of Avila”. Symbolic dethroning of Enrique IV causing division of the Kingdom into two obediences with the proclamation of Prince Alfonso as King of Castile.

1465, July 14.—Letter of Enrique IV to Pope Paul II giving account of the “Farce of Avila” and asking that the guilty party be punished.

1465, November 12.—Agreement between Alfonso V, King of Portugal, and his sister the Queen of Castile Juana, concerning his possible marriage with the Princess Isabel of Castile.

1466, January 29.—The Pope sends to Castile his Apostolic Nuncio and Legate “a látere” Lianoro de Lianoris.

1467, April 18.—Mission of the new Apostolic Nuncio and Legate “a látere” in the person of the Bishop of Leon, Antonio Jacobo de Veneris.

1467, May 11.—The Pope gives new faculties to his Legate with full powers to procure peace.

1467, August 20.—Battle of Olmedo between those of the King and the supporters of Alfonso.

1468, July 4.—Letter of the Princess Isabel to the Council of Murcia on the vigil of the death of her brother Alfonso.

1468, July 5.—Prince Alfonso dies in Cardeñosa with Isabel at his side.

1468, July 5, and days following.—Alfonso having just died his supporters want to proclaim Isabel, queen; she opposes it while Enrique IV is alive: Princess heir yes, Queen no.

1468, July 8.—New letter of Isabel to the Council of Murcia asking for the naming of Procurators.

1468, July 20.—Naming of the steward and chief accountant for the household created by the Princess Isabel in the person of Gonzalo Chacon.

1468, July-August.—Peace negotiations in Madrid and Avila between representatives of the King and the partisans now of Isabel.

1468, July.—Conciliatory letter and thank you from Enrique IV to the Princess Isabel.

1468, August 17-22.—Reunion in Castronuño towards an informal agreement between the two parties in preparation for formal agreement.

1468, August.—The Queen Juana, pregnant but not by the King, flees the Castle of Alaejos.

1468, September 18.—Peace accord formalized with respect for the King and the declaration of heiress in favor of Isabel: Madrid-Avila.

1468, September 19.—Meeting and solemn reconciliation in Guisando, with a reading of the Pact, etc., in the presence of the Papal Legate Antonio Jacobo de Veneris.

1468, September 24.—The pact continues to develop in various political areas.

1468, September 23 and 26.— Enrique IV and Isabel communicate jointly to the Kingdom what was agreed upon in Guisando.

1468, September 23.—Isabel ratifies the letter the King wrote to the Nobles not present in Guisando.

1468, September, until 1469, May.—Residence of the Princess in the Village of Ocaña with her half-brother the King. There plans are revealed by one side for her marriage with Alfonso V of Portugal (September 19, 1468) which she rejects, and by the other side including the Papal Nuncio, for her marriage with Ferdinand of Aragon (December, 1468).

1468, October.—Breaking of the “pact” in the Reunion of Villarejo; an attempt is made to marry Isabel with Alfonso V of Portugal.

1468, November 30.— Apóstol is born in Buitrago, son of Juana the Queen consort of Castile (but not of the King).

1468, December.—Enrique IV writes to the Pope asking that he annul everything agreed upon in the Pact of Guisando, which the Pope refuses to do.

1469, January 7.—Marriage Capitulations between the Princess Isabel of Castile with Prince Ferdinand of Aragon.

1469, April 30.—Alfonso V of Portugal makes an alliance with Enrique IV of Castile for expelling Ferdinand and Isabel from the Kingdom if they get married.

1469, May, middle of.—Isabel leaves Ocaña and heads for Arevalo and Madrigal after the King begins his trip to Andalusia.

1469, July.—The Cardinal of Alby proposes in Madrigal for Isabel to marry the Duke of Berri and Guyana and receives an evasive but kindly worded reply.

1469, August.—Princess Isabel arrives in Valladolid.

1469, September, 8.—Letter from Isabel to Enrique IV showing respect for his authority; through this letter we know that he tried to seize her. It explains the convenience of marrying Ferdinand.

1469, September, 20.—Letter from Isabel to the City of Toledo.

1469, October, 9.—Beckoning of Ferdinand to Valladolid, who on this day is in Dueñas, 30 kilometers away from Valladolid.

1469, October 12.—Letter from Isabel to Enrique IV communicating the above and promising obedience.

1469, October, 18.—Ferdinand travels from Dueñas to Valladolid.

1469, October, 19.—Marriage of Isabel with Ferdinand of Aragon, having been granted a papal dispensation privately as an internal extra-sacramental privilege by the Papal Legate Antonio de Veneris, and then immediately communicating it to the King, promising love and obedience.

1469, December, 11.—Isabel takes possession of the city of Medina del Campo.

1470, February.—Prince Ferdinand and Princess Isabel offer a proposal as a basis for peace and negotiation with King Enrique IV.

1470, July, 8.—Letter of confraternity of the Franciscan Order to Princess Isabel.

1470, October, 1.—The first born daughter of Ferdinand and Isabel is born in Dueñas, and named Isabel.

1470, October.—Letter of Ferdinand and Isabel to the King offering him their respect, love and obedience and proposing a full consultation to resolve the hereditary conflict.

1470, October, 25.—Disinheritance of Isabel in Val de Lozoya and official act in favor of Juana “the daughter of the Queen”, and communication of this to the Kingdom.

1470, October, 28.—Letter of Pope Paul II to Enrique IV refusing to grant what was asked, namely the disinheritance of Isabel that he attempted in Val de Lozoya.

1470, November, 3.—Royal edict to the City of Toledo explaining the happenings in Val de Lozoya.

1471, March, 1.—Circular letter of Isabel to the Kingdom refuting all the accusations of her half-brother against her.

1471, July, 20.—Pope Paul II dies, and Cardinal Della Rovere is elected as Sixtus IV on the 9th of August.

1471, December, 1.—Bull of Pope Sixtus IV giving a public dispensation to the impediment of consanguinity to Isabel and Fernando.

1471, December, 20.—Official Brief from Pope Sixtus IV to the Princess, or “Confession”.

1472, May till 1473, September.—Pontifical Legation of Rodrigo Borja in Spain, who worked for peace and in favor of Isabel.

1472, July.—Embassy from Burgundy to Castile to visit Isabel and Ferdinand.

1473, May, 7.—Consistory in which Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza is created Cardinal.

1473, August, 31.—Letter from Isabel to the Village of Moya thanking him for his support and obedience.

1473, December, 28.—Reconciliation between Enrique IV and Isabel through the initiative of Andres de Cabrera and Beatriz de Bobadilla in the Alcazar of Segovia. Isabel remains there awaiting news.

1474, October, 4.—Death of Juan Pacheco the Marques of Villena, Grand Master of the Order of St. James. He had been a bitter enemy against the succession of Isabel to the throne, but days before he died, he sent a delegation to her in which it seems he declared for the rights of Isabel.

1474, December, 11.—King Enrique IV dies in Madrid.

1474, December, 13.—Proclamation of the Princess Isabel as Queen of Castile in Segovia and consecration of the entire Kingdom to God.

1474, December, 27.—Letter from Alfonso V of Portugal to the Marques of Cadiz about his projected invasion of Castile.

1475, January, 1.—Ferdinand is recognized as King of Castile.

1475, January, 15.—Isabel and Ferdiand sign a Joint Agreement of Concordance on their mode of governing. Ferdinand is declared co-ruler in Castile. Later (28 April 1475) Isabel widely extends his powers, and Ferdinand on his part (13 April 1481) makes her co-regent of Aragon.

1475, February.—Alfonso V threatens war. The Archbishop of Toledo abandons the Queen angrily.

1475, February-April.—Isabel takes intense diplomatic actions to avoid war with Portugal.

1475, April.—General pardon is given by the Monarchs to the Grandees of the Kingdom that had joined or were about to join the Portuguese invaders.

1475, May, 30.—Manifest of Plasencia declaring as Monarchs of Castile Alfonso V of Portugal and Juana “la Beltraneja” (daughter of Beltran).

1475, November, 25.—Letter from Isabel to her father-in-law Juan II of Aragon asking him to send ambassadors to negotiate peace with France. (Signed on 9 October, 1478)

1476, January, 28.—The Castle of Burgos surrenders to the Queen.

1476, March, 1.—Decisive victory over the Portuguese army in the battle of Toro (Zamora). In commemoration of this victory the Monarchs built the Monastery of St. John of Kings, the first in a series of monasteries which present us the “Isabeline style” in architecture.

1476, April, 2.—The new papal legate Nicolas Franco arrives in Valladolid.

1476, May, 8.—Isabel is confirmed and sworn as heir of Castile and Leon by the Court of Madrigal.

1476-1478.—One by one, pardon is given out to the traitors (Count of Plasencia, Marques of Villena, Archbishop of Toledo) reincorporating them in their positions without retaliation or punishment, keeping peace with Portugal.

1476, June, 5.—The Queen asks Pope Sixtus IV for authorization to enter the cloister of St. Benito el Real de Valladolid and also the Cartuja de Miraflores (Burgos).

1477, October-1478 June.—A commission of lawyers of the Council of Castile studies and affirms the rights of the Crown over the Canary Islands. The occupation is begun in 1478 and concluded in 1492 and 1496, following the Papal Bull “Pastoris aeterni” of 1472 which gives it the character of an “evangelizing conquest” with a system of “peace accords” to avoid the taking of slaves. Innocent VIII approves the continued campaign in 1486 and concedes the right of royal patrimony to Castile for the Canary Islands as well as for Granada, whose re-conquest had then already begun.

1477, December, 25.—The Queen makes the first provision in favor of the printing press, just invented, giving it preference in her entire kingdom. It was progressively and swiftly established in the larger cities and also in many that were not so large. It is not surprising that the first book printed in Spain was a compilation of songs in honor of Our Lady.

1478, June, 28.— Juan the Prince Heir is born in Seville.

1478, July-August.—General Reunion of the Clergy of Castile in Seville, basis for the ecclesiastical reform and for reform of religious orders of the Kingdom continued during her entire reign.

1478, October, 9.—Peace is signed with France.

1478, November.—Papal Bull of Sixtus IV about the foundation of the Inquisition in Castile. The Queen holds on to it for almost two years while an intense catechetical campaign is begun.

1479, February, 24.—The battle near the Albuera River ends all the military incursions of Portugal into Castile.

1479, March, 20.—Peace negotiations in Valencia de Alcantara between the Queen and her aunt the Princess Beatriz of Braganza (for Portugal).

1479, June.—Letter of pardon from the Monarchs to all Castilians who were in the service of the King of Portugal.

1479, September, 4.—Peace Treaty signed by both parties in Alcazobas.

1479, November, 6.—Princess Juana is born in Toledo.

1480, beginning months.—Court of Toledo in which the reorganization of the entire Kingdom is planned. In these meetings the Queen apportioned a sum to give to Fr. Hernando de Talavera for the discharges of her conscience and to pay for the debts of her Administration. From here is born the Book of the Discharges of the Conscience of Queen Isabel, which becomes the Delegation of the Discharges with a lot of personnel attached. It functioned until 1532.

1480, May, 4.—Royal Decree concerning professors and property of the University of Salamanca, prohibiting employment of those without a degree, and allowing the poor to study for free, etc. It is perhaps the first in a series of directives that elevated the level of the university to unknown heights. Later the university charter was created.

1480, November, 15.—Solemn Profession of Vows of Juana la Beltraneja “the daughter of the queen” with the Sisters of St. Clare of Coimbra, Portugal “of her own free will”.

1481, March, 8.—Papal Bull of Sixtus IV ratifying the peace accord between Castile and Portugal.


1481, December, 26-1492, January, 2.—Re-conquest and evangelization of Granada.
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The Re-conquest of Granada, agreed upon in the marriage capitulations and decreed at the Court of Toledo of 1480, formally began when the Moors attacked and took Zahara on 26 December, 1481. The preparatory stage lasted from 1481 to 1484. The second stage had four phases: 1st, 1484-1485, the west of the kingdom falls with Ronda at its center; 2nd, 1485-1487, the mid-west section falls with the taking of Malaga, Loxa, Illora, Velez, Gibralfaro, Velez Malaga; 3rd, 1488-1489, Baza is conquered (4 December, 1489), in which the Queen appears almost as a vision, ending with the fall of Guadix, Almeria, Alpujarras; in this phase the Queen pawned her jewels; 4th phase, 1490-1492, the base of Santa Fe is established for the siege of Granada (here the tent of the Queen catches fire on 14 July, 1491). The capital surrenders on 2 January, 1492. The same day the Queen communicates the news to the Monastery of Guadalupe and the King communicates it to the Pope.

Important dates: On the 13 November, 1479, the Monarchs obtain a papal bull (“Sacri apostolatus ministerio”) from Sixtus IV declaring a crusade; another bestowing more powers on 10 August, 1482, (“Ortodoxae fideli”).—Innocent VIII on 8 February 1486 encourages the Queen to continue with the conquest of Granada and on 13 December 1486 concedes the patrimony and the right of presentation (“Ortodoxae fidei”).—During the entire second phase the “Hospital of the Queen” functioned and, lacking money at hand, she invented paper money (today’s bank note).

On 13 April, 1493, Pope Alexander VI erects four Diocese. On 29 September, 1493 the University of Paris congratulates the Queen for the re-conquest of Granada and for the expulsion of the Jews. On 20 April, 1479, a royal decree is issued which permits the Mudejar Muslims expelled from Portugal to establish themselves in Castile.—31 October, 1499, Royal Provision so that the many Muslims (men and women) becoming Christians would not be disinherited by their parents and to protect them with all due justice.
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1482, June, 3.—Agreement between the Monarchs and Domenico Centurione concerning the tenth percent, the crusade and their request, etc.

1482, June, 29.—Princess Maria is born in Cordoba.

1483, February, 25.—Sixus IV writes to the Queen encouraging her to proceed with the Inquisition. Relations with Innocent VIII, were peaceful in the beginning, but later became tense because of the credit he gave to some calumnies about Isabel and Ferdinand; this occasioned various letters from the Monarchs telling him clearly of their responsibilities (6 October, 1490; 26 January, 1491; 27 March, 1491).

1484.—Under the auspices of the Queen, Holy Cross College is founded in Valladolid, which is followed by a long list of other Colleges or Universities: Sigüenza, St. Gregory of Valladolid, Seville, Valencia, Zaragoza, Cuenca, Oviedo, Salamanca with four Colleges, Toledo, Santiago de Compostela, St. Thomas of Avila, etc. From these doctors would graduate in all sciences.

1485, December, 15.—Princess Catherine is born in Alcala (later, Catherine of Aragón, wife of King Henry VIII or England).


1486-1504.—Key dates concerning the discovery of the Americas.
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1486, January, 20.—First audience of Christopher Columbus with the Monarchs in Alcala de Henares. In this he speaks of the Great Khan of India who awaits Christian missionaries: a key idea in the mind and heart of the Queen.

1486-1487, April.—Conference of lawyers, cosmographers, and mariners with Columbus in Salamanca; “the majority of them held the project as impossible”.

1487-1492.—Regardless, the Queen received Columbus at the Court, delaying any final decision until after the war of Granada, and meanwhile helping him financially. At the beginning of 1488 Columbus told the King of Portugal of his project, but without gaining support, so he returned to Castile. Columbus explained it to the Duke of Medinaceli, who liked it, but the Queen replied that it was an enterprise only for Monarchs to undertake and she continued supporting Columbus. The Duke is repaid for his expenditure on Columbus’ project.

1489, May, 12.—Columbus is received at the Court with the position of a Royal Councilor.

1491, middle of.—Columbus moves to the monastery at La Rábida saying that he comes from the Court. Fr. Juan Perez writes to the Queen and she asks him to meet her in Real de la Vega de Granada. From this interview Fr. Perez returns with an order for Columbus to come to Real. There he was able to witness the surrender of the City on 2 January, 1492.

1492, January.—A few days after the taking of Granada the Queen calls a great Assembly to study the project; “Opinions varied greatly”, the decision was negative and Columbus was dismissed. In this Assembly Columbus asked for exorbitant privileges. But the Queen had him called back and ordered her Secretary Coloma to prepare the Capitulations for the Discovery Voyage.

1492, April, 17.—The Capitulations of Santa Fe are signed with Christopher Columbus.

1492, April.—Royal provision ordering the town of Palos de Moguer to give to Columbus two well equipped ships, as ordered by the Council.

1492, August, 3.—The three ships, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María, set sail from Puerto de Palos.

1492, October, 12.—Discovery of the New World.

1493, March, 15.—Columbus arrives at the port of his departure, returning from his first exploratory voyage.

1493, March, 22.—Letter from Columbus to Luis de Santangel written aboard the Niña.

1493, March, 30.—Letter from the Monarchs to Columbus (which presupposes a letter from him to them, but it has disappeared) congratulating him on his successful return and ordering him to appear soon before the Royal Court.

1493, April, 13.—Columbus is received by the Monarchs in Barcelona, where they were residing at the time.

1493, May, 3.—Papal Bull “Inter cetera” that mandates evangelization and assigns the discovered lands and those still to be discovered to Castile and Leon.

1493, May, 29.—Instructions to Columbus about evangelization, concerning the second expedition, in which an Apostolic Delegate and some missionaries will also sail. In this month the seven Indians brought back by Columbus from his first trip are baptized: the first-fruits of America.

1493, June, 25.—Papal Bull from Alexander VI to Fr. Boyl; the Monarchs send him an authenticated copy.

1493, September, 5.—Letter from the Queen to Columbus sending him a copy of his book “Onboard Diary”, asking him for a letter of navigation, and “that he not postpone his departure for the Indies”.

1493, September, 25.—The second expedition of Columbus sets sail from the Bay of Cadiz with the Apostolic Delegate and four missionaries.

1494, January, 6.—On the Feast of the Epiphany the first Solemn Mass in the Americas was celebrated.

1494, January, 30.—From the Island Isabella, Columbus writes to the Queen sending her 500 slaves, who arrive in Cadiz at the beginning of April.

1494, April, 16.—The Queen immediately orders the sale of slaves to stop and convokes a Commission of theologians and canon lawyers to study “if in good conscience they can be sold”.

1500, June, 20.—The Queen, without waiting for the Commission’s decision, orders that all the said Indian slaves be returned and repatriated along with their possessions and paying for all their expenses. Columbus is strictly warned in the instructions for his next voyage: “Do not bring back slaves” (9 May, 1502).

1500 – 1504.—From the very beginning, insistence on the good treatment of the Indians is repeated again and again in royal documents, including in Isabel’s last will and testament; from this collection results an outline of the Laws of the Indies.
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1486, February, 8.—Innocent VIII encourages the Queen to continue her efforts for the conquest of Granada.

1490, April, 18.—Marriage of the Princess Isabel with Prince Alfonso of Portugal.

1491, July, 13.—Said Prince Alfonso dies in Evora. Princess Isabel is widowed.

1492, March, 31.—Decree of the expulsion of the Jews, otherwise known as the suspension of the permission to reside in the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. This was preceded by the separation of Jews and Christians decreed by the Court of Toledo (1480) based on laws already existing at the time; the establishment of the Inquisition (1478-1480) and the expulsion from Andalusia (1483).

1492, December, 7.—Assassination attempt on King Ferdinand in Barcelona.

1492, December, 30.—Letter from Isabel to Fr. Hernando de Talavera concerning the assassination attempt on Ferdinand.

1493, January, 18 and 19.—Treatise of Barcelona concerning the returning of Rosellon and Cerdaña to Aragon by Charles VIII of France (on mortgage since 1463) and agreeing to peace for 101 years.

1493, March, 19.—Papal Bull “Iniunctum Nobia” annexing Montserrat to the Monastery of St. Benito el Real de Valladolid.

1493, March, 27.—Alexander VI gives to the Monarchs ample faculties for the reforming of convents of nuns in Castile, Leon and Aragon.

1493, April, 23.—Letter from the Monarchs to the Prior of St. Benito el Real of Valladolid with a copy of the Bull about sending a new community of monks to Montserrat.

1493, July, 27.—Papal Bull for general reform given to the Monarchs by Alexander VI.

1493, October.—Letter from Fr. Hernando de Talavera to the Queen correcting her on what he believed to be excessive in the feasts celebrated in Perpignan at the devolution of Rosellón and Cerdaña to Aragon.

1493, December, 4—Response of the Queen to the above letter.

1493, December, 11.—Letter from the Queen to the Councilmen of Barcelona.

1493, December, 20.—Letter from the Queen to the Bishop of Barcelona asking him to support the reform and to prohibit certain clergy from entering the convents of nuns.

1494, July, 18.—Brief of Alexander VI at the petition of the Monarchs revoking the so called “Letters of concord” between the “conventual” Franciscans and those of the “observance”.

1494, December, 17.—Bull from Alexander VI giving the Monarchs an extension on the indulgence for those who continue to fight against the Moors in Africa.

1495, January, 20.—Marriage Capitulations between Phillip of Austria with Juana of Castile and of Prince Juan with Margaret of Hapsburg.

1495, February, 13.—Promulgation of the Bull conceding to the Monarchs the right to begin the conquest of Africa and giving them and their heirs possession of its kingdoms and estates.

1495, March, 31.—The Holy League is formed by the Monarchs of Spain, Austria, Milan, and Venice, with the Papal States and Naples against the Turks and to impede the invasion of Naples by Charles VIII of France.

1495, June, 1.—Alexander VI asks the Kings to declare war on Charles VIII of France who had invaded the Kingdom of Naples, vassal of the Holy See, and who had taken the fort of Ostia. He asks again on 6 August and 20 October of 1495. After trying all the ways of diplomacy, the Gran Capitan re-conquered militarily for the Pope the lands that had been occupied by Charles VIII.

1495, November, 5.—Engagement of Princess Juana with the Archduke of Austria Phillip the Fair.

1496, January, 18.—Royal Decree concerning the great fleet to carry Juana to Flanders and return with the Princess Margaret.

1496, August, 15.—Isabel, the mother of the Catholic Queen, dies in Arevalo.

1496, October, 20.—Marriage of Juana with Phillip the Fair (of Austria) in Lila.

1496, December, 19.—Alexander VI grants Isabel and Ferdinand the title of “Catholic Monarchs” in a Papal Bull called “Si Convenit”.

1497, April, 3.—Marriage of Prince Juan with Margaret of Austria in Burgos.

1497, September, 30.—Second marriage of Princess Isabel of Castile with King Manuel of Portugal.

1497, October, 3.—The Prince Heir Juan dies in Salamanca.

1497, November, 9.—Brief of Alexander VI suspending the faculties granted to the reformers.

1498, February, 22.—Instruction or testament of primogeniture of Christopher Columbus.

1498, March, 26.—In Toledo, Manuel and Isabel, Monarchs of Portugal, are sworn as Heirs to Castile after the death of Prince Juan.

1498, May.—In Zaragoza, they are sworn as Heirs to Aragon.

1498, August, 23.—Prince Miguel de la Paz is born in Zaragoza. His mother, Queen Isabel of Portugal, firstborn of the Catholic Monarchs, dies while giving birth to Miguel de la Paz.

1498, September, 22.—Prince Miguel de la Paz is sworn heir by the Court of Aragon presided by the Monarchs in Zaragoza.

1499, January.—He is sworn as heir to Castile and Leon in the Court of Ocaña.

1499, November, 15.—Leanore, grand-daughter of the Catholic Monarchs is born to Juana and Philip.

1500, January, 3.—Royal Decree asking for the agreement of Fr. Hernando and Cisneros that no type of force be used for the conversion of the Moors. There are various documents that express this clearly between the years of 1500 and 1501.

1500, January, 26 and February 18.—Assurance from the Monarchs to the Moors in the diverse regions of Granada that they will not allow anyone to be turned Christian by the use of force.

1500, February, 21.—Royal Provision to the Moorish Community of Aranda de Duero decreeing that their members are not obliged to attend the sermons in the churches of the village.

1500, February, 21.—Letter from the Queen to the Pope on behalf of the foundation that Professor Rodrigo de Santaella wants to found in Seville.

1500, July, 20.—Death of the infant Prince Miguel de la Paz, heir to all the kingdoms of the peninsula and their respective empires.

1500, September, 23.—Letter from the Queen to the Bishop of Avila concerning the reform of the Trinitarians.

1500, September-October.—Marriage of Manuel of Portugal with Princess María, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs.

1500, October, 2 and 24.—An armada sent by the Monarchs makes the Turks withdraw from Corfu and Cefalonia, thus warding off their threatened invasion of Italy.

1500, October, 5.—The Queen writes to the Bishops requesting that they send priests to the Kingdom of Granada. She writes to several individually.

1500, October, 24.—The Queen again asks the Bishops for priests for the Kingdom of Granada.

1500, December, 2.—List of fabrics and clothing, etc., that numerous noble Muslims received when they came to the City of Granada to convert.

1501, May, 8.—The Queen writes to the Magistrate of Cordoba that no bribe should be given to the Moors for their conversion.

1501, July, 20.—Prohibits the Moors of Castile from entering the Kingdom of Granada, to protect the faith of the new Christians.

1501, July, 15.—Birth of Isabel, grand-daughter of the Monarchs and later Queen of Denmark to Juana and Philip.

1501, August, 17.—Letter from the Queen to the Bishops of Castile exhorting them to the proper care of the Blessed Sacrament.

1501, September, 3.—Provision of the Queen naming Fr. Nicholas of Ovando as Governor of the Indies.

1501, September, 29.—Agreement signed with the Moors of the Kingdom of Murcia who had recently converted.

1501, October.—Marriage of the Monarchs’ daughter Catherine with Arthur of England, and in 1503 with Henry VIII, who later repudiated her.

1501, October, 12.—Royal letter to the effect that copies of the Koran and other Muslim books be burned but only those in the possession of Moors who have converted to Christianity.

1502, January, 2.—Letter from the Queen to the General of the Franciscans concerning the edification of the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception in Granada.

1502, February, 12.—Expulsion from Castile and Granada of the Moors who had not converted to Christianity.

1502, May, 9.—Columbus sets sail for the Indies from the Port of Sanlucar de Barrameda on his fourth and final voyage.

1502, May and October.—Princess Juana and Phillip the Fair are sworn in Toledo and Zaragoza as heirs to Castile and Aragon.

1503, January, 12.—Royal grants given to the new Christians to compensate them for their conversion especially if in some way they had suffered economically for doing so.

1503, March, 10.—Prince Fernando is born in Alcala de Henares, future Holy Roman Emperor.

1503, May, 30.—Letter from the Queen to the Pope asking him to silence those who “have been talking against the Immaculate Conception”. The Queen also helped St. Beatriz de Silva to found a new Order in honor of the Immaculate Conception (Las Concepcionistas Franciscanas) in 1484, centuries before the declaration of the dogma.

1503, October, 19.—The French Army of Luis XII had penetrated into Rosellón and taken the Fort of Salses. The Queen’s prayers were answered when the French retreated without the spilling of Christian blood, and before the attack prepared by Ferdinand the Catholic.

1503, December, 20.—Letter from the Queen to the Governor of the Indies, concerning freedom: he should encourage and reward the Indians for dealing with and conversing with Christians; they should not be vagabonds, they should work and be paid a daily wage, as the free persons they are, and not like slaves, and no one should harm them in any way or make them suffer any misfortune; and on feast days they should get together to be taught the Faith, etc.

1504, February, 27.—Letter from the Queen to the Provincial of Aquitania and another to the Vicar General of the Franciscan Order assuring them both that she would take much care for the Observance to continue.

1504, March, 1.—The Queen accompanies her daughter Juana to Laredo, and sees her for the last time as she (Juana) embarks for Flanders.

1504, July, 19.—Both Monarchs become sick.

1504, October, 12 and November, 23.—Isabel writes her last will and codicil respectively.

1504, November, 26.—At midday on an autumn Wednesday: “From the port of Medina / leaving an immortal trail / she followed Holy Mary / to be second in the heavens / but the first in Castile” (Joseph Fuentes Ruiz).

1504, November, 27.—Accompanied by many, her royal cadaver is carried to Granada for burial.

1504, December, 18.—The mortal remains of the Catholic Queen arrive in Granada and are buried according to her will in the Convent of San Francis of the Alhambra of Granada; her present resting place is in the Royal Chapel of Granada alongside her spouse.

Fatima's Immaculate Queen

“I entreat your Holiness to see that no one, whatever law or government he may live under, should dare to contradict the teaching about the Immaculate Conception, since from it so much good comes for the service of the Lord.” - Queen Isabel in a letter to Pope Alexander VI

370 years before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was declared, Isabel co-founded in 1484 the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception with her friend St. Beatriz de Silva. The order is still thriving today.

Isabel was clear that much good would come from trust in the Immaculate Conception. In 1984 Pope John Paul II consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of Christ, responding to Mary's prophetic words at Fatima (feast day yesterday): “The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world”.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote that the Communist regime in Russia survived "not because there has not been any struggle against it from the inside, not because people docilely surrendered to it, but because it is inhumanly strong, in a way as yet unimaginable to the West." Evil must be fought on the supernatural as well as on the natural level.

[Image: The Immaculate Conception by Murillo, Spain, 1680. Now at the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg]

Queen Isabel, faithful subject of Christ the King

The Feast of Christ the King was proclaimed, in the words of Pope Pius XI, to “bring home to all mankind the fact that Christ is King not merely over individuals, but over families and societies, over states and nations, over rulers and tribunals as well. The duty of Catholics is to hasten the return of the world to His authority by their prayer, their influence and their actions. They are reminded that they must courageously fight under His royal banner, with the weapons of the spirit, for the rights of God and of His Church.”

There are few figures in history who have lived out this vision as faithfully as Queen Isabel. And she did so over 400 years before this proclamation was made.