St. Mariana de Paredes

St. Mariana was a hermitess and is known as the “Lily of Quito,” Ecuador.  She was born Mariana de Paredes and called herself Mariana of Jesus.  Born in Quito, she was a hermitess in her brother-in-law’s residence.  She was a Third Order Franciscan and is particularly venerated by other tertiaries.  Orphaned at a very young age, she was raised by her older sister, Jerónima de Paredes, and the latter's husband, Cosme de Caso. Drawn to a spiritual life, her sister and brother-in-law allowed her to live in seclusion in their house, living "the life of an uncloistered beata," similar to St Rose of Lima to whom she is often compared. Mariana offered herself as a victim for the city during an earthquake in 1645 and died. She was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII.  Her feast day is May 28.