Acceso usuarios
Ana María Carvajal
A comparative analysis of the cases of Teresa de Ávila and Francisca de los Apóstoles reveals the limitations of rhetorical strategies as an effective defense of the legitimacy of visionary women. Despite the fact that both Francisca and Teresa used similar rhetorical devices, and that both were religious reformers who experienced supernatural phenomena, Francisca was tried, imprisoned, and condemned by the Inquisition. Her story contrasts sharply with Teresa’s rapid canonization. This study suggests that sociohistorical factors such as networks of allies in positions of power, collaboration with confessors, geographical location, and social status contribute to explaining the divergent fates of these two women.
