Women and Sainthood: the Body as an Expression and Manifestation of Divine Gifts. The Case of Blessed Inés of Benigànim

Abstract

The body and the feminine are highly linked concepts into early modern mentalities. Women are considered to be more determined by their own body, a condition that would make them more imperfect, especially according to the ecclesiastical discourse. However, many religious women could take advantage of this «unavoidable» bond, mainly during the Baroque period, and through the mystical phenomenon. Among these women, we will highlight Blessed Inés of Benigànim, a valencian nun from the 17th century whose case will allow us to analyze corporal, feminine and spiritual bonds through different phenomena such as ecstasies, mortifications or relics.

Keywords

• cuerpo
• mujer
• religiosidad barroca
• éxtasis
• reliquias
• beata inés de benigànim