ESCOBAR, MARINA DE: Spanish mystic; b. at Valladolid 1554; d. there July 9, 1633. She was a near relative of Antonio Escobar y Mendoza (q.v.), and a pupil and penitent of the Jesuit Ludovico da Ponte, who trained her in the spirit of his order. She attained renown by her extraordinary promotion of prayer of the heart, by her wonderful visions, and as a reformer of the Spanish branch of the Brigittines (see BRIDGET, SAINT, OF SWEDEN AND THE BRIGITTINE ORDER). Many Roman Catholic writers term her "Blessed" and "Honorable," while Alban Stolz even calls her "Saint."

(O. ZÖCKLER†.)