Mary of Jesus de León y Delgado

The Servant of God Sister Mary of Jesus de León y Delgado, O.P.
La Siervita (The Little Servant)
Virgin
Born	23 March 1643 El Sauzal, Tenerife, Spain
Died	15 February 1731 (aged 87) San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Canary Islands, Spain, & the Dominican Order
Major shrine	Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Attributes	Dominican religious habit, a rosary, the image of the Baby Jesus with laurel
Patronage	People who are abducted, against child labour, suffering from skin diseases, against fire, lost and impossible causes and sickness

The Servant of God Mary of Jesus de León y Delgado, O.P. (Spanish: Sor María de Jesús), was a Spanish Dominican lay sister, mystic and visionary, known popularly as "La Siervita" (the Little Servant). She lived a life which was austere and simple, and many miracles were attributed to her, as well as levitation, ecstasy, bilocation, the stigmata, clairvoyance and healing, among others.

De León died with a reputation for sanctity and is one of the most revered of the natives of the Canary Islands, together with Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur and José de Anchieta. The cause for her canonization has been submitted to the Holy See for review.

De León was born on March 23, 1643, in the town of El Sauzal, located on the island of Tenerife, one of the Spanish Canary Islands, to Andrés de León y Bello and María Delgado y Perera, a very humble family. Actually his family was of noble origin, although in decline. She may also have had Guanches ancestors.

She was their youngest child, having two sisters and a brother. According to the chronicles of the time, she was a woman of delicate features and a sweet face.

From an early age, De León showed mystical inclinations, especially in her feelings and great devotion to a miraculous image of the baby Jesus that was in the Church of St. Peter in her hometown. This image supposedly would open the doors of the church for her when she went to pray before it. There was also a laurel tree which would grow only under her care.