Madrid, Spain, Jan 29, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Referring to the 500th anniversary of the death of Queen Isabel, Archbishop Antonio Cañizares of Toledo, Spain, said the monarch “was a woman of faith with singular virtues and an intense spirituality.”
Archbishop Cañizares announced the activities organized by the Archdiocese to commemorate “the great Queen of Spain,” which include a Mass of Thanksgiving for her legacy to be celebrated on November 26, and a series of conferences to debate “the truth about Queen Isabel the Catholic.”
Likewise the Archdiocese is considering sponsoring two art and religious exhibitions, one on the choir stalls of the Cathedral of Toledo that feature scenes of the conquest of Granada (which unified Spain), and one on the spirituality of the Queen.
The Archbishop of Toledo also emphasized the work of the Queen for the evangelization of America and her assistance in the reform of the Church during the 16th century. He also said the Queen laid the groundwork for the modern understanding of human rights because of her position regarding “the rights of peoples” and respect for the Indians.
Archbishop Cañizares expressed his support for the beatification of the monarch, who he considers an example for Spain, and he hoped the 500th anniversary of her death would help bring out the truth concerning her life.