Blessed is Her Name

Blessed Is Her Name: A Modern Retelling of a Divine Legacy

Throughout history, there have been individuals whose spiritual devotion and literary contributions continue to inspire generations. One such figure is Mary of Jesus of Ágreda (1602–1665), a Spanish Franciscan nun whose mystical visions and theological writings shaped the way many understand the life of the Virgin Mary. Now, centuries later, her revelations are finding new life through an “inspired” narrative adaptation, Blessed is Her Name by Barbara Oleynick.

The Life and Legacy of Mary of Jesus of Ágreda

Mary of Jesus of Ágreda was born into a family wholly dedicated to God. Her mother and she entered the convent together in January 1619, while her father and two brothers took Franciscan vows. At just twenty-five, she was made Abbess by papal dispensation, a role she embraced with humility and wisdom. Her reputation for holiness was so great that only seven years after her passing, the Catholic Church introduced her cause for canonization on June 21, 1672.

But beyond her personal sanctity, what cemented her spiritual influence was her monumental work, La mística ciudad de Dios, historia divina de la Virgen, Madre de Dios—better known in English as The Mystical City of God. This massive, 4,000-page theological text, divided into four volumes, recounts the divine revelations she received about the life, death, and celestial reign of the Virgin Mary. Originally written in Spanish, the work was later translated into German in 1885 by the Redemptorist Fathers. Inspired by this version, Father George J. Blatter, a Chicago priest, learned Spanish to produce the first English translation in 1912, ensuring that Mary of Ágreda’s revelations could reach a global audience.

A Work Destined for the Screen but now a Book

Centuries later, in September 1999, a seemingly fated event took place. Barbara Oleynick, an author, playwright/composer and MFA graduate from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, was browsing in a bookstore when a copy of The Mystical City of God quite literally fell off the shelf. This moment of serendipity led her to read the book repeatedly, absorbing its depth and spiritual magnitude. Moved by its message, she began writing a screenplay adaptation, Blessed is Her Name, on December 8, 2000, completing it by Christmas Day. Since then, only three individuals have read her screenplay, but now, it is poised to introduce a broader audience to the divine history and spiritual legacy of the Virgin Mother of God. At the beginning of this year 2025 - the proclaimed Year of Solemnity of Mary, that was was "inspired" to adapt the screenplay into a narrative.

A Message for Our Time

The mystical writings of Mary of Jesus of Ágreda offer a profound and intimate portrait of Mary, the Mother of God, not only as the Queen of Heaven but as the Mother of all humanity. Her visions unveil the hidden aspects of divine mysteries, drawing believers closer to the heart of the Marian devotion. As Blessed is Her Name prepares to bring this sacred narrative to life in a new format, its impact could be just as transformative as The Mystical City of God was centuries ago.

As the words from The Mystical City of God proclaim:

"Just as I have told you that he who knows Me knows also My Father, so I now tell you that he who knows My Mother knows Me."—The Mystical City of God, Vol. III, p. 765

In an era where faith, history, and storytelling intertwine, Blessed is Her Name stands as a beacon, illuminating the spiritual truths of Mary’s life for a modern audience. Will this screenplay be the key to reintroducing Mary of Ágreda’s divine revelations to the world? Only time will tell.

A sample chapter of the book. The Ascension of Christ

Stay tuned as this extraordinary story unfolds.