Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz declared ‘Illustrious Woman’

President Enrique Peña Nieto

issued a decree declaring Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz an ‘illustrious woman,' giving out instructions to undertake the proper posthumous tributes.

The decree, which was published in the morning edition of the Official Journal of the Federation (DOF) , names Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana an illustrious woman for her contribution to science, arts, and national culture .

This is why the Ministry of Interior was instructed to undertake the posthumous tributes and events necessary to commemorate Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz as an illustrious woman at the Roundabout of Distinguished Persons in the Dolores Pantheon .

The document also stressed the importance of promoting the life and work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, pointing out the civic service that these illustrious characters have and will continue to offer the Mexican people, through actions undertaken by government bodies and branches of the Federal Public Administration under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior .

The document also states that Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was born in San Miguel Nepantla on November 12, between the years 1648 and 1651, and that she died in Mexico City on April 17, 1695, after falling victim to a typhoid epidemic that struck the Convent from the Saint Hieronymus’ Order while taking care of her sick peers.

The decree notes that, during her life, her broad knowledge of all fields was registered in her literary work.

She dedicated herself to the study of rhetoric, physics, mathematics, geometry, Latin grammar, architecture, music, and many other fields. Her work drew the interest of viceroys, archbishops, bishops, and priests , as well as other poets and men of letters who bowed before the indisputable quality of her writings.

Furthermore, the document states that she is one of the most important representatives of the Spanish Golden Age literature . Her work was printed, spread, and well-known among Hispanic readers since the end of the 17th century .

The decree enters into force today.

The secret passion of Sor Juana

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