As I did and looked at the title “The Life of Venerable Mary of Agreda”, I felt compelled not only to read it, but to start it right there and then and as I was reading the book which took me all week because of my duties, I prayed for her intercession. 

When I wrote the above story, I had forgotten the year Ven. Mary of Agreda died. I just checked, it was 1665 so, the day my father died was the 350th anniversary of her death.

Since I posted my Padre Pio Miracle, every time I look at the image of Ven. Mary of Agreda, I feel I should do the same to honor her by relating my experience with her. I don’t know what else to call it nor do I understand why or how it happened. I knew about her life and work bi locating from Spain to America to instruct the Natives in the faith and directing them to the priests to be baptized… I learned that from one of our home schooled children's book report which they had to present to the whole family for critic, mainly my husband who was instrumental in their education. I will explain my "experience".


My father was a bad Catholic all his life, never took his faith seriously. In May 2015 he was very ill. He had gone twice to Confession but the priests in my country were very liberal so I was concerned about him. An old priest told me I should just pray; that the important thing is that he showed contrition.

On Sunday May 17^th, 2015, exactly one week before my father died, I was looking all over the house for a particular book I wanted to review. Instead, in the last bookcase I looked (our classroom), I saw a book that caught my attention because it had the pages facing me instead of the back and I took it to reposition it. As I did and looked at the title “The Life of Venerable Mary of Agreda”, I felt compelled not only to read it, but to start it right there and then and as I was reading the book which took me all week because of my duties, I prayed for her intercession. On Friday I was told he was better so I didn't expect him to die so soon.

Sunday May 24^th, I woke up at 5AM and run downstairs to finish reading the last 4 pages. I was stunned to read that Ven. Mary of Agreda died on Pentecost Sunday May 24^{th (}at 9AM). That day was Pentecost Sunday, May 24^th 2015! I became overwhelmed with hope and prayed for my father until 7AM to get the family ready for Mass. We had just returned from Mass when my brother called to let me know our father died that morning at 8am.


That is all I know. It seems to me that I heard her name as a child, perhaps from my grandparents who were very pious. Someday I will get my answers but now, if anyone is dying and in need of conversion…I call on her and of course O.L. and St. Joseph.

  https://www.neemcog.com/

• Blatter (4-volume, early 20th-century English translation) — Rev. George J. Blatter’s English rendering (published with 1914 copyright on many printings) is an established, long-used translation of María de Ágreda’s 17th-century Spanish work. Multiple complete 4-volume printings and public-domain scans of Blatter’s translation are widely available. saintsbooks.net+1
• Duff (New English Edition, 2015) — Timothy A. Duff’s New English Edition (NEE, 2015) is an editorial project in which Duff states he “corrected, largely retranslated, and edited” the earlier English rendering using authenticated copies; the NEE is presented as a corrected modern English edition and is published/hosted via the NEEMCoG/HOMBOL effort. neemcog.com+1

• Blatter 4-volume set — The Blatter translation exists in full four-volume form (not only as the popular single-volume abridgement). Complete scanned and reprinted 4-volume editions and modern reprints exist. If you obtain the 4-volume Blatter set, you are getting the full traditional English rendering. saintsbooks.net+1
• NEE (2015) — Duff produced his own 4-volume set (NEE) in 2015 and sold limited runs of 4-volume sets; the project claims to present the full text in a modernized English edition rather than an abridgement. neemcog.com+1

• Blatter (1914) — Language reflects early-20th-century English conventions and the tone of earlier Catholic translations: formal, occasionally archaic in syntax and idiom. Many readers find it “traditional” in tone; others find some turns of phrase dated. (See sample scans / PDFs for examples.) saintsbooks.net+1
• Duff (NEE) — Marketed and described as a modernized, corrected translation: Duff says he retranslated/edited to improve fidelity and clarity, so the NEE reads in more contemporary English and corrects textual errors that Duff judged present in earlier English printings. Expect clearer modern idiom and editorial corrections in places where Blatter’s text had inconsistencies.
  

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  4. Editorial apparatus, notes, and front matter
  
  
  • Blatter — Typical of historic Catholic printings: includes traditional front matter (imprimatur/approbations, publisher notes, occasional translator prefaces). Most Blatter printings do not include modern textual-critical notes, line-by-line variant comments, or extended academic apparatus. saintsbooks.net+1
  • Duff (NEE) — The NEE emphasizes an editor’s introduction, justifications for corrections, and web-based supporting material (papers on reception/defenses). That said, the NEE is primarily an editorial/retranslation project for devotional/readable use rather than a full academic critical edition with exhaustive variant apparatus. The website includes PDF background materials and purchase information. neemcog.com+1

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  5. Ecclesiastical status, reception, and controversy
  
  
  • Blatter — Many Blatter printings include historical episcopal imprimaturs and approbations tied to the early 20th-century English editions; these appear in the front matter of the 1912–1914 printings. That is why Blatter’s text has been widely distributed in devotional contexts. saintsbooks.net
  • NEE / reception — Duff’s edition explicitly addresses oppositions and reception history on its site (NEE materials defend the book and docuмent responses). Some traditionalist and liturgical commentators have urged caution about any “new” edition until its editorial choices are examined; others welcome the corrections. If ecclesiastical/critical status is decisive for you, consult the front matter and Duff’s notes for the specific editorial changes and any formal approbations attached to the NEE printing. neemcog.com+1

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  6. Availability and formats
  
  
  • Blatter 4-volume — Widely available new/used from multiple vendors; also present in public-domain / scanned form (archive.org, various PDF repositories) because older Blatter printings are out of original copyright in many jurisdictions. Internet Archive+1
  • NEE (2015) — Available directly from the NEE site (read online / purchase), limited printings of 4-volume sets were sold, and commercial ebook / Amazon listings exist for the NEE. neemcog.com+1

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  7. Practical recommendation — which to pick
  
  
  • Choose Blatter (4 volumes) if you want:
    
    • The traditional, historically familiar English text that readers in the 20th century used (and the exact wording you’ll find cited in older devotional materials).
    • Access to public-domain scans and low-cost used copies.
  • Choose Duff (NEE, 2015) if you want:
    
    • More modern, clearer English and an edition that claims to correct textual errors and retranslate problematic passages.
    • Editorial commentary from the modern editor about reception and corrections (handy if you care how the new text departs from older printings).