ABSTRACT
Visionary nuns and beatas transformed their humble origins into a source of religious and political authority that validated their claims as visionaries. They underscored their double handicap of being both women and having humble origins to demonstrate their innocence and make their gifts appear all the more extraordinary. Most ordinary people in early modern societies could not be political actors in the sense that they could not govern and were largely excluded from most political activities and institutions. Most impressive were her prophetic visions and spiritual appearances, which her spiritual advisors regarded as proof of God's favor towards eccentric humble woman. Born in 1666 to a family of modest means in the small Valencian town of Guardamar del Segura, the life of Beatriz Ana Ruiz was unlikely to amount to much. The more cruel neighbours mocked Beatriz as simple-minded and crazy.
