1 September 2010. Still morning, warm day...
La China Poblana. Catarina de San Juan--remembered and forgotten, remembered again. An East Indian girl, Mirra by name, carried off on a merchant ship from the Philippines to be the personal servant of the Viceroy of New Spain, Diego Carrillo de Mendoza y Pimentel--but kidnapped en route by Portuguese pirates, who took brought her to Cochin--where she managed to escape (this is getting elaborate!) taking refuge in Jesuit convent, and baptised Catarina de San Juan, only to be re-kidnapped--by the same pirates--taken to Manila, where another merchant finally delivered her to the Mexican port of Acapulco--not to the Viceroy, but selling her as a slave (for ten times the price) to Miguel de Sosa, a private citizen from the city of Puebla (hence "Poblana"). De Sosa died within a few years, but provided in his will for Mirra's manumission. At which time she again took refuge in a convent--and was said to have had elaborate visions of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus...
Venereated as a saint until the time of the Inquisition...
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(The word china in Hispanic cultures is commonly used to refer to all persons of Asian descent... Mirra's practice of wrapping herself in a sari is said to have led to the china dress.)
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