Among the saint's first disciples: Catherine of Christ

The incorrupt body of one of the followers of Saint Teresa, Catalina de Cristo (1544-1594), who entered Medina del Campo as a Discalced Carmelite nun and helped the saint in the foundation of Soria, for which she was appointed prioress, at the express wish of the saint from Avila, is preserved in the cloister of the Descalzas de San José in Pamplona. Catalina was the foundress of the Carmelites of Pamplona and Barcelona. She led an exemplary life as a religious, which we know from the biography of her written by Leonor de la Misericordia (Ayanz y Beaumont), published years ago, and from the work published by Lanuza at plenary session of the Executive Councilin the 17th century. Mother Catherine had supernatural experiences as a child, like other mystics, was noted for her gifts of prophecy and was considered by historians of the Order to be a "living portrait of Saint Teresa".

Shortly after his death in Barcelona, his body was found incorrupt and was examined by the doctors of Barcelona, and was visited by the kings in 1600. By order of Father General Fray Francisco de la Madre de Dios, his body was transferred to the Carmelite monastery in Pamplona in 1604.

Carlos Ayanz y Beaumont (1555-1606), brother of the aforementioned Leonor, his biographer, was in charge of guarding the body on the Barcelona-Pamplona journey. Don Carlos belonged to the order of the San Juanists, served the monarchy in Flanders and Malta, and was a good friend of the Discalced Sisters of Pamplona. He was the favourite of his sister Leonor, which led him to be buried in her convent in Pamplona, together with Catalina de Cristo.

The process for the beatification of Mother Catalina de Cristo began at written requestof the nuns of Pamplona, with the help of postulatory engravings. We know that Father Gracián, who was so involved in the foundation of the Pamplona Carmelite monastery, wrote from Blaye on 21 June 1607, warning about the commissions for engravings of Catherine of Christ and Teresa of Jesus. With regard to those of Catherine of Christ, we know that, in 1603, a plate was opened in Rome at the expense of Francisco de Soto, of which a fine copy is preserved in one of the books of the Life of the Venerable Catherine of Christ. Father Gracián cannot refer to that copy, so we must necessarily think that the image that Leonor commissioned from the Carmelite must be related to the plate opened by Jehan Wierix.