Born illegitimate, she was the only child of Jerome Ignacio Ribera, heir to a wealthy merchant family.
Since her birth, the family orchestrated a conspiracy to steal her inheritance and her life, by forcing Ribera to become a nun.
She went into exile in France and began a long process to cancel her family and the church's power over her.
After fighting against the heirs who wanted her inheritance, and being imprisoned in Madrid, the Holy See gave Ribera her freedom and had her vows annulled when her case was heard by the Vatican Court.
[1] In addition to her writing, she supported liberal views and promoted women's education.