The execution of the life sentence imposed upon Francisca Nicolas was carried out by a crucifixion, which unfortunately for her lasted only minutes. The hanging itself had no effect on her, but rather raised the specter of extrajudicial executions as a consequence of her death. The hanging itself was not a torturous event for her, nor was she expected to be put to death, in fact, her captors even kneeled before her and begged for forgiveness as her executioner made the first cut. She then, in the hundreds of years since, has expressed sorrow over the loss of her life and even bitterness over her untimely death at the hands of the Spanish authorities. The irony is that not long after the event, her killers have been found to have been guilty of murdering her, and were then hanged for their crime.
The profession of the Franciscan friars in the early modern period was founded on the idea that all men are of equal ranks, all with similar levels of spiritual and intellectual aptitude. All were to receive the highest and most powerful religious vows that would bind them to God and each other through death. It is important to remember that, according to Catholic doctrine, the Virgin Mary is the Mother of the Catholic Church and all Christians. Her role is considered very important, and the religion relies on the notion that she alone possesses this divine status and power. Her body was therefore preserved during her death to complete the divine cycle of beings.
Another intriguing point regarding the execution of Francisca Nicoloises is the parallel between the death of Mary and the death of St. Ignatius Loyola. These two women were closely associated with the teachings of the Catholic Church, especially as it pertains to the vocation of women. While St. Ignatius was martyred at the stake for refusing to accept the authority of a Roman governor, Mary was strangled at the request of the king of Spain, Innocent III, for opposing the king’s rule. Both women were considered to be great religious leaders and scholars. Their notable degrees of proficiency in religious studies, combined with their eminent renown in their respective trades and professions, certainly contributed to their death-row ordeal.