Ignacia del Espíritu Santo

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Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo Iuco
founder, Religious of the Virgin Mary
Born February 1, 1663, Binondo, Manila, Philippines Flag of the Philippines
Died September 10, 1748, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines Flag of the Philippines
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Feast 10 September
Saints Portal

Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo is a Filipina Venerable of the Roman Catholic Church. She was the first Filipina foundress of the first Filipino congregation for women in the Philippines, The Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM).[1]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo was born in Manila, Philippines in 1663. She was the daughter of Jusepe Iuco, a Chinese immigrant from Amoy, China, and of María Gerónima, a native Filipina. She was the eldest of four children.[1]

Ignacia was baptized on March 4, 1663 at Holy Kings Parian, and spent her childhood in Chinese Binondo, Manila. She refused her parents' request to marry, instead Ignacia sought spiritual direction from Fr. Paul Klein, a Jesuit from Bohemia who arrived in Manila in 1682. The priest gave her the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. After this period of solitude and prayer , Ignacia decided to "remain in the service of the Divine Majesty" and to "live by sweat of her brow". She left home and brought with her only a needle and a pair of scissors. She started to live alone in the house located at the back of the Jesuit College of Manila. Her life of prayer and labor attracted yndias (natives) who also felt called to the religious life but could not be admitted into the existing congregation at that time. Mother Ignacia accepted these women into her company and the first community was born. They became known as the Beatas de la Compania de Jesus because they frequently received the sacraments at the Church of St. Ignatius. They performed many acts of devotion there, and had the Jesuit fathers as their spiritual directors and confessors. Mother Ignacia centered her life on the suffering of Christ and tried to imitate him through a life of service and humility. Her spirituality of humble service was expressed in her capacity to forgive, to bear wrongs patiently and to correct with gentleness and meekness. She also emphasized charity in the community which was dedicated to the Blessed Mother. The spirit of Mary runs through the rules which were written for the guidance of the Beatas. She strove to be the living image of Mary to her companions and exhorted them to make Mary as their model in following Jesus. Mother Ignacia and the Beatas were also involved in retreat work, and helped the Jesuit Fathers by preparing the retreatants to be disposed to the Spiritual Exercises. Mother Ignacia wrote the Constitutions of her community and submitted them for approval on July 1, 1726. After the approval was given in 1732 by the Fiscal Provisor of Manila, Mother Ignacia decided to give up her responsibility as superior of the house. She lived as an ordinary member until her death. Father Murillo Velarde of the Society of Jesus saw this as a great sign of humility. She had no desire to command and control. In his estimation, she was a "true valiant woman" who overcome the great difficulties which she met in the foundation from the beginning to the end. She was "mortified, patient, devout, spiritual, zealous for the good of souls." At the ripe age of 85, Ignacia died on her knees at the communion rail after receiving Holy Communion on September 10, 1748, and was interred at the Church of Saint Ignatius.[1]

[edit] Veneration

After almost 259 years, the Vatican finally declared Mother Ignacia “Venerable.” Pope Benedict XVI, during a private audience on July 6 with Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, CMF, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, authorized the promulgation of decrees concerning 16 holy men and women who will be elevated to the altars. One of them was Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo whose cause for beatification began intensively in the early '80s with Sister Maria Isabelita Riego de Dios, RVM, as promoter.

On February 1, 2008, Manila Archbishop, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales presided over the promulgation at the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo, Manila. In 1986, then Manila archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin began the canonical process for her Beatification. Victoria Peña-Utanes, a diabetic was cured of a left foot infection. Desperate Utanes, a sister-healer prayed over her through the intercession of Mother Ignacia.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Mother Ignacia del Espíritu Santo, History of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, UIC.edu.ph, retrieved on: June 17, 2007
  2. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Mother Ignacia soon to become saint

[edit] External links


Flag of the Philippines Filipino Saints, Blesseds and Servants of God
Saint/s: Lorenzo Ruiz

Blessed/s: Pedro Calungsod

Venerable/s: Isabel Larrañaga Ramírez | Ignacia del Espíritu Santo

Servant/s of God: Dionisia De Santa Maria Mitas Talangpaz | Cecilia Rosa De Jesus Talangpaz | William Finnemann | Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar | Joaquina Maria Mercedes Barcelo Pages | Francisca del Espiritu Santo Fuentes | Aloysius Schwartz | Eugenio Sanz-Orozco Mortera | Iustus Takayama Ukon | Jerónima de la Asunción | Maria Beatriz Del Rosario Arroyo‎
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