Anything Under the Sun
Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo
Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, a daughter of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother of Binondo, Manila, was borm when the Philippines was almost a centry old as a Spanish colony. It was an age when Christianity had hardly begun to take root in the hearts and lives of the people and when the social climate was characterized by racial prejudice and discrimination.
Living under such a climate which affected both the social and ecclesiatical millieu of the country, and under the strict surveillance of her parents, the young Ignacia begun in 1684 what is today known as the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary. It was with the true spirit of generosity and openness, strengthened by a genuine spirit of courage and trust in Divine Providence that she laid the foundation of such a group of women with her extraordinary and exemplary life of prayer and penance.
Ignacia's life become on inspiration to other young women of her times.
At the time of her death on September 10, 1748, she had fifty companions who aspired towards some ideals and goals for which Ignacia herself left home and parents in order to live a life of prayer, sacrifice and service.
At a time when the nature of religious life was in many monastic, and therefore protected within convent walls by cloister and grills, the little group of Mother Ignacia added to such convent practices, a life of action and service. In particular, they involved themselves in the retreat movement for women, and in the education of the less fortunate of the society. The same works continue even today among the more that 70 R.V.M. communities and the more than 600 R.V.M. Sisters all over the Philippines and the foriegn missions.
After receiving a series of preliminary decrees of recognition by the Holy See, the Constitutions of the Congregation was definitively approved by the Vatican on January 12, 1948.
At the time of her death, Mother Ignacia received the honor and recognition which was denied during her lifetime. Even Spanish officials and ecclesiastics carried the casket of the humble Filipino to her earthly resting place in the Church of St. Ignatius in Intramuros, Manila.
There is now a move to recommend the beatification of the Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.