10/09/2021
Today, we commemorate the death anniversary of Venerable (Mother) Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, Foundress of the Beaterio de la Compañia de Jesus, the forerunner of the present-day Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM).
“M. Ignacia centered her life on the suffering Christ and tried to imitate him through a life of service and humility. She prayed earnestly to God and performed penances to move God to have mercy on them. Her spirituality of humble service was expressed in her capacity to forgive, to bear wrongs patiently and to correct with gentleness and meekness. This spirituality was manifest in peace and harmony in the community, mutual love and union of wills, witnessing to the love of Christ and the maternal care of the Blessed Mother.
This spirituality sustained the beatas in their moments of difficulties especially during times of extreme poverty, when they even had to beg for rice and salt and scour the streets for firewood. The beatas continued to support themselves by the labor of their hands and sometimes received some financial help from pious people. In all these, they did not cease to thank God and to trust in divine providence.
M. Ignacia gradually realized that the beaterio was called by God not only to a life of prayer and penance but also to apostolic service. The beaterio admitted young girls as boarders who were taught Christian doctrine as well as works proper to them. M. Ignacia did not make any distinction of color or race but accepted yndias, mestizas and Spaniards as recogidas. The beatas were also involved in retreat work and helped the Jesuit Fathers by preparing the retreatants to be disposed to the Spiritual Exercises.
M. Ignacia submitted the 1726 Constitutions to the Archdiocesan office for approval. After the approval was given in 1732 by the Fiscal Provisor of Manila, M. Ignacia decided to give up her responsibility as superior of the house. She lived as an ordinary member until her death on September 10, 1748 . Murillo Velarde saw this as a great sign of her humility. She had no desire to command and control. In his estimation, she was a “true valiant woman” who overcame 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.”
(SOURCE: http://www.rvmonline.org/?q=node/2)
Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, intercede for us! Praised be Jesus and Mary!
