The life of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo

WHO IS
SHE?
 WHO IS
VENERABLE
IGNACIA DEL
ESPIRITU
SANTO ?
 At her Baptism, young
Ignacia’s parents, Jusepe
Iuco, a Sangley, and Maria
Jeronima, an yndia, decided
to name their daughter

IGNACIA DEL
ESPIRITU
SANTO
“Del Espiritu Santo”
means the expressing
their own devotion of to
the Holy Spirit
&
“Ignacia” comes from the
Latin word ignis which
means “FIRE”.
She would bring the fire of
the Holy Spirit”
on a native soil.
On March 4, 1663
she was Baptized at
the Church of the Holy
Kings of Parian by
Fr. Alberto Collares, O.P
Catalina Malinang is
here godmother or
ninang. Ignacia had 2
sisters(Rafaela
Rodriquez, Juana De la
Concepcion) and one
brother (Santiago)
who died at infancy.
She had grown
in Binondo,
Manila, a
place for
converted
Chinese under
the care of the
Jesuits and the
Dominicans.
She started the first all
Filipina religious
congregation in the
Philippines
Hundreds of women
were inspired to follow
her shining example.
This congregation is known today as
the Religious of the Virgin Mary or
RVM.
From her Filipino
mother, who
reared her as a
Filipina and Catholic,
Ignacia inherited
innocence, simplicity,
obedience, respect
and modesty, sense
of religiosity and
resilience.
From the Father ,
the Chinese idea
Of self-help,
spirit of
Industry,
frugality and
business acumen.
CALL OF IGNACIA TO SERVE
In 1684, WHEN Ignacia was 21 years
old, her parents desired that it was time
for her to get married.

Ignacia sought the advice of a

jesuit, Fr. Pablo Clain, who
encouraged her to join a retreat.
This retreat inspired her to give herself totally to
God and to live by the sweat of her brow, Ignacia
separated from her parents and lived alone in
prayer, sacrifice ,extending charitable works and
doing penance like carrying the cross under the
noonday sun.

This apostolic life of Mother

Ignacia attracted many to join her
while others supported her noble
charitable works.
 LIFESTYLE , WORKS & CHARITY OF
IGNACIA
The group became known as the Beaterio
de la compania de Jesus because of their
association with the Jesuits.

They attended religious services at the

Jesuit Church, doing the Spritual
Exercises of St. Ignatius each year and
received spiritual direction from the
Jesuits.
 Reaching out to
others through
teaching and
catechizing
young children
and accepting
Later they them as boarders,
admitted Mother Ignacia
women from all and her
walks of life to companions were
join the retreat
as they assisted called beatas at
the Jesuits. that time.
These charitable works did
not escape the eyes of the
Spaniards and Filipinos they
praised Mother Ignacia and
her beatas for their
prayerfulness, their courage
to share even if they were
poor.
Later, Mother Ignacia after
serving the Beaterio since its
foundation, gave up her position
as superior or head and passed
it to Mother Dominga del
Rosario in 1737 with the 1726
Rule as their guide to follow
 DEATH OF IGNACIA
September 10, 1748, at 85 years
old. Mother Ignacia del Espiritu
Santo died
Fr. Murillo Velarde a well known
Jesuit historian said she died at
the communion rail after receiving
holy communion.
 During her burial,
Spanish officials helped carry
her coffin to bury her at the
Church of St. Ignatius. Her life
of prayer, penance, sacrifice
and service to others
impressed both the Spaniards
and Filipinos
 At her death, Murillo Velarde
again described Mother Ignacia
as a valiant woman who
overcame all the hardships that
came her way because of her
strong faith and resourcefulness.
She was described as mortified,
patient, devout, spiritual, zealous
for the good of souls, very
humble especially her giving up
her position as head of the house
without any desire to command
and exert power
 Now the RVM Sisters
continued her valiant
works serving all over
the world in dormitory
ministry, retreat
ministry, education
ministry, social
ministry, special
ministry and overseas
mission
Last February 2, 2008, is
the promulgation of the
title of Venerable
Ignacia at the Manila
Cathedral intramuros by
his Excellency
Arcbishop Gaudencio
Rosales, Bishop of
Manila .
the Servant of God
“is found to possess this
three heroic degree the
theological virtues of
Faith, Hope, and Charity
toward God and
neighbor”.
 Motto :
To Jesus with Mary
Greeting :
Praised be Jesus and Mary,
Response :
Now and Forever