MOTHER IGNACIA FOUNDATION MARKS ITS CENTENNIAL YEAR

The year 2006 is the centennial year of the Canonical Erection of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary issued by the Archdiocese of Manila on 31 July 1906. The meaning of this significant event is dear to the hearts of the members of the Congregation founded by Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo as this public act of the Church gave due recognition to the RVM Congregation’s existence for more than two centuries since its foundation in 1684.

In her talk to the assembly of RVM Sisters on 4 March 2006, Sister Ma. Rita C. Ferraris, RVM addressed them thus:

My dear Sisters:

“In the span of the early 21 st century, the educational institutions of the Congregation appear to focus on raising the standards of the ministry: many have successfully obtained academic accreditation, those that are in a position to do so have applied and obtained ISO status. This observation has inspired me, at the onset of the centennial year of the Congregation’s canonical erection by the archdiocese of Manila (1906), and the singular grace that followed of receiving the Decree of Praise from the Holy See (1907). I proposes that we, individual and community of RVM’s reflect on how we measure with the Foundational Standard Operation (FSO) that was certified by the Church and the society of our beginnings.

The VISION of the Beaterio was the service of God, our Father, whose greater honor and glory must be the motive of all their (the beatas’) actions;

 Its LEADERSHIP humble, not showing itself to be ruled by the desire to command which like the woodborer can destroy the hardest wood such as the cedar and the hyssop, CREDIBLE, after the example of the Foundress, Ignacia del Espiritu Santo;

Its MANAGEMENT was rooted in CHARITY that rejoiced in the giftedness of the other, accepted corrections with joy, bound by the mutual love and union of wills;

Its FINANCIAL PROGRAM was to live by the labor of their hands, placing their confidence in the providence of the merciful and compassionate God, valuing POVERTY as the rampart of all virtues, never to usurp the common goods of the community for one’s own use, able to balance acceptance and practice of poverty with indigenous resourcefulness and prudent stewardship.

Its program of HUMAN DEVELOPMENT was grounded in genuine relationship with God, nourished by prayer, the practice of abnegation, and the love of the CROSS.”

 Countless indeed were the blessings that the Congregation has been showered with from the beginning of its foundation.. With deep gratitude, therefore, we raise our minds and hearts to God, with high hopes that He keep us always in His divine protection as we walk along the path in journeying towards Him as we focus our attention to glorify Him and serve Him as His disciples.

In this year of grace likewise we celebrated the 58 th year of the granting of the DIFINITIVE APPROVAL of the RVM Constitutions by His Holiness Pope Pius XII on 12 January 1948 and the 343 rd BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARY of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo on the 4 th of March.

Another milestone in the history of the RVM Congregation is its forthcoming 18 th Ordinary General Chapter to take place on 31 March to 03 May 2006. #  

First American from New York Enters the RVM Congregation

 In a solemn ceremony held on the 2 nd of February 2006, the feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, Sister Ma. Dolores Brophy, RVM of Brooklyn, New York, pronounced her First Vows as a member of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary. Professing their Vows with her were eight other Sisters who come from the different parts of the Philippines.

To witness this singular event , Sister Dolly’s brother and niece came all the way from New York.City. A friend from Orlando City of Florida was likewise present. Sr. Ma. Mansueta Dolalas, RVM represented the MIM groups in the East Coast of the USA.

A few days after her profession, Sister Dolly was allowed to go home to visit her ailing father. She is now back to the Philippines for further formation in her first year of Juniorate.

 FOUNDATIONAL STANDARD OPERATION

C E R T I F I C A T I O N

DIGITUS DEI EST HIC !
THE FINGER OF GOD IS HERE !

THESE RULES CAN ONLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE INTERIOR LAW OF CHARITY
UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THIS COUNTRY CAN BE COMPARED TO AN ARID DESERT FILLED WITH THORNS,
TRANSFORMED BY THE HAND OF GOD INTO A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN OF FLOWERINGVIRGINITY
AND OTHER CHRISTIAN VIRTUES.

MANILA . GIVEN THIS DAY, 1 ST OF JULY 1726
BY ORDER OF THE VICAR GENERAL OF THIS ARCHDIOCESE

FAVORS***GRACES***FAVORS***GRACES

 Healing of a Swollen Leg

 Mrs. Emerenciana Z. Napoles of Kidapawan City thanks Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo for the healing of her husband’s swollen leg. It started from a simple mosquito bite which he scratched until it started to swell and the wound became bigger each day that rendered her husband sleepless nights because of the pain.

We were constrained to seek the help of an “albolario” but no healing took place.

In an MIM meeting one Sunday the Sisters distributed prayer leaflets of Mother Ignacia, Then things came out differently. “I gave the picture to my husband…and told him to ask Mother Ignacia’s help to heal him. This, he did many times a day, kissing the picture and praing to Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo to help heal his aching foot and leg. After 3 days he stopped limping and his foot began to dry up. After our novena , through the intercession of Mother Ignacia, the wound continued to heal.The wound now is only a big scar, no longer the offensive smelling thing. Thank you, Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo for interceding to heal my husband’s ailment. Praise and thank you Lord!

 I am also grateful to Mama Mary for her intercession.

Spiritual Healing of the Family

Mrs. Margarita M. Cabilao of Kidapawan-Makilala MIM Chapter gave an account of Mother Ignacia’s help. She said: “My godson who had been married before the judge four (4) years ago was hesitant to be married in the Catholic church. I prayed the novena for the cause of the Beatification of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo and on the seventh day of my novena, he (my godson) came to me and asked me to help him prepare for the requirements for marriage for he had decided to be married during the Kasalan ng Bayan last Saturday, February 23, 2002.

 Thanks to Mother Ignacia’s intercession for the family is now in the state of grace with their 3 children .“

Healing of an Aflicted Toe

Mr. Jose R. Rabang accidently hurt his toe while he was cutting branches for their future firewood. A piece of wood dropped on the big toe of his right foot causing him much pain. His testimony is as follows:

“Instantly I felt a very tormenting pain. I noticed a bluish spot over the joint and slightly bruised. Then I started limping out from the area. As I sat down I massaged the afflicted area hoping even if to reduce a little pain only, I was so much discouraged and desperate because one time I experienced trauma, pain and swelling of my foot caused by a falling piece of lumber.

 As night came, I ardently prayed to God to please relieve me even just the pain only so that I’ll never miss the meeting. It flashed on my mind also to call for Mother Ignacia’s special intercession…

 Surprisingly I slept soundly. Dawn came and I started feeling my afflicted toe. To my great joy, the pain, the trauma and even the swelling were gone !

 With this experience I could say that my prayer was heard and granted with the special help of Mother Ignacia. I thank God for His loving kindness in granting my request.#