The Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the famous Binondo Church in Manila, was teeming with people from various sectors: Church leaders, clergy, religious men and women, government officials, military officers, students, school administrators, teachers and personnel, ministry lay partners, RVM sisters, and friends last February 1, 2008 at 9:00 o’clock in the morning. It was a Thanksgiving Mass, officiated by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, DD of the Archdiocese of Manila, and offered by the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary for the promulgation of the DECRETUM SUPER VIRTUTIBUS (Decree on Virtues) of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. The highlight of the celebration was the reading of the said Decree by His Excellency, Most Reverend Angel N. Lagdameo, DD, CBCP President, which rendered our Mother Foundress the title VENERABLE.
After the reading of the Decree, the assembly acclaimed the historic moment with a rousing applause. Rev. M. Maria Evelyn C Aguilar, RVM, Superior General, accepted the official copy of the Decree on Virtues from the Cardinal and presented it to the public in attendance. Immediately, the picture of Venerable Ignacia was unveiled by M. Maria Assumpta M. David, RVM and M. Maria Clarita R. Balleque, RVM, Superiors General Emeriti. In great jubilation, the church bells pealed and the RVM Choir sang “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”. Feeling grateful deep within their hearts, many were moved to tears at the awesome experience of witnessing Ignacia del Espiritu Santo extolled as VENERABLE in the history of our Congregation and of the Church. Indeed, it is written in the Decretum Super Virtutibus, which His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI accepted, ratified, and ordered to be published in the Acts of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints last July 6, 2007, that the Servant of God “is found to possess to a heroic degree the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity toward God and neighbor, as well as, the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude.”
With His Eminence Cardinal Rosales, there were about 15 Bishops and more than 60 monsignori and priests who concelebrated in the Mass, which was capped by the Response of the RVM Superior General, M. Maria Evelyn C. Aguilar. Her response, simply said but sincerely expressed, fittingly captured the spirit of the day with her acknowledgement for the gift of persons who made the affair possible and with the words of St. Paul: “I thank my God for you, and may God , the Father and Christ Jesus, our Savior, give you grace and peace”.
 Before the concluding rite, a hymn to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, SALVE VIRGEN MARIA was chanted. The Thanksgiving Mass was finally concluded with the recessional hymn, ULIRAN, a tribute to Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, who like “the mustard seed sown in the ground, springs up and becomes the largest of plants” (cf. Mk. 4:33).
The promulgation of the Decretum Super Virtutibus of Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo is now another landmark in the Congregation’s history which every RVM Sister will cherish in gratitude and in humility. More over, it is a challenge to all RVM sisters to continue living out her spirituality in the “service of His Divine Majesty”, among God’s people in today’s world.
The day finally ended with a reception at the Parish Hall and at the Emperor Villa, with the memories of a loving tribute to Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, Foundress of the first all Filipino religious congregation for women, the Beaterio de la Compania de Jesus, now known as the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary.
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Three
hundred and twenty-two fruitful years have slipped
by since 1684, when silently yet courageously
Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo and two others
formed the nucleus of the first all-Filipino
religious congregation for women organized in
the Philippines, commonly known as the Congregation
of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, or the R.V.M.
Sisters. In this 322nd year of its foundation,
one can say that the Congregation has matured
slowly but surely, in its service to God and
to the members of Christ's Mystical Body. 
RVM
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