Ignacia del Espíritu Santo

Ignacia del Espíritu Santo luco, also known as "Mother Ignacia" (February 1, 1663 – September 10, 1748) was a

Established in 1684, they were the first Filipino religious congregation for women in the Philippines.[2] Popular folk tales describe a penitential form of spirituality and mortification of the flesh which sustained these women in hardship, especially during times of extreme poverty when they had to beg for rice and salt and scour Manila's streets for firewood. They supported themselves through manual labor and alms received. The Beatas only admitted young girls and boarders who were taught catechism and given manual work. Eventually, their growing number called for a more stable lifestyle and a set of rules or religious constitutions to govern their daily schedule.^[6]

Constitution of the congregation

After about 42 years from her taking up the life of a religious, in 1726, Ignacia wrote a set of rules for her religious group, finalised constitutions for a congregation, and submitted this to the Archdiocesan Chancery Office of Manila for ecclesiastical approbation, which the Fiscal Provisor of Manila formally granted in 1732, along with the rules in use among other religious women. Ignacia, now 69 years old, decided to resign as

They live in community with great edification to the whole city and contributing to the common good. They are clothed in blackcotton tunic and mantle. They attend daily Mass at the Jesuit church where they also frequent the sacraments.... They do not observe cloister and they support themselves partly through the work of their hands and partly by the charity of pious people.^{[citation needed]}

In May 1768, the Royal Decree of

On July 31, 1906, the American Archbishop of Manila Jeremiah James Harty assisted the religious sisters in the canonical erection of Mother Ignacia's congregation, which was previously postponed in the filing of 1732 due to an incorrect process of petitioning to Rome. On March 17, 1907, Pope Pius X promulgated the Decretum Laudis (English: Decree of Praise) in favour of the congregation's Rules and Constitutions. The Decree of Approbation was granted by Pope Pius XI on March 24, 1931, which made it a Congregation of Pontifical right. On January 12, 1948 (the 200th anniversary of the death of Mother Ignacia del Espíritu Santo), Pope Pius XII issued the Decree of Definitive Papal Approbation of the Constitutions.

Beatification process

In a papal decree dated July 6, 2007,

...the Servant of God Ignacia, foundress of the Religious of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 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.^[7]

On February 1, 2008, Archbishop of Manila Cardinal

Legacy

Mother Ignacia Avenue in the