TIMELINE OF THE PROCESS

F O R E W O R D

It was in 1684 that our beloved Mother Foundress, the Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, started the Beaterio de la Compania de Jesus. Today, we have grown into a Pontifical Congregation known as the Religious of the Virgin Mary, with a great sense of history, so blessed by God’s abiding presence, fidelity and care. For more than three centuries, our Congregation has lived through the time-tested tunnel of cultural, social and religious traditions - blessing the present-day Church and the world with courageous, responsive, humble and vibrant RVM Sisters.

One of the milestones in our Congregational journey is the work on the Cause of the beatification of our Mother Foundress.  Truly, our hearts’ desire is for Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo be extolled on the altars of saints for God’s greater honor and glory! Our history tells us that the inception of the Cause was in the early 1900’s. Significantly, this has been continued up to the present: with reverence, perseverance, hardwork, and humility. Hence, as a Congregation, we are invited to move on in our journey, with the same spirit and fervor as those of the past RVM leaders, sisters and other collaborators who have begun for us the Cause of Mother Ignacia’s beatification.

With one mind, heart and spirit, let us recall the beginnings of the Cause and see what has been done thus far, through this publication: Timeline of the Process on the Cause of the Beatification of Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.  Hopefully, through a common information on the process, we may find meaning in the value of the continuing process of the Cause; see the wisdom of those who started it all; appreciate the history of our Congregation; feel Mother Ignacia’s presence in our midst; and finally, praise God for His fidelity and love for us. 

With profound gratitude, I would like to acknowledge S. Maria Consuelo Alvino, RVM, S. Maria Anicia Co, RVM, S. Maria Nicetas Dael, RVM, S. Maria Rita Ferraris, RVM, and S. Maria del Carmen Yap, RVM for their valuable contributions in this publication.  Likewise, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for their various initiatives in our congregational work on the Cause of the beatification of our revered Mother Foundress. 

My special thanks to all the RVM Sisters for their support, expressed through their prayers and sacrifices, imploring God’s blessing upon our Congregation’s desire that Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo may soon be beatified and be called BLESSED. 

Lastly, this publication will not be realized without the technical assistance and untiring efforts of our Secretariat Staff.  Truly, I thank them from my heart!