TIMELINE OF THE PROCESS

Upon consultation with His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, DD, the promulgation of the Decree was set on 01 February 2008 at the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the famous Binondo Church in Manila, at 9:00 a.m.  It was attended by many 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.

A Thanksgiving Mass, officiated by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, DD of the Archdiocese of Manila, was offered by the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary for the solemn promulgation of the Decretum Super Vitutibus of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.  The reading of the Decree by His Excellency Most Rev. Angel N. Lagdameo, DD, CBCP President highlighted the momentous celebration. This marked the RVM Foundress with the title VENERABLE.

After the reading of the Decree, the assembly acclaimed the historic moment with a rousing applause.  Rev. M. Maria Evelyn  Aguilar, RVM, Superior General, accepted the official copy of the Decree on Virtues from Cardinal Rosales and presented it to the public in attendance.  Then, the picture of Venerable Ignacia was unveiled by M. Maria Assumpta David, RVM and M. Maria Clarita Balleque, RVM, Superiors General Emeriti.  In great jubilation, the Church bells rang and the RVM Choir sang Holy God, We Praised Thy Name.  Profound gratitude welled from the hearts of the RVM Sisters, many of whom were moved to tears at the awesome experience of witnessing Ignacia del Espiritu Santo extolled as Venerable in the history of the Congregation and of the Church.

With His Eminence Cardinal Rosales were about 15 Bishops and more than 60 Monsignori and priests who concelebrated at the Thanksgiving Mass.  Toward the end of the Mass, a hymn to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salve Virgen Maria, was chanted.  The Thanksgiving Mass concluded with the recessional hymn, Uliran, a loving tribute to Venerable Ignacia who like the “mustard seed in the ground, springs up and becomes the largest of plants” (Mark 4:33).

The promulgation of the Decretum Super Virtutibus adds to the landmarks of the Congregation’s history which every RVM Sister cherishes in gratitude and in humility.  Moreover, it is a challenge to all the RVM Sisters to continue living out the spirituality and charism “in the service of His Divine Majesty” among God’s people in today’s world.