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S. MARIA MAGNA DEL SANTO NIÑO, RVM
(March 12, 1925 – April 14, 2018)
S. Maria Magna del Santo Niño, born on March 12, 1925, is the second among the three children of Epifanio Yansao and Juliana Danlay, both of Sumilao, Bukidnon. She was baptized a month after her birth at the Virgen del Pilar Church by Rev. Fr. Laureano Contin, SJ, their Spanish Parish Priest.
S. Magna revealed in her autobiography that she was born two years after the birth of her brother. And two years after her birth, their family welcomed her younger sister. However, tragedy struck when her mother died two months later and her younger sister likewise passed on after two weeks. Thus, her paternal grandmother took care of them.
S. Magna began her formal studies in 1932 as she entered the first grade. She fondly recalled learning how to pray and to confess as she prepared for her first communion in the second grade. While in the fourth grade, worry overcame her when her father died as she realized that no one would then be able to support her in her studies. She took it as a great blessing that her cousin took her in their home and helped her finish her elementary education at Sumilao Central School.
After graduating from elementary school, the young orphan girl, Magna, thought that she would be unable to pursue further studies in high school as she was no longer with any means of support. Their Jesuit Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Carl Housman was instrumental in introducing her to the Sisters of the Religious of the Virgin Mary. He was asked by S. Maria Primitiva Dimayuga, RVM, the Superior then of the RVM Dormitory in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, to recommend a young girl to assist them in the dormitory work. Fr. Carl gladly volunteered the teenage Magna, who was grateful to be with the Sisters and particularly when she was told that she can continue her studies after a year. That was in 1941 and the war broke out in December of that year and as an orphan, Magna chose to flee with the Sisters to Balingasag, Misamis Oriental while her other companions went home to their respective families.
After the war, Magna took the invitation of S. Maria Primitiva Dimayuga to go with her in her mission assignment in Talisayan, Misamis Oriental. She began her secondary education at Mount Carmel High School, Talisayan in 1946 and graduated in 1950 as a working student. When S. Maria Primitiva was later transferred to Sto. Rosario Dormitory in Cebu City, she invited Magna to go with her so that she can continue her studies. Magna was truly thankful for the opportunity and she was able to finish her Secretarial Course at the University of San Carlos, Cebu.
The years of being with the Sisters led the then 28 year-old Magna to travel to Manila and enter postulancy on August 14, 1953. She entered Noviceship on February 01, 1954. She pronounced her first profession on February 02, 1956 and perpetual profession on February 02, 1962. She celebrated her silver jubilee on February 02, 1981 and golden jubilee on February 02, 2006.
S. Maria Magna disclosed in her writings that her change of family name was due to the suggestion of her mistress in Postulancy. From then on, she took the name Magna del Santo Niño.
S. Maria Magna served the Congregation in its catechetical mission. She spent five years as a Junior Professed Sister at the mission in Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur, leaving it for a year when she entered Tertianship and returning after professing her perpetual vows. She stayed in Margosatubig for six more years, a total of eleven years. In those years, she was keen to learn playing piano and was in turn happy to teach those interested to learn with her.
She also devoted herself as a Sacristana for several years in Betania Retreat House, Davao City; RVM Regional Houses in Luzon and Davao City. She also involved herself in the Social Ministry Center in Davao City. Her last assignment before taking residence at St. Joseph Home in 2004 was in Mother Ignacia Home for the Elderly, Pansol, Laguna.
She had always trusted in the Divine grace and providence of God as vividly shown in her letters to the Superior Generals. She, most often, opens her letter with the words, “by the grace of God.” True indeed, it is by the grace of God that S. Maria Magna exemplified humility, simplicity and selfless service in all her mission assignments. She particularly enjoyed being a Sacristana on many occasions, for a total of 33 years – the longest of which was in Betania Retreat House, Davao City for 17 years. As a Sacristana, she loved staying before the Blessed Sacrament and communing with Jesus and Mary. She, in words and deeds, epitomized what the spiritual writers confirm “You ultimately resemble the one you always come face to face with”.
S. Magna found solace at St. Joseph Home, her community for fourteen (14) years. Her nurses and caregivers noted how she never complained nor was ever irritable despite her illness. She was self-sacrificing, cheerful, patient, obedient, kind, contented, forgiving, and calm. She exhibited prayerfulness and contemplative presence in her daily way of life. Her Sisters in the group affirmed that she was a holy sister.
As she breathed her last on April 14, 2018 at 12:47 in the afternoon because of hypoxia due to cardiac ischemia, she carried on serving the Lord as a true religious – chaste, poor and obedient like Jesus and Mary.
S. Magna, your name means great and truly, you are great in the heart of God and with your holiness you make God great in your life. Thank you, S. Maria Magna, for 93 years of earthly life and 62 years as Religious of the Virgin Mary. Your desire to closely commune with Jesus has finally become a reality. Certainly, you are now face-to-face with Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Mother Ignacia. May your life of mission teach us to be a true contemplative in action. Please pray for us that like you, we may continue to be bearers of Jesus in our respective ministries. Farewell, our dear S. Magna.
Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Magna, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
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