Mother Ignacia del EspAritu Santo and the Religious of the Virgin Mary and Their Roles in the 500 Years of Philippine Evangelization

By Ignacio Russel Estoconing-Pecore

It's been four hundred years in the making, but the story of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo and her daughters, the Religious of the Virgin Mary, is finally about to be told.

These wonderful sisters' contributions have long been over- looked. Not only were they the first, oldest, and the largest Filipino female religious order in the Philippines, but the sheer amount of work that they have done for both Catholics and the community deserves to be recognized. Yet, for some reason, the Religious of the Virgin Mary has long remained unnoticed and passed over when it comes to Catholic religious orders. Despite their dedication in the fields of education, health care, social ministry, retreats, evangelization, and more, these sisters have been tragically hidden in the shadows by the church. Thus, the purpose of this book is to thank the sisters for their contributions, both in the Philippines and worldwide, and to recognize their work. I think it's time the public knows what they have done, the care they've taken of the poor and sick, the dedication to the call of duty by their country, the transformation they've been able to make in the lives of those who might not have had any other access to education, the missions that they have taken on in the name of Christ, the trailblazing they have done for other women religious, as well as the laity in access to spiritual formation, direction, and guidance. That is what this book aims to do, to bring this good work to light. Of course I cannot talk about the Religious of the Virgin Mary without spending a considerable amount of time on their foundress, the legendary Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. It is from her own courage, spirit, and determination that the sisters find their guide today and the vivacity they seek to emulate. This book, thus, also examines the life of this incredible woman, what encouraged her to begin this order despite the numerous boundaries that stood in her way, as well as some of the ideals she held and how they relate to today's society centuries later--the equality of all, the importance of femininity in the church, and even pro-life issues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639030514

Book preview

Concerning the Cover: Meaning and Purpose

An image has the ability to instruct in a way that the written word cannot. From icons to stained glass, Holy Mother the church has used images throughout the centuries in order to teach Her faithful about God and His saints. The beautiful cover of this humble book is no different. Rich in symbolism, the front of this volume contains insights into the heart and mission of Mother Ignacia and, therefore, into the heart of Christ and His Mother. We’d be at fault not to expound upon it here now.

Mother Ignacia stands upon the shores of the Philippines, bearing in her hands the crucifix from which hangs a lifelike corpus. He was always alive in her sight, a living, breathing message of redemption and hope to all she met. Mother Ignacia looks at our Lord upon the cross. We notice that she seems to look through Him to see the map of the Philippines on the opposite side of the image. This singleness of vision and love shows us how it guided her to establish the first Philippine order that would then spread its missionary works throughout the country and throughout the rest of the world.

Following her mission—Christ’s mission—and, above all, her example are her fellow religious sisters of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) that can be seen in the boats upon the water. Other than depicting the principal means of transportation to their mission in Mindanao, these boats hold a deeper meaning for Catholics. The boat has long been an image representing the Catholic Church. Beautifully, the church is seen as a parallel to Noah’s Ark. Just as Noah’s Ark saved its cargo from physical destruction, the Catholic Church saves its baptized members from eternal damnation. Armed with nothing but the sacraments and prayer, the sisters bravely traverse the deadly waters of sin and temptation to bring Christ’s life-saving gospel to all His children.

Seen at the stern of the foremost boat is a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary held in a loving embrace by one of the sisters. Above the sister, as if a statue wasn’t enough, another image of the Blessed Virgin hangs on the mast. Mary’s position tells us that, ultimately, She is in control of the sisters’ journey. Like so many saints before them, the sisters entrust their safety to the loving care of their Mother. Why wouldn’t they? Mary, who is known as the Star of the Sea, is the sure guide through this life clouded by the world, the flesh, and the