Pastoral Letter

“THE CASE FOR THE BEATIFICATION

OF M. IGNACIA DEL ESPiRITU SANTO”

Circular No. 04; Series of 1987

January 13, 1987

 

To the Clergy and the People of God

of the Archdiocese of Manila:

 

Down through the centuries, God, through the Church, has selected many who, following more closely the example of Christ by the pouring out of their blood or the heroic exercise of virtue, have given a shining testimony of the Kingdom of Heaven. Right from the start, the Church has always believed that the saints are intimately united with us in Christ, and has venerated them in a singular manner, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the holy angels, always imploring their intercession.

 

Lately, the Holy Father has canonized a good number of heroic men and women of more recent times, so that, by reflecting on the lives of those who belong to our contemporary period and who have faithfully followed Christ, we will continue to look forward to the future city and together, we will walk the right path towards perfect union with Christ, that is, holiness, according to each one’s condition and state of life. By looking at this great company of witnesses through whom God is made present in, and talks to, us, we consequently feel impelled to strive to get into his Kingdom of Heaven.

Our nation has been specially blessed just recently by the eleva­tion of the first Filipino into the ranks of these heroic men and women. I refer to our very own Blessed Lorenzo Ruiz.

 

Now, it is my great pleasure to inform you that, upon the instance of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM Sisters), we are in the process of opening the case for the Beatification of M. Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, the Foundress of the said Religious Institute. While it is the com­petence of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints to study the case and to make the necessary endorsement to the Holy Father, it will necessarily start in the diocesan level, where all the materials related to the case are being prepared. The result of the study of the competent Congregation will depend, to a large extent, on the volume and the authenticity of the materials gathered and evaluated in the diocesan level.

 

In this connection, I would like to ask the entire People of God of the Archdiocese of Manila to be aware of this important undertaking, and to help in whatever way you can promote the case. Any knowledge or information pertinent to the personal life and virtue of M. Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, whether they be positive or otherwise, should be made known to us. Any knowledge or information about published or unpublished writings written by the Servant of God should likewise be made available to us. Furthermore, any knowledge or information about alleged favors received because of her intercession should also be reported. It is further to be noted that, at this stage, no public cult is allowed and is to be avoided. Above all, I ask you to pray hard so that those who are working on the case will be guided accordingly, in order to bring this undertaking to a happy conclusion.

 

Any information you may wish to ask or to give should be addressed either to:

Arzobispado de Manila

1000 Gen. Solano St.

San Miguel, Manila

or

Religious of the Virgin Mary

Generalate

214 N. Domingo, Quezon City

 

This Pastoral Letter should be given the proper dissemination so that it will reach the knowledge of the entire People of God of the Archdiocese of Manila.

 

With every best wish, I am

 

 

Devotedly yours,

 

 

 

(Sgd.) + JAIME L. CARDINAL SIN, D.D.

Archbishop of Manila

 

 

 

Manila, January 13, 1987