Beatification: the stage of the process instituted by the Church by which a person is declared to have lived a life of Christian virtues to a heroic degree. This stage is arrived at after the completion of requirements and a succession of hearings to establish the claim, and supported by the acceptance of a miracle reported to have been obtained through the intercession of the candidate.

• The Archdiocese of Manila initiated the canonical process for the Beatification of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo in 1986.
  
• In July 2007 the Holy Father accepted the recommendations of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and signed the decree recognizing Mother Ignacia’s practice of the Christian virtues to a heroic degree.
  

Mother Ignacia lived between 1663 – 1748. From age 21, in 1684, she responded to the Divine inspiration “to remain in the service of Divine Majesty,” living a life of prayer, ascetical practices and apostolic service in Manila. She supported herself by the “sweat of her brow,” using her skills in sewing, and in a deep reliance on Divine Providence, this despite the fact that her parents could very well support her.

At the time when Mother Ignacia entered into the mainstream of the life of the Church through her response to God’s inspiration, the yndios had about a century of Christian evangelization, and there was evidence that the faith had so matured in them that they had started to aspire for a life of closer union with God through Church was divided as to the worthiness of the yndio for the dignity of the priesthood; the only formal convent for religious women was limited to those of Spanish descent. The nearest the native woman could come to live the religious life was to become a servant at the monastery of Sta. Clara.

The courage of Mother Ignacia to strike to her own to leave family and home, in poverty, chastity and obedience, prayer and sacrifice put out the signal to other women of her race to join her and emulate her life. “The fame of the exemplary life lived in the Beaterio spreads, and many women, natives and mestizas joined them.” Thus, the first institution for religious life among the native women came into being.

A convent for native women was not the sole contribution of Mother Ignacia to Philippine Church and society. From this institution flowed service: the retreat movement for women of all ranks and races; education for the young: Spanish, natives, mestizas, and through the years, other forms of “service to His majesty.”

Today the legacy of Mother Ignacia is actualized through the Congregation’s vision as we "courageously venture into new paths and through our life and ministry, contribute to the transformation of society” and mission:

• To serve with humility and charity; to live in solidarity with the poor; to promote justice and peace, the empowerment of youth and the women and the evangelization of families.”
  

We hold up Mother Ignacia as a role model, first as we ourselves become the outward sign of her spirituality, to the students in our schools, our partners in the ministry, the parents, and other clientele of our apostolates.

When Cardinal Sin initiated the formal process for the cause of Mother Ignacia, I was tasked to prepare the POSITIO THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO Rome. After completing the preliminary activities of the process, in 1991 I began preparing the POSITIO under the direction of Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ezer, the Relatore Generale, and in consultation with the postulator, Rev. Fr. Innocenzo Venchi. After the printing of my work in 1993, the services of Fr. Enrico Ayo was solicited in 2000 to prepare a theological presentation to complement my work. The two papers were put together from the POSITIO that was presented, and which became the basis for the deliberations of the historical and theological panels in the process.

The second part that follows the historical presentation to establish the life of holiness led by the Servant of God, is the consideration of at least one miracle obtained through her intercession. The case presented to the Sacred Congregation was the cure of Mrs. Victoria Peña Utanes, who was suffering from an infection of her big toe, and because of being a diabetic, was told by her doctor that she needed to have that tow amputated. In a desperate move she went to one of our Sisters healers, who prayed over her, invoking the intercession of Mother Ignacia. Mrs. Utanes, in an act of faith, placed the picture of Mother Ignacia on the infected toe, and wrapped a bandage over it. It was raining that night, and when she went home, she took off the wet bandage, and she found her toe already cured. Her doctor verified the cure was instantaneous, and could not be explained by medical science. Since then there had been other reports of favors received, but officially, the Utanes case was the one presented to Rome.

Mrs. Utanes testified before the archdiocesan medical panel headed by Dr. Sin, and the transcript of the hearing was submitted to the Sacred Congregation. This is the subject of the hearing of the Sacred Congregations Medical Tribunal which is set for January 24, 2008. the result of this deliberation will then be elevated to the Holy Father who alone will issue the decree over “super miraculum.” Only after the successful outcome of this final process can there be talk of beatification.