Our June Recollection Focused on the Core of Our Formation Contemplation on the Presence

July 2009 Sub-Theme: A Labyrinth Walk at the Turn of the 20th Century Introduction:

Our June Recollection focused on the core of our formation – Contemplation on the Presence of God to underscore the importance of the mystical life as contemplatives in action. This is a springboard and the center of all our recollections. To miss finding God in all things which is our Ignatian legacy is to fail in our call and response. However, this call and response has another dimension according to Vatican II, fidelity to the Gospel and fidelity to the man and woman of today – today’s generation. Pertinent to our recollection, we shall take at the turn of the 20 th century generation .

Our July Recollection may be done in private or in common as each Sister is given the space and time for the materials given. The materials are taken from the excerpts from the biographies of some Sisters born at the turn of the 20th century either chronologically or in the Congregation using as reference the Volume I “In Memoriam” of our very own S. Ma. Rita Ferraris to connect and have a complete foundation of the present. Some were taken verbatim while some paraphrased to save on space.

To help us read reflectively the materials to be presented we are sharing Charles Reuteman, FSC The 8 essential strands of contemporary Religious Life Spirituality, An Excerpt in his article Religious Life

2 Spirituality in the Year 2010. We have chosen five strands. Paraphrased, these are:

1) The founding charism strand – a serious research to re-say the rule, the constitutions, methods of governance and mission statement. In this strand there is a conviction that it is “God’s Holy Spirit who has created the charism and who now invites us to a re- statement and re-living of the charism.”

2) The holistic strand -It is not just an integrated harmony of body and spirit, it includes a felt experience of God. Becoming one with self (body-spirit) is becoming one with God.

3) The experience of God strand – For religious, “God is the central agenda, God is enough. Religious life can be busy with ‘being and doing’; the most important or the only thing necessary is the being. The religious must be continually nourished of the presence of God through the daily happenings, experiences in life. Here God is affirming, inviting, scolding, caring. God invites us to a relationship needing a passionate response. Prayer and prayerful presence are necessary to nurture our ‘being’ as religious.

4) The conversion strand – This process of transformation entails a lifelong focusing on the face of Christ and an active surrender to the Lord who is Spirit. Here Reuteman looks

3 up to developing leaders that demand a spirituality of radical conversion.

5) The ministry strand - The command of Jesus “Go out throughout the world and tell the good news” is true to all religious congregations – a deep-seated sense of mission for each individual within the group. It should be a historically-driven mission. Mission calls us to pay the price, to bear the burden, to suffer pain, loneliness and loss. Mission remains at the heart of the active apostolic vocation.

Background of the Labyrinth Walk

At the turn of the 20th century, the Philippines was under the Americans who brought their system of governance, culture and beliefs. Hence, there was a separation of Church and State with Teaching of Religion optional in the public schools which they have opened. There was an onslaught of Protestantism aimed to weaken the faith of the Catholics who had just undergone a revolution. On the other hand, they have brought a democracy that gradually exposed and trained the Filipinos towards self-governance.

Limited in its mobility during the Spanish time with its religious structure restricted but implemented just the same, now the Religious of the Virgin Mary closed ranks becoming a Congregation of the Religious Mary under a Superior General. The Institute moved for its reorganization as the 1726 Rules and Constitutions was

4 being revised with the assistance of the Jesuits whom the Beatas-Sisters sought the return of their spiritual direction. Spearheaded by its leaders, the Sisters sought now the recognition from Rome. More than ever, their service is needed widening the horizon of its apostolate with a different shift – that their existing schools and those to be opened or administered adjust to the American government regulations to be recognized without losing sight of their being Catholic schools responding to the Christian education of the youth, both boys and girls to address the concern of the parents for Catholic formation with option for the poor. This did not also take for granted the prime heritage of the Foundress, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

As we read the excerpts please reflect on the following:

Where and what was the Ignacian ‘Finger of God’? Identify the strand/s. Through the examples below, describe the RVM during this time in the light of the Ignatian legacy of our beloved Foundress, Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. What are their lives telling us individually and communally in community and in our ministries?

Scripture Passage: Romans 14: 8-9

“While we live we are responsible to the Lord, and when we die, we die as servants. Both in life and death we are the Lord’s. That is why Christ died and came to life again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”

5 1. Sor Bernarda Josefa

She was the 4th superior of the Beaterio at the death of Mother Ursula del Rosario in 1788. “The almost 20 years she governed the community must have been difficult years. Most of the benefactors of the Beaterio had come through Jesuit recommendations, and when the Society was expelled from the colony the government confiscated all their property, and the funds that came to the Beaterio through the Fathers of the Society were stopped. Yet the apostolate at the Beaterio: education, and specially the retreat for women, continued. This can be attributed to the resourcefulness and courage of the leaders of the community, among whom was Mother Bernarda Josefa. (p.8)

2. Rev. M. Fermina Generoso Cruz

She was a religious of great talent and practical spirit who knew how to govern in a remarkable balance of personal interest, love and affection of a real mother, and a dignity proper to her office. She was always proper in her ways. She inspired her subjects to the practice of virtue by her exemplary life as well as by her counsels and words that made the demands of holy obedience sweet and agreeable. It was to her that the Jesuit superior appealed for personnel for the Tamontaca mission, and she it was who invested the 3 recogidas with the habit of the Beaterio and sent them as missionary-novices to Mindanao. (p.80)

6 3. Sor Victoria Mirasol

When she was a novice, she was tempted to abandon her vocation and had prepared to leave the convent. Her directress (Sor Timotea Holdeim) became aware of her trials and tried to console her that all this was a temptation. Unknown to her, her directress proposed to the novices to begin a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to whom Victoria was devoted. Before the novena was completed, Victoria approached her directress, and with tears lamented her intention to leave and for the bother she had given her over this matter. The directress greatly relieved by this manifestation comforted the novice for whose perseverance she had prayed most and did penance. The statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary which Victoria dressed in velvet and gold embroidery and venerated at the side altars of the Beaterio in Manila were her patrimony. (p.22)

4. Sor Potenciana Librojo

One time, being with her choir, Sor Potenciana, one of the pioneers of Caraga, overtaken by bad weather was kept from reaching the shore for fear of being dashed among the rocks. Stranded for hours among the reefs, she with her companions waited and prayed the rosary. To distract the children from their fear and hunger, she instructed them to open their mouths and swallow their saliva when praying the phrase, “Give us this day, our

7 daily bread. She with her companions eventually reached the shore at ten in the evening where they were received with great joy by the priest and his parishioners.” In 1912, another typhoon blew the roof of the Sisters’ residence, so everyone took cover under the stairs and waited for aid to come, while the waters slowly rising to waist level. No one ventured out for fear of falling trees, galvanized iron roofs and other dangers. It was hours later that they were rescued by a Jesuit brother and they had to stay in the boys’ classrooms where they passed eating only boiled green bananas, coconuts and camotes. And when there was nothing to eat, they slept off their hunger. (p.15)

5. Reflections from Sor Lourdes Gines:

On the will of God: “All are called to work. What a solace to poor bedridden invalids who had dreamt of strenuous years of toil for God’s glory… what a solace to them who, after rendering faithful service, are ‘retired’ compelled to rest. They know that their present lives are not useless, their sufferings not wasted. In God’s Kingdom the most deserving laborers are not (only) those that do the toiling but those that pray and suffer.”

On death: “It is the most important moment of life – determines eternity. Prepare (for) death when we are well. It is hard to pray when we are very ill. Death is the end of our toil, trials and sufferings, and the beginning of eternal bliss. It is the end of the way of the cross – a

8 going home to see the Lord… I am ready to go and I leave to Him when He wants to take me.

6. Sor Guillerma Santos - mother-daughter call from God

While studying at the Beaterio, she never failed to attend the retreat by which she grew in her spiritual life that led her to opt for religious life. Her mother tried to discourage her first by harassment – scolding her in the middle of the night, then later through sweet words, promising her a large house, new clothes and jewelry, being the only child. Sor Guillerma stood her ground and her mother had to give in. Not only giving her permission, her mother became a recogida. When the mother died, she inherited all her assets – P13, 000.00. Professed in 1911, Sor Guillerma taught in Pampanga and catechize in Pampango. She died blind at age 76 years and 45 years professed.

7. S. Ma. Andrea Cruz

She was sent as head of the community of the newly founded school in Kawit, Cavite. The pupils paid P4.00 a month for the tuition while the three Sisters were given a stipend of P100.00 a month per arrangement with the Archbishop of Manila.

9 8. Sor Marcela Medina – another Ignacia???

No birth and family information. She died in the odor of sanctity after having lived an angelic life on earth. Her older Sisters and peers witnessed her life of virtues especially humility and blind obedience. She obeyed everything even done in jest, without blaming anyone when reprimanded by her superiors that she took with humility and childlike candor and simplicity. Her confessor, Fr. Beltran, SJ, standing at the azotea of the Ateneo one evening while praying saw the soul of Marcela fly to heaven, passing close to him. Next day, when he verified through a messenger, he was told that Sor Marcela Medina passed away the previous night. On the other hand, another messenger was sent by the commanding officer of the Spanish forces stationed near the Beaterio to ask what the celebration the previous night was only to receive the same information. The commander went to see the Sisters and insisted that he had heard very beautiful music and songs the like of which he had never heard, coming from the Beaterio. The Sisters concluded that these were angelic choir that assisted at the deathbed of the humble servant of the Lord. The Spanish soldiers offered to carry her coffin to the Church of St. Ignatius in front of the Beaterio. She was buried in Paco Catholic Cemetery. (p. 153)

9. Rev. M. Timotea Holdeim

10 Deprived by her parents earlier for further studies, Timotea of Casiguran, Albay was able to study through the intercession of the parish priest thus completing the Teacher Training Course Sobresaliente in 1899 in Naga under the Sisters of Charity. Once more through the same priest, she entered the Intramuros Beaterio whom she had chosen as it was engaged in education. True to neophytes in formal formation, she was assigned to household work such as the kitchen though not accustomed to such. There were nights when she could not sleep, just watching the clock as a bell ringer. On one occasion while she was ringing the bell, she slipped from the stairs and fell headlong, with the bell still in her hand. Thanks be to God, no injury. As an assistant infirmarian she was under a Sister who seemed never to find anything she did right. After passing these trials of lowly and manual work during postulancy, her assignment was in line in her expertise as teacher aid and instructress for Sacred History and Spanish grammar. As a novice, she was given some classes to teach, without, she emphasized, prejudice to her own formation in the spiritual life and religious perfection. Every year she took charge of preparing deserving students to take the government examinations for certifications as school teachers. The letters of application for receiving the habit, professing the temporary and perpetual vows that she wrote became the formulas used by every candidate for years to come, and when she became the first secretary general of the Congregation, she was responsible for their revisions. Professed as a Sister in the Beaterio, she introduced many innovations in the system in spite of contradictions from the administration: regularized the order and discipline, revised the schedule, allowing study and prayer time for the students, arranged the practices in the boarders’ refectory so that they sat formally and ate a common time, with spiritual reading

11 going on, and using decent table ware befitting their status as colegialas, hence raising the standard of the Colegio and its public image in the city. In 1900 she established the association of the Children of Mary with the consent of Fr. Bitrian, SJ, the spiritual director of the Beaterio. In 1904, she revised the curriculum of the college. “All the books (records) that now exist in the Archives of the Congregation were written by her own hands; all the original documents of the investiture, profession and petitions to the bishops, consisting of manuscripts, typescripts, are all her works. Her other works are: the biographical notes of all the members since the foundation up to the present (up to early 1930’s possibly 1933 when she ended as superior general) everything that she could retrieve from tradition and interviews with the older members, since at the beginning of the administration of the first superior general, there had not been any existing books except for two manuscripts copies of the Rules and Constitutions, one in tagalog the other in Spanish…an inventory of furniture of the house and chapel. Known as keeper of the memories of the Congregation she died on April 17, 1936, 47 years in religious life at age 72 years. (pp.224-225)

10. S. Ma. Rebecca Kiunisala

A most dynamic and dedicated religious with a sense of humor that kept her going even under the most difficult circumstances, Rebecca was one of the 11 children who finished her teaching course as salutatorian in 1936 in Lourdes College, Cagayan de Oro City having an RVM aunt, who brought her there. Professed on December 8, 1939, later, she became a formator of two

12 diocesan institutes: the Daughters of St. Teresa and the Servants of Our Lady of Peace(Siervas) in Cebu. Her multi-faceted activities included preaching in the Lahug Church and being a speaker at national conventions. She had a well-organized prison apostolate, and was coordinator of the Archdiocesan Catholic Relief Services. Cardinal Rosales consulted her on many matters of the Archdiocese and later invited her to attend his reception of the red hat as cardinal. Another unexpected joy was being awarded the “pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. Her eternal reward came on May 30, 1983. (p.294).

11. Sr. Ma. Marcela Ramos

One of the 12 children and born on January 16, 1906, Parañaque, Marcela was an alumna of Beaterio de la Compañia from grade school to high school and entered the convent right after high school graduation. Professed on March 19, 1928, she earned her Bachelors degree in Education at the University of Santo Tomas. The 2nd World War overtook her in Iligan. The Jesuit Fr. Cervini offered St. Michael’s College as an emergency hospital, and S. Marcela with Sr. Lourdes Albano volunteered as medical Assistants. Later, as a local superior, she demanded strict religious observance of her members. She was hospitable, thoughtful person, well- loved by teachers, parents and students alike. The Jesuits and Claritian missionaries in Zamboanga remember her kindness and hospitality. The Carmelite Sisters of Zamboanga call her their “second foundress” for having facilitated in a large measure their foundation in Zamboanga la bella. She was a dedicated and committed

13 missionary, had a great love for music and was well versed in Spanish language. She was gifted with a beautiful singing voice. In quasi-retirement at the Mother House, her assistance was solicited by the Latin-American Claretian priest, Fr. Alberto Rossa to translate some important documents and pamphlets of the Conference of Latin American Religious in English, a task that she performed to the great satisfaction of Fr. Rossa. Sr. Marcela was on her feet up to the last day of her life. In the morning May 4, 1982, she still went to consult with her doctor. In the afternoon, she had one of her asthmatic attacks, which led to a massive cardiac arrest. At 6:30 p.m, she went into a coma and brought immediately to the hospital died at 7:30 p.m.

12. Sr. Ma. Zita Elizalde

She was one of the five Teresitas who opted to join the RVM rather than go home when the Congregation of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Surigao was closed by the Bishop James Hayes of Cagayan de Oro who upon pastoral visitation evaluated the group as not growing spiritually for ten years. She was elected superior of the group in 1929. “I have committed myself to God; if I would be accepted, I will do the will of God according to your paternal disposition.” On September 25, 1935, she with her other companions were welcomed by the Beaterio de Manila and were required to repeat their canonical year novitiate, then professed one year after. Gentle, serene and uncomplaining coming from a close union with God in prayer, Sr. Zita was assigned in almost all communities as in charge of kitchen, refectory and pantry. She was 95 years old when she died. (p.261)

14 13. Sor Leonila Romero

She was born on January 17, 1881 in Quiapo, Manila. Orphaned, she suffered under the hands of her guardians to such an extent that she begged her deceased mother to take all (with little brothers) to heaven at the height of her depression. At the insistence of her grandfather, Leonila pursued her studies and was qualified to be an “Insular teacher” and was quickly employed. She taught English at the Beaterio before she made her profession in 1907 and later administrator and professor. As Mistress of Novices in 1948, her formands recalled how she provided them opportunities to develop their gifts in the programs she urged them to prepare. They lived their solidarity with the poor literally since they lived by the providence of God as they had no regular subsidy. Mother Leonila had touched the lives of a good number of RVM sisters who entered during 1948- 1954 because this was the period of highest population of St. Joseph’s Novitiate, Quezon City. The style of formation she employed was balance of traditional discipline in an atmosphere of openness and trust that encouraged the creativity of formands to flourish.

14. The Fernandez Sisters – Ma. Pilar and Ma. Rosario

Pilar, 12th of the 16th children and an older one, Rosario were from Pagsanjan, Laguna. Later, at Pila, Laguna, Rosario became her teacher and Pilar finished clase superior in Spanish and learned enough English to teach it. At age 12, she was appointed assistant teacher by the provincial governor. Returning to Pagsanjan, the

15 family opened a school that later turned into a public school with both sisters appointed as’ insular teachers’ that she held until the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. Unfulfilled in spite of being surrounded by worldly allurements in her adolescent, Pilar was able to secure permission from her mother to enter the convent unaware that her sister, Rosario was also preparing to be admitted to the Beaterio de la Compañia. Their mother took them to the Beaterio for postulancy and had their investiture together. As novices, Rosario wrote about Pilar:”We agreed to help one another in our way to God. In her sweet and endearing way she used to call my attention to certain faults I was not aware of. Whenever she could not pray well, she would ask permission to perform acts of penance which our Mistress prudently denied her. She was always recollected during prayer. She used to tell me :How good it is for us to be here. I have never been happier. How much we owe God for having called us. We had been chosen instead of many other good ladies in Pagsanjan. This should stimulate us to respond to God’s grace by being humble and docile.… When away from each other she used to write me letters of encouragement and comfort, giving me the incentive to love my vocation more and more. Both of them treasured these lines in their pursuit of perfection: “Suffer if you want to rejoice; Lose if you want to gain; Descend if you want to ascend; Die if you wish to live.” (pp.286-287)