MOTHER Ignacias first legacy is her spirituality, which can be characterized as centered on a loving God and a humble and obedient Jesus. It is also Marian-inspired. Every spirituality is a way or path of BEING AND DOING.
In the Christian tradition, spirituality is to be understood as inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is a way of relating with God. It is a way of following Jesus who is the WAY to God. In Mother Ignacias case, her spirituality is primarily characterized by LOVE. She looked up to God as CHARITY AND LOVE. Her image of Jesus was one of humility, obedience, and love.
Mother Ignacias second legacy is her community, the Beaterio de la Compaia de Jesus. According to Fr. Murillo Velarde, SJ in more than sixty years of existence, the Beaterio de la Compania did not give cause to be talked about by the larger community. Instead it gave EDIFICATION to the larger community.
Why was this? It was simply because the prevailing Christian value that Mother Ignacia and her beatas tried to live out was CHARITY. Charity is LOVE IN ACTION. Mother Ignacia and her community tried to make it real in the Beaterio. By their example and despite their human limitations, they tried to live concretely the message of Jesus, which was the Fathers LOVE for humankind.
Mother Ignacias third legacy is the work or are the works (services) in education, retreat and dormitory. The Beaterio opened its doors to indias and mestizas who had no equal opportunity or standing in the existing Spanish institutions like the Beaterio de Sta. Catalina, Monasterio de Santa Clara. It can be described as a racially inclusive institution. It gave equitable opportunities to young girls and women to be educated (reading, writing, sewing, works appropriate to their gender). The beaterio also served as a retreat facility and a dormitory for girls and women studying at the beaterio.
Mother Ignacias fourth legacy is her example of independence symbolized by the needle and scissors she brought with her when she left home. These two stand for the FORMATIVE purpose of the beaterio exemplified through the education of young girls and women in preparation for their role either as mothers or as beatas. Secondly, with todays glorification of fashion, clothing, project runway and other endeavors related to clothing, the use of needle and scissors as source of income is truly entrepreneurial in nature.
The concept of living by the sweat of the brow is nothing new. But it is of importance to us because it is Mother Ignacias fifth legacy. She brought the understanding of this phrase to a new level during her times. While other women religious were supported by their male counterparts, the Beaterio de la Compaiade Jesus was known to be self-supporting. They did not go begging although they were given alms. They made the best of what was available to them. As they relied on the providence of God, they also helped themselves.
If there is anything that would make Filipino women proud, it should be the knowledge that long before women leadership was the byword, there already was a woman leader in the Philippine islands. Mother Ignacia as a leader and her leadership example is a legacy we should be thankful for. The Beaterio community which Mother Ignacia started can be looked upon as a showcase of women leadership. Did Mother Ignacia ever think of becoming a leader?
Perhaps not. But her historical times needed someone that originated from her country, not outside it. The Jesuits must have seen the potential leader in Ignacia. It must have been one reason why she was encouraged to go for a retreat after which she came to a decision of serving God by the sweat aof her brow. The Jesuits who are known to be people-builders invested their trust on Mother Ignacia, who is our model of women leadership. Women are said to hold half the sky. And she epitomized this to a significant and lasting extent.
Our world, country, and community experience difficult times. If we are serious about looking at Mother Ignacia and her legacies, we can think of ways to help in the transformation of our communities by starting with ourselves first. (Excerpt from the Keynote Address of S. Maria Corazon, Agda, RVM Northern Mindanao Region Silver Jubilee Celebration of Mother Ignacia Movement, October 25, 2014)
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Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo: Her enduring legacies
