Handout for Grade 12

INTRODUCTION TO CANOSSIAN SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION (CSM)

Topic: Canossa Academy-Lipa’s Vision/Mission/Core Values and Graduate Attributes

BASIC FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS OF MAN:

1. Who am I?
2. What is the purpose of my life?
3. Where am I heading/going?
o These were hopefully answered/clarified during the last semester’s CLE on the Virtue of Hope and our Final
Destiny.
o It’s important to know our IDENTITY AND MISSION - this was one of the topics deepened by the facilitators in
your concluded annual retreat. What did you recall?
o The first call of God is for us to be HUMANS - From Genesis we learned that all of us are created according to
God’s image and likeness therefore we have this innate goodness in us and more so we were endowed with spirit –
that aspect of immortality.
o Secondly, when we were baptized, we are all called Christians – sons and daughters of God, I am His creature and
adopted son/daughter through our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore we all belong to Him. The gift of baptism was also an
invitation to become faithful disciples of Jesus and therefore an invitation to HOLINESS with a life patterned on
HIM.
o Our belongingness to this Catholic Institution added name and responsibility to our identity/calling that of our
BEING CANOSSIANA/CANOSSIANO.
o Consequently, the constant challenge/invitation is to remain true to this IDENTITY and responsibly face the
demands of our CALLING/MISSION amidst the attraction of this post-modern world.
TAKE A PAUSE and EXAMINE OURSELVES…Where are you heading…To what direction would you like to go.

VISION /MISSION
 The school vision/mission was rooted from the Canossian Philosophy of Education – from the ideals and writings of
St. Magdalene of Canossa who strongly adhered to these beliefs:
(1) Canossian Education – is equal to the formation of the Heart (formation of character, of good and conscientious
individuals).
(2) A preparation for life, to free the person for growth and at the Service of the HUMAN PERSON. Each
individual is invited to FULLNESS of Personhood and Sonship/Daughtership of God.

Vision Statement: Canossa Academy of Lipa City is a nurturing community of learners who develop the fullest capacity of
their hearts for the service of the family, community, the church, nation and Mother Earth.
Mission Statement of Canossa Academy-Lipa: Guided by the Spirit of Jesus Crucified and inspired by St. Magdalene of
Canossa and rooted in Filipino traditions and Catholic identity, we commit ourselves to nurture learners through an
education centered on the formation of the heart that listens, thinks, discerns and shares.
Goals and Objectives of Canossian Education: The goal of Canossian Education is the formation of persons who are
witnesses of their graduate attributes and core values, thereby becoming the best they can possibly be: S.M.A.R.T.
Canossian with the Heart.

Key words from the school’s Vision Statement:

1. Nurturing Community - Canossa is a nurturing community of learners
If you plant a seed, water it daily and give it lots of light, you nurture it until it is ready to be transplanted outside. When
you nurture a person you, care for him/her and help him/her to grow.
2. Community of Learners - We are all Learners
Students, teachers, staff, maintenance, canteen staff, and Sisters are learners because we continue to undergo learning in
different levels/phases of our lives.
3. Develops the fullest capacity of the person/learners. - Formation of the Heart
Develops the whole Person (fullest capacity of their hearts). Our educative community develops and nurtures persons
into the fullness of their humanity. We believe we have a responsibility to promote activities that will encourage
development of the fullest potential in individuals, especially learners.
4. Service of the family, church, community and MOTHER EARTH
Mother Nature will no longer provide a safe environment for us to live in if its destruction continues. This is an urgent
call for us today. This will be one of the concerns we will respond to in fulfilling our vision.
The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek
a sustainable and integral development.
Only when Mother Earth is safe and well can everyone live in peace and safety. So as citizens of the world we all have
the responsibility to care for Mother Earth, in the way we use and re-use the goods around us and preserve its resources.
5. Last Part of the Mission Statement - we commit ourselves to nurture learners through an education centered in the
formation of the heart (Heart is the core/center of our being) … that listens, thinks, discerns, and shares.
 Listening is one of the most important aspects of effective communication. Successful listening means not just
understanding the words or the information being communicated, but also understanding how the speaker feels
about what he/she is communicating.
 Thinking skills are mental processes we use to do things like: solve problems, make decisions, ask questions,
construct plans, evaluate ideas, organize information and create objects. Our K-12 curriculum aims to train you
in developing 21st century skills.
 Discerning means the capacity to make the right and best moral choices. Discernment is more than the ability to
decide between truth and error, right and wrong but even among the many goods. It is a process of making
careful distinctions in our thinking about truth.
 Sharing means giving what you have and what you are to help other people without asking for anything in
return.
 The Heart performs all those functions because it is the seat of

The Canossian Core Values

 The Canossian Core values are aligned with the values framework of DepEd. They are expressive of the school’s
identity as a Catholic Institution for they spell out the very heart of Canossian identity: Love of God and
Love of Neighbor.
The 8 crystallized Core Values gleaned from the Mission Statement of the Canossian Schools are:
1. Rich in Faith
2. Social Responsibilty
3. Uprightness and Self-Discipline
4. Openness to Truth
5. Selfless Caring
6. Patriotism and Cultural Integration
7. Creative Teamwork
8. Competency and Skills

The 6 Graduate Attributes were also drawn from the school’s vision and mission. These qualities/attributes spell out
the uniqueness of Canossian Graduates or what we call the Canossian Profile.
1. CHRISTIAN PERSON – a Christian person is Christ-centered, Scripture/Bible-oriented, a devotee of Mary and
the saints, a person of Faith and prayer, a defender of the Church and Her teachings, and a responsible follower of
Jesus Christ.
2. SHARER OF GOD’S LOVE – a Sharer of God’s Love is a zealous evangelizer who proclaims and witnesses the
Gospel values to make Jesus known and loved, a generous giver who exemplifies the desire and willingness tos hare
time, talent, and treasure in building life-giving and love-nurturing communities.
3. RESPONSIBLE AGENT OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION – a Responsible Agent of Transformation is a
person of character, family-oriented, patriotic, culturally integrated and a positive agent of change who helps build
the community and promotes Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC).
4. BROTHER /SISTER OF THE POOR – a Brother/Sister of the Poor is responsible for his/her brothers/sisters in
need, defends their rights, one with the poor, empowers them and helps the develop their potential to the fullest.
5. ACADEMICALLY COMPETENT LEARNER – an Academically Competent Learner is a person who
communicates effectively, thinks critically and systematically, and solves problems logically. Moreover, he/she is
an independent, creative, information literate and a lifelong learner; thus becoming globally competitive.
6. CANOSSIANO / CANOSSIANA – a Canossiano/Canossiana is an individual who is guided by the spirit of Jesus
Crucified and inspired by Our Lady of Sorrows, and lives the teaching and values of St. Magdalene of Canossa, St.
 Josephine Bakhita, and other Canossian holy persons with charity, humility, simplicity, joy, generosity, gentleness,
firmness and openness to truth.

What does this statements mean for you?

“The greatest Tragedy in Life is not Death but a Life without Purpose or Meaning (Myles Munroe) … A meaningless
life is a life lived without virtues and values ….

Topic: Revisiting the Life of St. Magdalene of Canossa

Important Dates and Facts about St. Magdalene of Canossa

Birthdate of St. Magdalene March 1, 1774
Date of Baptism of St. Magdalene March 2, 1774
First Canossian Community Foundation May 8, 1808
Magdalene’s first attempt to start the work of charity. March 1802
Age of Magdalene when she became seriously ill. 15
Death of Magdalene April 10, 1835
Canonization of St. Magdalene October 2, 1988
Father’s name Marquiz Ottavio
Mother’s Name Teresa Szluha
Eldest sister of Magdalene Laura
Brother of Magdalene Boniface
Younger sister of Magdalene Rose
Youngest sister of Magdalene Eleonora
Magdalene’s governess Francesca Capron
Vocation director of Magdalene Don Luigi Libera
Model of Charity Christ Crucified
Real foundress of the Canossian Institute Our Lady of Sorrows
Birthplace of St. Magdalene Verona, Italy
Parish where St. Magdalene was baptized. San Lorenzo Parish
Place of family’s exile during the war waged by Napoleon Bonaparte. Venice, Italy
The place where the mortal remains of St. Magdalene were found. San Giuseppe Convent in San Zeno,
Verona
First frustration of the Canossa family. Death of Charles, male heir of
Ottavio and Teresa, several days after
he was born.
Second frustration of the Canossa family. Birth of Magdalene
The great joy of the Canossa family. Birth of Boniface
Tragic experience of the Canossa family. Death of Ottavio
Moment of Magdalene’s conversion. Illness
Sad experience of Magdalene from her governess Madame Capron. Maltreatment
First apostle of St. Magdalene who helped in the works of charity. Matilda Bunioli
Cause of the sadness of the family. When Magdalene announced her
vocation.
Obstacles to Magdalene’s departure from the palace. Presence of her nephew Carlino,
whom she took care of, and illness of
her uncle.
Two Precepts of Charity Love God and Love of
Others/Neighbors
Motto of St. Magdalene Make Jesus known and loved.
Fundamental virtues of St. Magdalene Charity in Humility and Humility in
Charity
First Canossian Brothers Giuseppe Carsana and Davide Belloni
Source of the great spiritual energy of St. Magdalene Eucharistic Prayer
Groups of people who are very dear to St. Magdalene’s heart. The Poor and the Sick
Kind of Magdalene’s conscience. Scrupulous Conscience
Challenge of St. Magdalene to her sons and daughters. Look and do like the Model.
Four Canossian schools in the Philippines Canossa School in Sta. Rosa
Canossa College in San Pablo
Canossa Academy in Calamba
Canossa Academy in Lipa City
Five houses founded by St. Magdalene in Italy to do the works of Verona
charity. Venice
Milan
Bergamo
Trent
Five Ministries of Charity Education
Evangelization
Pastoral Care of the Sick
Formation of the Laity
Spiritual Exercises
Four members of the Canossian Family Daughters of Charity, Servants of the
Poor
Sons of Charity, Servants of the Poor
Lay Canossians
Secular Missionaries of St.
Magdalene of Canossa
Seven Sorrows of Mary The Prophecy of Simeon
The Flight to Egypt
The Lost of Jesus in the Temple
Mary Meets Jesus Carrying His Cross
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Mary Received the Body of Jesus
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
8 Virtues of Christ Crucified Charity
Meekness
Humility
Zeal
Fortitude
Amiability
Generosity
Patience
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows September 15