IFP MODULE 8

For Grade 10

Ignacian Formation Program

(Revised
IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia 2021)
and Her Mission - Page 0
 Session 1
MOTHER IGNACIA’S COMMITMENT TO MISSION

Session 2
MOTHER IGNACIA’S TRANSFORMING PRESENCE IN
FULFILLING HER MISSION

Session 3
MOTHER IGNACIA’S ENDURING LEGACY

Session 4
THE INFLUENCE OF MOTHER IGNACIA’S LIFE
IN TODAY’S WORLD

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 1

 INTRODUCTION

The Ignacian Formation Program was originally conceived in the 16 th

Ordinary General Chapter in 1996. This aims to provide a more solid
foundation on the spirituality of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo which
is a “spirituality of Marian radical openness to the will of God that
impels us to a humble and courageous, generous and creative service to
the Church especially the poor.” It is the spirituality of the humble
servant of the Lord (CD 1996,5).

The original Ignacian Formation Program (IFP) Modules were first

implemented in 1997 for the youth and Lay Partners; and in 2008 for
Grade School, High School and College. These modules were revised as
mandated by the 20th Ordinary General Chapter. (Documents CD 2016,
p.35, 1.3). The revision was to align the modules to the current social
context of our students and personnel, to enable them to uphold their
personal integrity rooted in Christian morality and discipleship, and to
exercise their strong sense of accountability at the level of their
responsibility following the examples of Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu
Santo.

This current year 2021, the Education Ministry Commission implements

the revised IFP Modules 2021 for Grade 3 to Grade 12 and for
Personnel. The topics and contents of this revised IFP Modules 2021 are
based from the original IFP Modules of 1997 and most of its contents
were copied/lifted from the book entitled “Mother Ignacia del Espiritu
Santo, A Lamp to Our Path” by S. Ma. Anicia B. Co, RVM; and some were
taken from “Behold the Handmaid of the Lord!” by S. Ma. Rita Ferraris,
RVM; “A Valiant Woman: Thoughts and Reflections on the Legacy of
Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo”; Novena Prayer to Mother Ignacia del
Espiritu; and from other RVM Documents.

The IFP Modules 2021 for students (Grades 3 to 12) are designed as a
series of ten modules with four (4) sessions to be given by year level.
The time frame for each session is one (1) hour, however if the school
allows, the facilitator may extend the time to have more activities,
reflection and faith sharing. The modules focus on the family
background, vocation, mission, qualities, virtues and values of Mother
Ignacia and its relevance to the present reality in our society and
concerns of our students.

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 2

This revised IFP modules 2021 follow the acronym of IGNACIAN as its
format adopted from the templates of holiness presented by M. Ma.
Coranzon D. Agda, RVM in her inspirational talk during the Christian
Formation Coordinators’ National Convention 2020 with some
modifications to harmonize with the RVM Pedagogy.

It is the preliminary part of the session. This

includes the opening activity/ prayer, focus
I Introduction
(title of the session), motivation, and
activating prior knowledge.
It identifies what the participants need to
Goals and know and what to do as indicated in the
G Objectives enabling objectives (specific), and in the
terminal objectives (goal/general).
This is to introduce new facts and concepts
grounded on the life and spirituality of
Mother Ignacia. It is divided into two parts:
N New Knowledge Concept (presentation of main concept), and
the Broadened Concept (broadening of
concept)
This is to create activities that will allow the
participants to develop not only critical,
A Activities creative, and analytical thinking but more
importantly moral and responsible choices.
This will help the participants articulate what
Ignacian Core and related Values can be
Charity-inspired
drowned from the session, and to provide
C Character- them opportunities for better and deeper
building Values
self-knowledge in relation to the current
social realities.
Invitation to
This is to give the participants opportunities
I silence… God
to reflect and share their faith experiences.
Time
This is the summary or synthesis part. The
facilitator participants may be encouraged to
express, illustrate or relate in their own words
A Aphorism or in their own creative manner, their
understanding, reflection on the life of
Mother Ignacia, and its application or
connection in their daily life.

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 3

 It involve participants in real life situations in
the community, reach out and apply their
theories in real situations, and find out how
Noteworthy
students internalize theory and practice.
N Application of
It is a lasting impression in relation to life,
Insights Gained
leading to possible and positive change in
ways of looking at things and in their way of
life.

The Ignacian Formation Program revised edition 2021 is a project

initiated by the RVM Education Ministry Commission, chaired by S. Ma.
Marissa Viri, RVM. It is noteworthy to acknowledge the following: S. Ma.
Rufina Guillano, RVM who facilitated the IFP workshop in March 7-8,
2020 at the RVM Regional House, Singalong, Paco, Manila and for her
generous time and effort to edit and finalize all the modules; to the
following Christian Formation Coordinators and Lay Partners for their
valuable contribution in the preparation of the preliminary drafts of the
revised modules: S. Ma. May Moran, RVM, S. Ma. Mara Saira Suelto,
RVM, S. Ma. Rhoma Regato, RVM, S. Ma. Marissa Ardeta, RVM, S. Ma.
Relyn Grace Jaspe, RVM, S. Ma. Melanie Cajandig, RVM, Ms. Regina
Padilla, Mrs. Leah Yee (Luzon Region); S. Ma. Alice Elloran, RVM, S. Ma.
Ruby Amen, RVM, S. Ma. Ilin Salvador, RVM, S. Ma. Jemimah Estorque,
RVM, Mr. Jolex Estanislao, Mrs. Loreta Guimbaolibot (Visayas Region); S.
Ma. Gretchen Besonia, RVM, S. Ma. Leonor Espallardo, RVM, S. Ma.
Gracia Agda, RVM, Mr. Clent Daril Balaba (Northern Mindanao Region);
S. Maryvic Casas, RVM, S. Ma. Christina Corre, RVM, S. Ma. Rachel
Curayag, RVM, S. April Mariae Libradilla, RVM, S. Ma. Rufel Palarca,
RVM, Ms. Cecille Lumayag, Ms. Socorro Neri (Southern Mindanao
Region).

May this revised IFP modules 2021 continue to nurture the Students and
Lay Personnel’s Ignacian Spirituality in their participation in the RVM
mission of spreading the fragrance of God’s unconditional love,
compassion and mercy amidst these challenging times.

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 4

MODULE 8 - SESSION 1

INTRODUCTION (Preliminaries)
Opening Activity/Prayer: Litany to Mother Ignacia
By Rev. Fr. Alfeo Nudas, SJ

Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, listen to us

You whose presence we feel in our families, schools, retreat
houses, and land, hear us.
You who taught us to pray the rosary everyday to stay with
Christ, hear us.
Mother Ignacia, pray for us.
Daughter of St. Ignatius of Loyola in the Spiritual Life, pray for
us.
Bride of Christ from early youth unto all eternity, pray for us.
Mother Ignacia, we love you.
A child of humble parents, like Jesus of Nazareth, we love
you.
A young girl who made a retreat before making the first big
decision of her life, we love you.
The young woman who prepared herself by living alone with
Christ in a house of prayer we love you.
The young woman who supported herself by working with
needle and a pair of scissors, we love you.
The woman of faith who built her community around the
Eucharist, we love you.
The woman of hope who relied on the providence of God for
daily salt and rice, we love you.
The woman of hope who gathered sticks and firewood to
cook her community's meals, we love you.
The woman of hope who led her community through poverty
and daunting obstacles, we love you.
The woman of love fully aware that love is shown in deeds,
we love you.

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 5

The woman of love whose goal is to love God by praising,
reverencing, and serving him every moment of her life,
we love you.
The woman of love whose loveliness is the loveliness of Christ
nailed to the cross, we love you.
The founding Superior who insisted on abdicating the power
to command and wanting only to be anonymous and be
the servant of all, we love you.
The founding Superior at whose death and funeral the whole
city turned out in grief to show its respect and love for
her, and gratitude for opening its eyes to the values of
the Kingdom of God, we love you.
Beloved Mother Ignacia, whose community never ceased
drawing its strength and fire from the Paschal Mystery of
Christ, we love you.
Beloved Mother Ignacia, whose community started to attract
and receive women of all nationalities and continues to
attract and receive them in our day, we love you.
Beloved Mother Ignacia, whose community built and
continues to build other communities to shelter the poor
of the land and proclaim the Kingdom of God until the
Lord returns, we love you.

Let us pray: O God Our Father, look upon our love for
Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, a love which you
yourself have instilled in our hearts and continue to
nurture in the power of your Holy Spirit. Look also upon
our faith and hope as we present to you our petition for a
miracle for her beatification: (Petition)
We ask this in the name of your Son, Our Brother
and Savior, who has encouraged us, saying: "Whatever
you ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you."
Amen. (1 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be for the
intentions of the Holy Father).
The litany can also be found in:
https://www.facebook.com/191842110882274/posts/novena-
litany-to-venerable-mother-ignacia-del-espiritu-santo-by-rev-
fr-alfeo-nud/1511848148881657/
IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 6
Focus: MOTHER IGNACIA’S COMMITMENT TO MISSION

Motivation:
 The Amazing Maze
Answer the following maze with the best of your ability in
the quickest time. The first one to accomplish it will be
the winner!
Scenario: An NGO (non-profit organization) sent a volunteer
to the task of delivering the goods donated to an
orphanage. Help the volunteer find the way and reach the
destination on time:

What was the activity all about? What major factor makes
one successful at the end of the game? If you were given the
liberty, how would you call this game?

APK (Prior Knowledge):

 Upon waking up in the morning, has it ever occurred to
you to map-out plans for the day?
 If so, at the end of the day, have you ever assessed which
of those have materialized? Successfully? With less
success? How that makes you feel?
 If not, recall how your day rolled about. Were you
purposive? Were you organized/systematic in spending
IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 7
 the day? How did you “look” at time then? Quick? Pass by
slowly? Substantial? Feeling good about it? Why or why
not?

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (What to know and what to do)

Enabling Objectives: At the end of the session the students
will be able to know and learn the depth and extent
of Mother Ignacia’s call to answer the mission in the
context of her time.
Terminal Objectives (Goal): At the end of the session the
students will be able to imbibe Mother Ignacia’s
sense of commitment and live it out in their life’s call
to holiness.

NEW KNOWLEDGE (facts, primary and broadened concept)

A. Concept
What is commitment in the context of mission?
“Mission” can only be termed as such if there is the
presence of the one who sends, the one who is sent and
that there is a task to be accomplished. Typically, the
accomplishments of Mother Ignacia was not merely a
drive coming from her own desire alone. The desire to go
and live a life of witness to the Gospel was a call from the
Divine Majesty to whom she pledged her life after
discerning in an 8-day retreat. But things did not end
there. This pledge to serve the Divine Majesty was
challenged all throughout her life. It needs a deeply-
rooted commitment to go through and beyond it:
 No native lady was allowed to enter the beaterio. The
world then revolves around the Spaniards alone. So, the
only existing convent was only meant to admit Spanish
ladies who were meant to either marry or become nuns
when they reach a deciding age. After undergoing an 8-
day retreat, Mother Ignacia at 21 years old, did what was

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 8

 painful for her and her parents: to be in separate ways so
that she may dedicate herself fully to God, the Divine
Majesty. That decision created a reverberating/ ripple
effect for it opened the consciousness of other natives to
that possibility and not to be dictated by discrimination or
by culture alone. But this has not been easy. There could
have been those who were praising her for that brave
step, but surely she has to face years of scoff and criticism
of others in that initial step. However, her resolve was
much stronger than that.
 It goes to say that having a local beaterio was never in the
plans of the Spanish government. It was not in the
consideration of the Spaniards to also plan- out for the
future of the native girls for they were not considered
important enough to have a role in the society. Mother
Ignacia paved her own path. She did not wait for others to
act on her behalf. Her Lord was clear to her and the voice
of her Lord propelling her to go out into the world and
make a difference was as clear. Nothing can hinder her.
Not even the unwelcoming stance of the Spanish culture.
God provided her a house where she can stay, through
the kindness of her spiritual director, Fr. Paul Klein, SJ.
That was her beaterio, to become the beginning of a full-
fledged Beaterio that the Spanish government, and later,
the Church, took years to approve.
 Once Mother Ignacia stood by her ground and lived the
difficult life of having to live by her own without the
security of family nor of finances, slowly, in the course of
years, there were those who joined her and their number
gradually increased! Imagine to be all alone, without even
knowing where to get your next meal, Mother Ignacia
proved to be strong in her resolve to live by the sweat of
her brow without relying on anyone. There were people
who helped. They were avenues of God’s manifold graces.
This has kept her going, up until time came that she has to
think not only of herself, but for ways of how to make
herself and her companions live. The members were a
IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 9
 help, but at the same time an added responsibility. She
could have struggled also in making the decision if she
would admit companions or not. Would it still be part of
God’s mission for her to accomplish? She discerned and
took the risk.
 Mother Ignacia and the company have to go for many
other challenges: Lived by the sweat of their brows -
would the grace that would come for the day be enough
for all? This challenge has made the beatas share in the
poverty of Christ; they grew in creativity to augment their
needs with the meager that they have: eating under the
moonlight, using banana leaves as plate, pick wooden
sticks for cooking, beg for alms…
 Seeking to be accepted as a beaterio, the house where
Mother Ignacia and the beatas lived has to have a stable
status in the eyes of the Church and the government.
Mother Ignacia, through the encouragement and
guidance of her spiritual director, Fr. Paul Klein, SJ, has to
exert effort to stabilize the status of the community
through the challenge of writing the Constitution and the
difficulties that surrounded it.
- There were conditions asked by the officials, like, to
exclude some items that would make Mother Ignacia’s
beaterio be considered like a real, technically-speaking,
termed as a beaterio. Mother Ignacia was wise enough
not to delete those provisions; rather she just marked
those with an asterisk.
- The approval has to go from the Philippines to Spain on
a galleon that would travel years to and from. In fact
the initial approval came only after the death of
Mother Ignacia.
She upheld, rather, the Christian values of fidelity and
commitment by her perseverance in the life she had
chosen to live. She persevered in her struggle to make
her vision come true. In her perseverance, she felt an
enduring testimony of faith. It would take time before the

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 10

 light shining from her little lamp would be seen but her
lamp kept on shining.
- She persevered in her life of service to God;
- She persevered in the commitment to the growth of
her fellow beatas in the community
(together they braved the difficulties and problems of
their existence as a beaterio). (A Lamp To Our Path, pp.
102-103)
For Mother Ignacia, the goal was clear, so was the reason and
the purpose of that goal: God alone was the center point of
every decision and the force of every drive in every action.
That helped her nail her commitment against all odds, to
fulfill her mission of bringing the light of Christ into the world.
Vocabulary:
Yndia – a name used during the Spanish times referring to
a native Filipina
Beatas – women who dedicate themselves in devotion
and prayer in the church
Beaterio – the house where the beatas stay

B. Broadened Concept:
What is a commitment? A commitment can only be called
as such if it has undergone a test/ challenge.
Considering all the circumstances surrounding her, how
do you assess the strength of Mother Ignacia’s
commitment to fulfill her mission?

ACTIVITIES: Learn the poem: The Challenge

by Rev. Fr. Pedro de Achutegui, SJ
Three hundred years ago when women were powerless,
when no native of a colony would ever dream
of bold initiatives,
a simple woman, Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, broke the mold.
She challenged the Society and the Church of her time
and guided by the Spirit, opened new paths on Philippine soil.
IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 11
 Three hundred years later, the challenge remains as vital and
vibrant as ever. How can we, each of us, men and women
alike --- imitate her courage?
What can we, men and women alike ---
DO to challenge the Society and the Church of our time?

CHARITY-INSPIRED CHARACTER-BUILDING VALUES

Values Integration: Faith/ Hope and Perseverance
o What has the relationship of Mother Ignacia with God has
to do with her goal and experiences in life?
Everything has to start with God, has to end with God and
everything that stands in-between must be God’s. This
was what enveloped the heart of Mother Ignacia that was
nailed down during her retreat. The clear vision moved
her to a clear direction and a purposeful action.
o What was that in Mother Ignacia that made her “reach
the finish line”?
Mother Ignacia’s unbreakable spirit despite everything
that has come against her way has made her all the more
stronger to stand in that conviction that God has a
purpose in everything and that everything was done with
a reason and a meaning. Sacrifice, without God, would be
an empty suffering. But with God in the picture, even the
obstacles become a stepping stone towards reaching the
destination, which is to please God in all manner and
things.

Social Integration:
o Looking at your life story, when were the times that you
or your loved ones felt more challenged? What made you
all go through it and survived? What challenges in life do
you think would made you call it quits?
o When the going gets tough, to whom do you go to for
help? What initial steps do you usually take? Where was
God amidst those?

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 12

INVITATION TO SILENCE… GOD TIME
Faith Reflection/Faith Sharing
Life was never meant to be easy. At this stage in your life
right now, what struggles did you have that made you
who you are today? Can you relate that with the
experiences of Mother Ignacia?

APHORISM (Summary /Synthesis)

Commitment commands constancy. In the everyday drop of
water, the bucket will be full. Consider putting this virtue into
action: plant anything on a pot or on the ground. Give it the
necessary care of watering, exposure to sunlight, cultivate it,
sing to it, etc… that it may grow to its fullness

No action of ours remain as it is, it will always have its effect.

Hence, the honing of your sense of commitment to have this
plant grow will eventually lead to a level of influence:
perhaps, others will be encouraged to do the same, but one
thing is for sure --- it’s aesthetic contribution, (the herbal
benefits it can generate, if it applies), it’s contribution to the
level of oxygen in the air and most significantly, the virtue
that it has built and has magnified in you: YOUR SENSE OF
COMMITMENT TO FULFILL A MISSION.

NOTEWORHTY APPLICATION OF INSIGHTS GAINED

To enflesh hope and perseverance in one’s commitment
towards the fulfillment of a noble goal even when the going
gets rough:
 What attitudes or characteristics of Mother Ignacia do I
need to imbibe in order to carry out my mission in
helping others especially those in need?
 Compose a short prayer asking for God’s grace and
guidance in fulfilling your mission.

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 13

MODULE 8 - SESSION 2

INTRODUCTION (Preliminaries)
Opening Activity/Prayer:

Opening Song: Mother Ignacia Lives On

By S. Maria Adelaida Huiso, RVM
Watch and sing along in:
https://www.facebook.com/niema.jovem/videos/19784524
1777908

Focus: MOTHER IGNACIA’S TRANSFORMING PRESENCE

IN FULFILLING HER MISSION

Motivation:
 Watch online The Amazing Chain Reactions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGUvMJ6cbXA
 Making a Domino Effect
Directions:
1. Look for some available materials that are of the same
size, slab-type (rectangular dimension with slim
thickness) that can be used to stand one after the
other, like scrabble tiles, chocolate bars or the like.
2. Arrange them in one line, in a standing position, a few
centimeters away from each other.
3. When everything is set, the first tile will be pushed
back so that it will hit the one next to it, then the rest
are toppled down and everything else follows…
What have you learned from the activity?
What importance does the first tile play in the activity?
Would the “effect” happen if there was no “first tile?”

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 14

 APK (Prior Knowledge):
What things now trending that has come into your life
that has affected your choices/way of thinking/ way of
acting?

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (What to know and what to do)

Enabling Objectives: At the end of the session the students
will be able to know and learn the range of Mother
Ignacia’s missionary influence in the life and culture
of her time.
Terminal Objectives (Goal): At the end of the session the
students will be able to replicate the life-changing
missionary point of view of Mother Ignacia and
resolve to make a difference in the lives of the people
they encounter and influence others to discover their
own mission in life and be driven to accomplish it.

NEW KNOWLEDGE (facts, primary and broadened concept)

C. Concept
Let us re-visit the context that surrounds her life in the
late 1600s to the early 1700s, the Philippines that was
back then.
 The Philippines was under the governance of Spain for
more than a hundred years that time.
 The Filipino has no identity except that he is called an
yndio and she, an yndia.
 Spanish women do not play an influential role in the
Spanish culture. Imagine, how much more for an yndia
like Mother Ignacia.
 By category, she was foremost an yndia, secondly, a
second-class female in a masculine culture. There
were expectations, but she did not made this a barrier
in her life choices. With that, can you imagine the
shock of having a young native lady leave her parents
in order to be on her own? Never was that found
acceptable! But Ignacia did. The tug in her heart could
IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 15
 be that undeniably strong that she can get out of the
mainstream and follow the voice of the call to be in
mission. She was indeed a woman of courage.
 She made it to her own. When her regular visitors, her
nieces, developed an attraction to her way of life, she
was welcoming enough to share the joy of having
served the Lord by the sweat of her brow and to live
solely belonging to God, and not to any man.
D. Broadened Concept:
Social transformation can only happen when the point-of-
view and the level of understanding has changed. In what
way, do you think, did Mother Ignacia affected the minds
and hearts of both the Spaniards and the yndio/yndia of
her time?

ACTIVITIES:
Think of a specific need/concern at home, or of a specific
issue in your neighborhood, community, group of friends, at
school, in the society or of any organization where you are
involved. Against that “green screen” (context), write your
understanding of the saying:
“If not you, who will? If not now, when?”
[Kung hindi ikaw, sino? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan?]
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

CHARITY-INSPIRED CHARACTER-BUILDING VALUES

Values Integration: Faith and Service/ Courage
o What was the drawing force of Mother Ignacia that made
her decide on matters that affect the culture of her time?
Love conquers all, they say. Mother Ignacia’s belief in
God’s plan for her places all the rest of the concerns
behind her like a shadow. Her belief in the existence of
God was clear. Her trust in God was sure. Her openness
to God was limitless. That’s why God was able to work in

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 16

 her, through her. She served God like no other. She
fulfilled her mission.

o How come Mother Ignacia can go against the

mainstream?
Everything is a gift. Everything that comes from God is
grace. But a gift and God’s grace can only come when the
heart is free and open. Mother Ignacia’s faith and life of
prayer gave way for her to receive God’s gift and grace:
to be brave. She held on to God so strong that nothing
can sway her against her will, a will that is aligned with
God’s.
Social Integration:
o What can possibly hinder you from helping someone who
is being bullied/ ostracized/ discriminated/ stereotyped?
o Nowadays many things go viral and trending… (fake news
included) many of which are not life-promoting. What
specific action would you do to counter the downside of
the trend?

INVITATION TO SILENCE… GOD TIME

Faith Reflection/Faith Sharing
Is there something in Mother Ignacia and the context of
her time that you find in your life- situation, too? In what
way can Mother Ignacia and her inspiring life help you?

APHORISM (Summary /Synthesis)

Her way of life --- virtues, sacrifices, life of prayer,
leadership… all has gained the respects of the Spanish
culture. The impact of Mother Ignacia was so much for them
to deny. Her presence changed the Spanish perspective of a
woman… and of an yndio/yndia.

Mother Ignacia has indeed fulfilled the mission of God’s call

for her: the impact of her presence has reverberated that

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 17

 strong, reaching as far as outside the territory and as long as
more than three hundred years… today.

NOTEWORHTY APPLICATION OF INSIGHTS GAINED

Place inside the “post-it” your take-aways in knowing Mother
Ignacia’s transforming presence in fulfilling her mission. While
on the corresponding placard the mission you felt you are
called to and you want to fulfill in your life.

IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 18

MODULE 8 - SESSION 3

INTRODUCTION (Preliminaries)
Opening Activity/Prayer:
HINDI KITA MALILIMUTAN
By: Manoling Francisco, SJ

Hindi kita malilimutan

Hindi kita pababayaan
Nakaukit magpakailanman
Sa 'king palad ang 'yong pangalan

Malilimutan ba ng ina
Ang anak na galing sa kanya
Sanggol sa kanyang sinapupunan
Paano Niya matatalikdan

Ngunit kahit na malilimutan

Ng ina ang anak niyang tangan

Hindi kita malilimutan

Kailanma'y 'di pababayaan
Hindi kita malilimutan
Kailanma'y 'di pababayaan

Hindi kita malilimutan

Kailanma'y 'di pababayaan
Hindi kita malilimutan
Kailanma'y 'di pababayaan
You can also listen, watch and sing at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYsKRxpHoQ0

Let us conclude with a prayer that Jesus himself has taught us

over two thousand years ago and that has lasted and
remained in the memory and hearts of humanity until this
time: OUR FATHER
IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 19
Focus: MOTHER IGNACIA’S ENDURING LEGACY

Motivation:

Haciko was a Japanese dog whose faithfulness to his owner is

known worldwide.

It was 1923. He would wait for his owner to arrive from work
everyday in the train station. One day the owner died while at
work and never came home. But Hachiko would continually
wait at the train station everyday for nine years until his own
death. Today, a statue can be found in his honor at the
waiting area of the train station and became a famous
meeting spot.
(for more details of the story you may visit https://nerdnomads.com/hachiko_the_dog)

How did you find the story? If Hachiko had found its
contribution in the world by demonstrating an admirable
loyalty and patience, how about us?
And what about Mother Ignacia? What do you think was her
lasting contribution to the world?

APK (Prior Knowledge):

Name a Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ YouTube account with
the most number of followers… What do you think was the
major factor that attracted many to like their posts?

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 Recall posts that had gone trending/ viral. How long did they
took the social media world? What lasting effect did those
leave you/the society?

If Mother Ignacia would be alive today and take on the social

media, what do you think would be the theme of her posts?
Would you think it would generate a lot of likes and
followers?

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (What to know and what to do)

Enabling Objectives: At the end of the session the Grade 10
students will be able to recognize the heroic and
noble works and life of Mother Ignacia and feel the
urge to do the same in the world they move in.

Terminal Objectives (Goal): At the end of the session the

Grade 10 students will be able to concretize the acts
of Mother Ignacia that made a difference in the world
and by so doing implement to the present reality the
values that she left for everyone to follow.

NEW KNOWLEDGE (facts, primary and broadened concept)

A. Concept
To effect change without the use of force is called
influence.
Mother Ignacia did what she knew she must, without
intending that it will come to be like this:
- There are more or less 700 membership that are
existing who followed her without including the many
others in the past 300 years;
- There are more or less 50 schools, 7 retreat houses,
dormitories, social action centers and special
ministries that catered to the needs of the world;
- The presence of the Sisters in 6 other countries.

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 Why? What is it that she did? Here are some of her
significant breakthroughs:
- Where can you find a leadership that stepped down
from position and relinquished power while she was
still able? And she lived as an ordinary member for
more than ten years! For what and for whom?
- She started the service of women in the work of
retreat and she was the first in the world to do such;
- She influenced society by educating them, sheltering
them, guiding them in their prayer life…;
- She walked her talk;
- She lived with whatever is there… salt as viand…
banana leaves as plate… moonlight as lamp…
… all these she taught her companions by
demonstrating them.

She was a woman of vision, hence, she put into writing

everything that her members should know how and what
to follow. And this legacy has existed to this very day. In
her own penmanship, the Constitution she wrote by her
hand in 1726 is still preserved while its spirit is written in
the hearts of those who followed her right to this day, all
in God’s grace.

B. Broadened Concept:
Imagine a Chinese, Tagalog and Spanish speaking woman
who walks the cobblestone pavement of the old Manila.
People see her… How, then, would you look at a woman
who will one day be proven as good and honorable?
What impression would last when the people of authority
(known to be discriminating) would carry her coffin in
salutation?
Can you grasp the fact that a person of admirable
presence would claim a following?

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ACTIVITIES:
Name-Game
Each one in the class (can be grouped) try to brainstorm for
places known for a name that used to exist, but now that it’s
not there anymore, is still known and referred to as the same.

Example, there is a place in Manila called Stop ‘N Shop. If you

take a jeepney and alight to the said place, you cannot find
any trace of the once famous store in the early 1900s. Is there
any other place you knew to have found a lasting legacy in
the culture of the locality?

CHARITY-INSPIRED CHARACTER-BUILDING VALUES

Values Integration: Faithfulness / Service
Any action can only be done when prompted by the will
to do so. The will is rooted from the heart. Only a heart
that reveres its Master can make her serve Him with all
devotion and those who witness it can only be drawn to
do the same.

Mother Ignacia served like no other having one reason:

God alone. Whatever fruit this attitude would bring
reverberates in her sense of service.
How about you? To whom do you work and live for?
Social Integration:
The Earth continues to serve even when her care is not
well appreciated and reciprocated. She continues to give
because her Master created her for such purpose… up
until she still can. For thousands of years she did her job.
But it seems her capacity is gradually dwindling… and that
is where humanity’s mission is called: to revive the life-
giving capacity of Mother Earth in order for her to
endure.

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 What influential actions can you do to help Mother Earth
survive? How aware are you that your little and simple
Earth-saving efforts can have a great impact to its life?

INVITATION TO SILENCE… GOD TIME

Faith Reflection/Faith Sharing
 Have you observed the “Last Song Syndrome” (LSS)?
Where one hears someone singing a tune, then
unconsciously you also sing the same? In your simple
observation, what words, expressions or actions have you
said or done that made some others imitate/follow?
 There are many people nowadays who are very influential,
others positively while others negatively. Which track
would you like to follow?

APHORISM (Summary /Synthesis)

Mother Ignacia’s remains were never found due to the many
wars that ravaged the country. That makes her legacy all the
more noteworthy: in the absence of something physical from
her, the culture that she built remained intact. It served as
the very bones that may be figurative, but became the life-
giving spirit in the various works of service that she founded,
enfleshed by the present-day Sisters and everyone who knew
her: students, beneficiaries and dormitory residents who
have gone to her school of thought.

NOTEWORHTY APPLICATION OF INSIGHTS GAINED

Take some moments of silence. Think of a good, noble or
inspiring thought or personal experience/story that has
dawned on you while going through this module. Write it
down and leave it somewhere where you are sure someone
can see. Or text it to others. Or post it in your social media
account.

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 MODULE 8 - SESSION 4

INTRODUCTION (Preliminaries)
Opening Activity/Prayer:

Opening Song: MIDES WAY

Refrain: Come walk the way of Mother Ignacia walking
the way to happiness. In the presence of the Lord
with Mary, loving all the way.
Verse:
She walked the way of generosity, to rich and poor she
did bring, Christ, our brother, rich in charity. JOYFUL
SERVICE HER WITNESSING. (Repeat Refrain)

Focus: THE INFLUENCE OF MOTHER IGNACIA’S LIFE IN

TODAY’S WORLD
Motivation:

List top 10 influential personalities in the world today

1. _______________________________________
2. _______________________________________
3. _______________________________________
4. _______________________________________
5. _______________________________________
6. _______________________________________
7. _______________________________________
8. _______________________________________
9. _______________________________________
10. _______________________________________

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 APK (Prior Knowledge):
What are their impacts or influences in the world? How
are these impacts being felt? Who are advocating their
legacies?

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (What to know and what to do)

Enabling Objectives: At the of the session, the Grade 10
students will learn the enduring influences of Mother
Ignacia’s life and determine its impact in the world.
Terminal Objectives (Goal): At the end of the session, the
Grade 10 students will manifest the influences of
Mother Ignacia in their daily life by nurturing their
spiritual life and responding to the signs of the times
based on Christ’s ways through humble missionary
activities/services in the community and in the
society as a whole.

NEW KNOWLEDGE (facts, primary and broadened concept)

A. Concept
S. Maria Anicia Co, RVM in her book “A Lamp To Our
Path” mentioned that the present generation – men and
women, young and old can draw inspiration from the life
of faith and witness of Mother Ignacia. Mother Ignacia’s
way of life is still relevant and influential in our own
experiences of growing and finding God. Her life of
prayer enables her to develop a deep relationship with
God that made her see that all events in her life became
part of God’s plan.
Our volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA)
world offers a lot of things that can influence us in many
ways. We also live in a time filled with crises. We can
draw inspiration from Mother Ignacia’s way of
responding to ordinary and challenging situations. She

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 considered challenges as opportunities for growth, for
deeper and better relationship with God and service to
her neighbors.
We may be thinking, “How did Mother Ignacia transform
those negative situations she and her beatas experienced
into means of hope and light?” The following are
distinguishing marks of Mother Ignacia’s way of
responding and making relevance to the different
situations she encountered in her daily life.
1. Openness to the Holy Spirit
Mother Ignacia’s quality as “devout and spiritual” was
more than being “pious”. Her being “devout and
spiritual” was expressed in her daily openness to the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit by being keen to notice
the inner stirrings of her heart. Borrowing the word
of S. Maria Rita Ferraris, RVM, Mother Ignacia did not
have a “concrete blueprint to follow” from the
moment she listened to the desire of her heart until
the eventual development of her foundational
community. All that occupied herself was to “please
God in all things” and to “seek God’s will at all times”.
All of these became possible because of her total
trust and openness to the movement of the Holy
Spirit within herself and visibly expressed in the day-
to-day decisions she and her beatas did.
2. Pondering Heart of Mary
Mother Ignacia may have been restless about what
she experienced just like how Mary was troubled
about the greeting of Angel Gabriel during the
annunciation. Being inspired how the Blessed Mother
“pondered everything in her heart” Mother Ignacia
strove to ponder deeply the reality of her life and the
world around her by becoming more aware of her
feelings and emotions. Being in touched to her
restlessness, feelings, moods and emotions, she

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 developed and grew in discernment as she responded
to the unfolding of daily events in her life.
3. Perseverance
Mother Ignacia experienced many uncertainties in
her life but she went through with these. Her life in
the beaterio from 1684 until her death in 1748 was
marked with perseverance. Despite difficult
experiences, she never wavered; instead she became
steadfast, committed and faithful to the life she
understood God wanted her to live. Her faith in Jesus
who offered Himself on the cross reminded her to
persevere and hope for the joy of resurrection that
transcends all sufferings and death.
4. Trust in God’s Loving Mercy
Mother Ignacia, when she left home to follow God’s
will, brought only a pair scissor and a needle. This
symbolized her trust to God’s mercy and providence.
Her act of following God’s will put her to find comfort
in God’s loving mercy. She and her beatas were not
sure where to get food for their next meal. They were
poor but they were not discouraged. They survived
by the labor of their hands and through generous
people God sent to help them.
5. Intimacy with Christ and Integrity
Mother Ignacia developed intimacy with Jesus Christ.
Her personal knowledge of Christ brought her to love
and follow Him deeper. Her deep closeness with Him
made her “think, feel and act” more like Christ. All
her outer behavior and decisions came from a life of
intimacy with Christ, thus made her knew deeper the
heart of Christ. This personal loving and intimate
knowledge of Christ, led Mother Ignacia and the
beatas lived deeper love and friendship among them
as a community. Their life of intimate relationship
with Christ led them to a life of having “union of
minds and hearts”, hence, expressed their life of

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 integrity. In the account of the Jesuit historian Fr.
Murillo Velarde, it says: “They never caused any
scandal in the community.”
6. Courage and creative service rooted in Faith, Love
and Humility
Mother Ignacia is a “valiant woman” because she
overcomes difficult situations with faith, hope and
love. Her life of poverty, made her put her total trust
in God and gave her courage to be of greater service
to her neighbors especially the poor with humility.
Her courage also led her to be creative in responding
to the situations during her time. For instance, the
lack of recognition and subsidy from the government
made her and the beatas resourceful to continue
living their community life and mission. Through her
sensitivity to the movement of the Holy Spirit, she
and her beatas dared to respond to the needs of the
time, rendering loving service to all those in need
especially the poor.
7. Heart for the Poor
Mother Ignacia and the beatas’ experiences of
poverty led them to develop a heart for the poor.
Their poverty was inspired by the poverty that Jesus
lived; a life of total dependence to God the Father.
Out of love for Jesus they voluntarily embraced
poverty expressed in their food, clothing and living
accommodation. They lived by the sweat of their
face. They became self-reliant for their support came
from the labor of their hands. Although self-
supporting, they also depend in some ways on the
gifts, alms and donations they received from
benefactors. The decree on Virtues of Mother Ignacia
issued in 2007 states that: “she loved her neighbor
sharing her material goods with the poor and thus
worked with apostolic zeal for the salvation of souls.”

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 All these characteristics that of Mother Ignacia and the
early beatas exemplified in their life made them respond
accordingly to the call of mission of:
 helping people to have faith and to see God in their
lives through the retreat movement
 caring women by accepting them as “recogidas”
 teaching children and the basics of Christian faith,
literacy and household chores
 responding with courage to do things according to
the what the situations demand.

B. Broadened Concept:
Having been schooled in the Ignacian Marian way in the
RVM School, ponder deeply and examine within
yourselves how all these legacies of Mother Ignacia take
roots in you. Only then that Mother Ignacia’s life and
mission become enduring legacies when we continue to
own it within ourselves and create natural and
spontaneous expressions in whatever circumstances in
our daily life. Embracing Mother Ignacia’s mission
legacies does not stop us to follow her but lead us to be
with her in Mother Mary’s company in following Jesus,
“our Way, our Truth and our Life.”
S. Maria Anicia Co, RVM presented a well-articulated
insight on how Mother Ignacia’s enduring legacies can be
in constant use in responding to the challenges of our
current situations.
1. Discernment vs Social Conformity
One characteristic of our world today is what experts
say as VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and
ambiguous). It means that situations are unpredictable
and in constant changes. This characteristic demands
for intelligent decisions that lead to do things that are
not only acceptable but transform the self and society
for the good of all. It is not about doing an act or a
thing as one likes but it is about doing an act or a thing
because it is the most loving act to do in accordance to
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 the ways of Christ. More than quenching curiosity and
appetites, we need to strive to seek the truth that
makes us free to live a meaningful and purposeful life
in the midst of confusing realities in the world. One
intelligence that we need to develop within ourselves
is the SPIRITUAL intelligence which can be best shown
in the habit of discernment; the ability of being able to
judge well at a given situation.
2. Growing in Responsible Freedom
The 21st century world offers more opportunities to
make people live a better. Commodities, advancement
of knowledge and technology are swiftly progressing.
There seem to be no end of human creativity and
discovery. All these things bring blessings but also its
ghosts. Many choices are confronted us every day.
Recall an experience when you went to a mall or any
store. Is not that overwhelming to see goods on sale?
As if you want to buy them all? Whether we like it or
not a consumerist or supermarket mindset is subtly
entering one’s system of thinking. The many
alternatives around us, should lead us to be more
critical and responsible about our choices by not
relying on other people’s opinion or choices of “media
personalities” but by finding the true value to be
uphold. Mother Ignacia grew in responsible interior
freedom through the art of discernment. We, too, are
challenged today to follow her way to discern true
from false values in the limitless situations we are in.
3. Fidelity and Commitment
Our world also is characterized by “instant” and
“throw away” culture. Through the advancement of
media and information technology people develop an
attitude of desiring instantly and when the desire is no
longer needed it’s easy to throw them away. The
goods or commodities that we use every day – from
food to personal belongings suggest this culture to be
imbibed. This culture in a way leads to either positive
IFP SY 2021 - Module 8: Mother Ignacia and Her Mission - Page 31
 or negative mindset. There are things that people
need to let go although they love it for the good of
others. There are also things that people instantly
throw away according to their impulse and whims. For
example, instant dating leads to instant relationships
and when difficult situations arise, the instant easy
solution is to part ways. People become impatient and
intolerant to bear sufferings. It’s truly difficult to
exercise fidelity and commitment when things are
becoming difficult. Mother Ignacia’s response to
difficult situations was courage and perseverance to
live a life of fidelity and commitment with hope,
optimism and trust in God who takes charge of
everything. We, too, are invited to imitate her
Christian virtues and values - perseverance, courage,
humility and strong faith in God that made her and the
beatas found ways to manifest love, care and concerns
for others.

ACTIVITIES: Journal Writing

Ponder on the characteristics of Mother Ignacia’s life and
mission. Reflect on how are you imbibing or showing it in
your day-to-day life being an Ignacian Marian. The Guide
questions below serve as your guide in journaling your
experiences.
1. Which among the seven ways of Mother Ignacia in
responding to situations is more alive and real in your life
now? Cite an instance.
2. What help you in your journey of developing relationship
with Christ?
3. Right now, what situation/s in today’s present world
has/have been standing out and affecting you much?
What meaningful inspiration can you draw from Mother
Ignacia in responding to this situation/s?

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CHARITY-INSPIRED CHARACTER-BUILDING VALUES
Values Integration:
What qualities do you need to develop or sustain in you
so that you can participate in continuing the enduring
influence of Mother Ignacia’s missionary legacies?

Social Integration:
Identify an alumna/alumnus of your school or any RVM
school who becomes influential in the community. Share
with a dyad the life of influence of this person related to
the distinguishing marks of Mother Ignacia’s missionary
life.

INVITATION TO SILENCE… GOD TIME

Faith Reflection/Faith Sharing
Place yourself before the presence of the Lord and
consider one situation which you are called to respond or
do something for the love of God. What is that situation
and how are you called to respond? Spend a quiet time to
ponder about it. Take time to pray and offer your
response to God with Mother Ignacia.

APHORISM (Summary /Synthesis)

Mother Ignacia’s influences can be phenomenal, lasting
and continuously relevant when all those who are
schooled in the Ignacian Marian ways put into concrete
realities the characteristics of Ignacian way of life. Mother
Ignacia did her way during her time. Now, we are called
to do likewise in our own way “at all times and in all
places” to bring transformation that leads to fullness of
life in Jesus Christ.

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NOTEWORHTY APPLICATION OF INSIGHTS GAINED
Identify particular activities/advocacies to which you will
commit to participate as your concrete expression of
preserving the legacy of Mother Ignacia in your
Community Involvement Program (CIP) activities. Write a
note of intent to your CIP Coordinator and give it to
her/him.

References:
 Co, S. Ma. Anicia, RVM. Mother Ignacia del Espiritu
Santo, A Lamp to Our Path, 1998
 Ignacian Formation Program Module for High School,
2008
 Ignacian Formation Program Module for the Youth, 2008
 Song lyrics Source: Musixmatch
 https://pop.inquirer.net/104978/the-story-behind-sta-mesa-
manilas-stop-shop

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 RVM EDUCATION MINISTRY COMMISSION
2021
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