At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. describe how M. Ignacia responded to the signs of the times in her lifetime

2. explain the value of communion with God and with one another as exemplified by Mother Ignacia

3. invoke God’s guidance in giving witness to the examples set by M. Ignacia through a prayer composition

As we journey through life, we can always be confronted with signs that sometimes we have the difficulty to read and respond to its message. Even Jesus can read the signs of the times but His listeners could not understand what he was talking about. We can only bravely respond and understand if we are sensitive to the messenger, the message and the mission to be done.

M. Ignacia’s call that she discerned was to live a life of solitude in God’s presence. Her response to every sign of her life was donel in the light of faith. After her retreat, M. Ignacia knew what was going on in her life and that is why she responded positively to God’s promptings.

Faith/Strong Faith in God, Communion

Service /Charity

Despite the difficulties they experienced, Mother Ignacia and her companions experienced joy and confidence in the loving providence of God. (1726 Rules: I. 16,22,38,48; III. 1)

Because of M. Ignacia’s openness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, she was no paralyzed by the need to conform to social expectations. She defiled social conventions by deciding her future against her parents’ wishes, by living alone when it was unimaginable for a woman of her age to do so, by living by the sweat of her face when a more comfortable life was readily available for her.

In our present society, we need M. Ignaica’s basic stance of faith in God and openness to the action of the Holy Spirit. The negative realities of our world can paralyze and discourage us. More than ever, we need to seek the truth that sets us free to live a meaningful human existence in the midst of the confusion of our age. M. Ignacia reminds us of what is most fundamental to our Christian existence --- the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, “All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Rom8:14) . M. Ignacia testifies the importance of shaping one's life according to the will of God, the source and origin of human life. She then reminds us of the importance of discernment.

M. Ignacia's socio-economic conditions were very much different from our present time. In an industrialized and industrializing society, more opportunities are offered to people to better their lives . Goods, knowledge and information become more accessible to more people. There seems to be no end to human creativity. While this economic and technological progress brings blessings, we cannot deny that it also has its ghosts. A “supermarket” mentality has invaded our society. Many things are on sale. people are offered so many alternatives to choose from. While the variety of options can challenge one to decide upon himself, it can also lead to a feeling of insecurity. In a materialistic and consumeristic society, freedom can be falsely identified with the power to have more. The worth of a human being is wrongly evaluated according to his/her possessions or power. As the church continues to strive for social transformation, according to Christ’s vision, Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians needs to be heard today: For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1)

In her own way, M. Ignacia stood for authentic values. she went against the mentality that judged people according to the color of their skin. , their status in the society, their place, wealth and material possessions. She did not choose , however, to live in destitution but opted for a life of work that brought her creativity and resourcefulness. Several times in her life she had to make choices. The choices she made shaped her character. The Spiritual Exercises taught her the art of discernment and the means to grow in interior freedom.

The “instant” culture and the theory of obsolescence challenge the Christian values of fidelity and commitment. Not only are goods presented in the media as accessible, they are also shown as immediately available -- instant coffee, also noodles, beauty etc. Information is easily available on the internet. Thus, this “instant” mentality can lead either positively or negatively. To the search for the easy way of doing things. The “instant” mentality is aggravated by a “disposable attitude". Since there will always be new and newer products in the market.

M. Ignaica lived at a time when the natives did not seem to count much in the society, although living in their own land. Their culture was deemed inferior to that of the spanish colonial masters whose taste and civilization defined the norms of society in the country. As insecure as the future of the Yndios was the future of the M. Ignacia’s Beaterio. It was difficult for her to profess commitment and fidelity in situations when one’s goal seemed unattainable. M. Ignacia's response to her situation and the ambiguities of the Beaterio’s existence was not hopelessness, passivity, or resignation. She upheld, rather, the Christian values of commitment and fidelity by her perseverance in the life she had chosen to live. She persevered in her struggle to make her vision come true. M. Ignacia did not only persevere in her life of service to God, but also in her commitment to the growth of her fellow beatas in the community. Her perseverance is the manifestation of the strength of her love for Jesus, her deep trust in God's loving mercy and her affection for her own companions. (A Lamp to our Path, pp 98-104)

Co, M. A. (1998) Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo: A Lamp to Our Path. Quezon City: RVM Publications.