At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:
explain how M. Ignacia lived out the value of humble servanthood
show to others the attitude of humble service as lived out by M. Ignacia.
express one’s gratitude to God in responding to the needs and being sensitive to the feelings of others.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34) Humility is said to be a fit recipient of grace, according to the words of St. James (4:6). The servant of God, Ignacia del Espiritu Santo was a woman who put others first before thinking about herself. Discerning God’s call to a hidden and humble service made M. ignacia an exemplary woman who serves following the examples of Christ.
“Humility and service are at the heart of Christ’s power.” Pope Francis says. Jesus was the Servant-Leader, gentle, and humble of heart, and invited those coming to Him to become servant-leaders, too. M. Ignacia responded to this call of humble servanthood faithfully.
M. Ignacia and her community lived in the spirit of the 1726 Rules after it has been written down. One thing that also stirred up in the heart of M. Ignacia was the wish to die as God’s humble servant with no claim of title, honor and position. She decided then to resign from being the Superior of the house trusting that God would continue to guide the community through the chosen leaders. This abdication from her position was viewed by Murillo Velarde as a mark of her great humility. It also proved the constancy of her search for God’s will. If the rules were in accordance with God’s will, following them would lead to the growth of the community in faith, hope and love even without the guidance of M. Ignacia. By resigning from her office, M. Ignacia might have deprived the community of her governance but not of her guiding example. She lived as God’s faithful and humble servant until her death on September 10, 1748. (A Lamp to our Path, p. 37)
Faith / Prophetic Witness to Gospel Values
Living a life of joyful service, Mother Ignacia recognized how God acted in and through people and events. (1726 rules I.35, 48; III.1)
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola which Ignacia went through under the guidance of Fr. Paul Klein strengthened her resolve to dedicate her life to God and her conviction to remain “ in the service of the Divine Majesty. She left everything, all the conveniences her family could offer, and with a pair of scissors and needle, she started a new life. “To earn her living by the sweat of her face” is a phrase that best describes Ignacia’s choice of a life of poverty. This was the way she thought she could follow the poor Christ. She did not seek a life of comfort , honor and prestige. The retreat confirmed her conviction not to be swayed by the lures of social conformity. She opted for the path of life that Jesus chose. The way of Jesus Christ is poverty, humility and the way of the cross. In her decision to live poorly, she bore witness to the capacity of an Yndia to be self-reliant and independent. She proved her dignity as a woman and also the dignity of work.
M Ignacia’s dedication to the following Christ in humble service can be traced back to her experience of the Spiritual Exercises. The poor, humble and suffering Christ was her model and teacher in prayer and practices of penance and mortifications. The forgiving love of Christ was the basis of her humble service in the community and in her apostolic involvement. Her humble service was an expression of Eucharistic spirituality inspired by Mary’s Magnificat. The contemplations in the Spiritual Exercises must have deepened her desire to be close to Mary and imitate her. She could have begun to see herself as a humble servant.
The characteristics of M. Ignacia following Christ were slowly taking shape through the Meditations of the three kinds of humility which deeply affected her.The three degrees of spirituality are as follows:
The humility to submit in obedience to the will of God which is necessary for salvation. The humility that calls for indifference, an attitude of mind in which there is no desire or inclination either to riches or poverty, honor or dishonor, long life or short life; either can be chosen as long as it promotes the service of God and one’s salvation. The desire for radical imitation of Christ. This is the most perfect kind of humility.
M. Ignacia was steadfast in her decision to follow Christ in poverty and humility. This has strengthened her especially during moments of trials and difficulties. Her sufferings drew her closer to the crucified Christ. (A Lamp to our Path, pp 39-43)