Manila (AsiaNews) - If the Congregation of the Causes of Saints approves the documents, Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo will be the first Filipina saint, together with two Filipino martyrs, St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calunsod.

Today, December 6th, Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi, O.P. presided the Eucharistic Celebration and Closing of the Archdiocesan Process for the Causes of Beatification and Canonization of Mother Francisca, foundress of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena in the Philippines, at the Siena College Chapel in Quezon City.

Born in 1647 in Manila, Francisca was widowed after a brief marriage and consequently dedicated herself to the pursuit of Christian virtues and in the works of charity helping the sick and the needy. In 1684 she opted to live in community with three other women under the rule of the third Order of St. Dominic. This community, established in 1696, eventually became a 'Beaterio', an institution which took in young Filipina women, to prepare them into adulthood. In that period, education of women in Asia was almost non existant.

Mother Francisca's personality was the unifying element during the hardships of the community's early years. She died in 1711.

The research on her life and works began in 1965 and one of the first researchers was Archbishop Legaspi who was then a newly ordained priest. "It was an on-going work for many years and it was only formally opened last July," says Dominican Sr. Jesusa Enginco, who supervised the compilation and translation of the original documents gathered from several archives in the Philippines, Spain and Rome. She will also personally bring the wax-sealed documents to Rome on Monday, December 8, to be delivered to the Congregation of the Causes of Saints.

Mother Francisca is so relevant for the Filipinos and the country, Sr. Jesusa said, particularly today when we are in the midst of an economic and political crisis. "In times nowadays, she is an example for the Filipinos of courage and perseverance, love for prayer, especially the love for the Holy Eucharist and the devotion to Mary."  She is an excellent example for the Filipinos, Sr. Jesusa said. "Even in times of crisis she never lost her faith nor hope." Having planted the first seed in the 17th century, Mother Francisca's Congregation has now more than 270 sisters working in 30 schools and managing numerous hospitals around the Philippines and missions. (SE)

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