DPclosing-Ceremony

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RIPPLES, the THEME of this WEBPAGE in honor and for the Causes of Beatification and Canonization of Venerable Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes, or as we fondly call her - MOTHER FRANCISCA, epitomizes her life of faithful fulfillment to her very words, “GOD CAN NOT BE RESISTED”. The magnificent love and mercy of God stirred her life and deeply penetrated through her soul to forget herself and offered her all for His service.

By God's unfathomable design, His hands work providentially to fulfill His plan through this self-effacing Servant, as in Milicia de Jesucristo, Fr. Francisco Gainza, OP wrote: " ...from early childhood, it had already been known what could have been expected of her on reaching maturity, for even when she was still very young, she had already displayed a precocious modesty, an edifying composure, a sort of prudence superior to young age, a tender devotion to God and a vivid desire not to offend Him Whom she loved even before she got acquainted with earthly vanities..."(Positio, p.30).

Her pursuit of spiritual perfection through dedicated prayers and charitable works to the poor sick and the young, rippled through the heart and souls of other women in her time. Her life influenced theirs to make a difference in the society and people they live with.

Mother Francisca hurdled all forms of trials: come to think of how much she could have suffered from the setback of losing her husband and being left childless at a young age; how with courageous persistence she dealt with the opposition from both ecclesial and state authorities during the advent of the establishment of her first community to the foundation of the Beaterio; how her prudence and love of community as the appointed prioress and her fidelity to the Rule were tested by her very own sisters at Sta. Potenciana until their return to the Beaterio after more than two years of exile; how she stood up firm and unperturbed by cultural negativism and criticisms in her decisions that concern the Beatas and the Beaterio. All these and even more, summed up her deep relationship with God. Her strong desire of enjoying His promised "unceasing presence" was evident in her devotion to the Holy Eucharist and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, thus, her unwavering desire for the community to enjoy this priviledge after years of patient waiting paved its realization through the construction of a passageway/bridge from the Beaterio over Calle Letran (Letran Street) to the Church of San Juan de Letran so that her community could gain access to the Blessed Sacrament.

Finally, towards the twilight of her missionary life on earth, having worn out by her acts of perpetual mortification and mortal fatigue to securely give a solid establishment of the Beaterio, her corporal frame deteriorates but her spirit continues to edify persons around her especially her confessor, Fr. Juan de Sto. Domingo.

Mother Francisca returned to her Creator with heroic resignation and humility on August 24, 1711, on the feast of St. Bartholomew, and was buried with all solemnity in the Church of San Juan de Letran. Her tomb was over the steps of the Main Altar, on the side of the Gospel.

As the Theological Commission wrote in her Positio – “A Woman of Great Faith, Resolute Hope and Steadfast Love: A Woman for our Times... “, this Venerable Woman left a living legacy of her love of God and neighbor, the RIPPLE effect of God's love and mercy which continues vigorously as ever this day to create ripples of their own, from - the Beatas of the Beaterio de Santa Catalina de Sena to her sisters of the now - Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Philippines, in their active ministries to the young, the sick and the poor.

Master of Ceremony:
Sr. Cecilia Espenilla, OP

The EPISCOPAL DELEGATE together with the Members of the Tribunal are gathered around the table prepared in front of the altar. With them are the Members of the Historical and Theological Commissions.

The EPISCOPAL DELEGATE Opens the session with the invocation of the Holy Spirit and intones VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS (Gregorian).

The NOTARY presents the original acts of the process in two copies to the EPISCOPAL DELEGATE who then addresses Fr. Fidel Villaroel, OP, the Chair of Historical Commission on behalf of the Promoter of Justice, Msgr. Sabino Vengco in the name of His Excellency Gaudencio Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, to say if he has anything to object against the original Acts of the Process for the Causes or against the copies of the same”.

Fr. Fidel Villaroel, OP on behalf of the PROMOTER OF JUSTICE addresses the Rev. Episcopal Delegate that he is happy to communicate to His Reverence that all the process has been done according to the norms of the present legislation for the Causes of Saints. The Promoter of Justice attended all the sessions held by the tribunal in order to interrogate the witnesses and to gather documentary proofs. He has examined and signed personally the original Acts of the said process and has checked the two copies of the same, which have been in concordance with the original and nothing to object against them.

The EPISCOPAL DELEGATE examines the original Acts and the copies of the Process and consults the Judge Delegate, Fr. Samson Silloriquez, OAR, if he has no objection on the original Acts and the copies presented. Having no objection, he declares authentic the two copies of the Process as they have been presented.

The VICE POSTULATOR addresses the Episcopal Delegate since it is necessary to submit to the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints the two authentic copies of the Acts of the Process, to nominate a person to take the said copies to Rome”.

The EPISCOPAL DELEGATE consults the Judge Delegate, Fr. Samson Silloriquez, OAR and other Judges present to nominate the person to take the said copies to Rome. The JUDGE DELEGATE and other judges nominate Sr. Ma. Jesusa Engico, O.P. to take the copies to Rome with their prayers and the blessings of God.

Sr. Ma. Jesusa Engico, O.P. manifests her acceptance of this charge by making the oath and signing it in front of the Officials of the Causes.

The JUDGE DELEGATE moved that the Tribunal through the mandate of the Rev. Episcopal Delegate decrees that the Act of the present session and all that has been taken in the same session be adjourned, and that, having been signed by all those who participated in it, let it be included in the Acts of the Process and in the copies which are to be sent in Rome. Thus, the EPISCOPAL DELEGATE decrees that the original Acts, closed, stamped and sealed, be kept with diligence in the Archives of the Archdiocese and that no one dare to open it without the expressed permission of the Archbishop.

He and the members of the Tribunal affix their signatures on the original Acts of the closing Session and copies of the same.

The Notaries close, stamp, and seal both the original copies of 2,150 pages documents of the Diocesan Inquiry into the life, virtues and reputation of sanctity of the Servant of God to be turned over to Sister Ma. Jesusa Enginco, OP to take to the Congregation of the Causes of Saints upon the motion of the ASSOCIATE JUDGE and ordered by the JUDGE DELEGATE. Attached to the outside of the package the following inscription: To the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Palazzo delle Congregazione, Vatican City.

MSGR. GERONIMO REYES, the Episcopal Delegate when the closing and sealing of the Acts is completed, declares that the Process has been closed: “I, Msgr. Geronimo F. Reyes, Episcopal Delegate in behalf of His Excellency Gaudencio Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, in virtue of the faculties vested upon me, solemnly declare CLOSED the Archdiocesan Process of the Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God, MOTHER FRANCISCA DEL ESPIRITU SANTO, Foundress of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena.

The Prioress General of the Congregation, M. Aurora Villaverde, OP delivers her Thanksgiving speech after the Diocesan Phase has been declared CLOSED.

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