Our Mother Francisca was born in the City of Manila. 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. Although she embraced the married state while still very young, certainly it was not to respond to the call of the flesh, nor to engross her heart in the management of her household; on the contrary, though, a model wife devoted to her husband, she gave due preference to the love of God and strove always to set a good example to others by living in retirement and seclusion, "so that it was not without much edification that her choicest virtues were perceived though hidden beneath the appearance of secular pomp, the imitation of Blessed Joanna, Princess of Portugal, who concealed the grave austerity and mortification of her life with a royal ostentation."

However, as she was not meant for the world, the Lord came to her assistance in order to relieve her of the yoke of matrimony and to imposservant. upon her the burden of the cross. Shortly after her marriage her husband died and seeing herself without heirs, she conceived the idea of consecrating herself to God. She lived in such a way that her abode did not resemble the dwelling of seculars "but the house of the most recollected religious because her seclusion and practice of the spiritual exercises of vocal and mental prayer gave it rather the appearance of an oratory, than that of the residence of persons living in the world. " It was then that she dedicated herself entirely to the service of the poor and the sick, especially of those in San Juan de Dios Hospital. She faithfully observed this practice until she enclosed herself in the Beaterio influencing the ladies of the city by her good example. As she grew in charity for her neighbor, she also grew in the desire to surrender herself intimately to her celestial Spouse. For a long time she wavered in the choice of the state which she ought to take. She had inspiration to confine herself in the monastery of St. Claire, the only formal convent in the city. On the other hand, she wanted to don the habit of St. Dominic, for whom she professed a very special predilection. But at that time the Beaterio was not yet existing and there were only some Tertiaries who lived in their houses. Not knowing what resolution to take, she doubled her pious exercises, pleaded earnestly with the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary "and the Lady", says the History of my Province, "condescending to the repeated supplication of this devotee, extricated her from her perplexity in the following manner: "One night while she was praying, the two Patriarchs, Francis and Dominic, appeared to her, each one calling her to himself in the same way it had happened to St. Rose of St. Mary. Both embraced her, both invited her sweetly, and on that occasion by an interior inspiration she prostrated herself at the feet of our Father, St. Dominic, surrendering herself to his service and offering herself to him as his child. Then the vision disappeared.

She, therefore, took the habit of the Third Order about the year 1682 and in this new state she devoted herself anew to the exercises of piety and religion, observing with minute exactitude even the least of the rules of the Order and practicing an obedience so blindly rendered, that she seemed to have lost her own will even on the most innocent and simple things. But since Our Lord had destined her to serve as the bedrock of the Beaterio de Santa Catalina, she was not contented with her voluntary confinement in her house. Neither did it suffice for her to live an angelical life in the house of her companion, Mother Antonia Esguerra, together with Mother Sebastiana de Santa Maria and others. This house served as the base for the future foundation. She appealed to the Prelates of the Order, to the various archbishops and governors, and she moved heaven and earth in order to carry out her splendid idea which kept the holy women busy. But only Francisca had the pleasure of seeing it realized. The Lord reigned to grant the requests of His servants. The prelates, who had opposed her idea, were now encouraging it. The difficulties disappeared in a manner which was miraculous to a certain degree. The edifice was made ready with everything that was needful, and on the feast of St. Anne of the year 1696, all the Beatas made their profession in the hands of the Father Provincial. Mother Francisca was elected Prioress and discharged her office for fifteen years, "for a lifetime because her exemplary life, her zeal for the regular observance, her mortification, and other virtues shone in her guaranteed prudence of her government and established immense hope for abundant fruits in that new vineyard of which she was the custodian.

It is easy to understand the life which our Francisca could lead once she was enclosed in the Beaterio, the center of her most ardent vows. In religious observance she was excellent. She was austere with herself, kind to others, and charitable to all. She was an indefatigable worker and an inexorable promoter of regular observance. Such virtues could not be perfect without the crucible of tribulations, nor could the devil regard such a foundation with indifference. So he aged a pitiless war against her. Therefore, the Lord permitted that the Beaterio and its Prioress to undergo the most terrible trials before they achieved a certain kind of security. There was one who, tired of the religious life and urged by the enemy of Peace, lamented to the archbishop the excessive rigidity of the Prioress against whom she related a thousand and one calumnies. This and other problems resulting from the control of the Beaterio, as well as other causes which are improper to mention brought about the closing of the edifice and the dispersion of the Beatas who were confined in the College of Santa Isabel, and whose habits had been removed amidst copious tears capable of moving the most hard-hearted. The gnawing bitterness experienced by our Sister under these painful circumstances could only be imagined, for it cannot in any way be explained. She saw the Demon triumphant, what with the spiritual edifice which was raised at the cost of so many protracted sacrifices destroyed, some of her ewes led astray, and others deprived of their beloved solitude. Nevertheless, she did not weaken in such a difficult situation, neither did she lose tranquility of soul, nor presence of mind, nor did she slacken in the regular observance of her duties.

The two long years of her stay in Sta. Isabel presented the most potent proof of the great virtues and eminent gifts of Francisca. Finally, the Lord heard the incessant prayers of His servant. The difficulties having been overcome, Francisca, by common consent of the Prelates, returned to reopen the Beaterio and became better known and admired after many days of bitterness and aft1iction. Re-established at the Beaterio, the Venerable Francisca devoted herself immediately to all the wishes of her fervent heart -the practice of the most sublime virtues -humility, silence, and the most ardent charity, mortifications were practiced jointly with her virtues and prayer, and the presence of God - seasoned all the actions of her laborious life. Finally, weighed down by so much work as the soul of the new Beaterio, after having triumphed over all the oppositions of Satan and with inexpressible joy of leaving this nursery of virtues solidly secure, she died at the age of sixty three years on August 24, 1711, after a tormenting illness during which she gave the most excellent signs of patience, resignation, and abnegation.

Great were the eulogies made by the Chapter of the intermediate Congregation celebrated on April 16, 1712, in its acts on the Venerable Mother Francisca. Moreover, since it would not be possible to translate them completely because of their excessive length, for the sake of this Book .1 am going to translate some parts. "Having been brought to the Beaterio so that she might yield abundant fruits of virtue and serve as an example to others, she realized her hopes abundantly by constant practice and works of mercy. .Indeed, complying with her duties with exactitude and diligence, by dint of constant toil in the practice of virtues, she succeeded in establishing a form of religious life and proved herself a model of good deeds. Observing the Rule of the Third Order to the letter, not only did she subdue her body by fast, prayers, mortifications, and abnegation of her own will, but she also raised her indefatigable soul to the pinnacle of perfection. "

Finally, on August 24, 1711, the fame of her sanctity being great, in age well advanced as well as in grace and virtue (according to the words of the Holy Spirit), and already matured for heaven and strengthened by the Holy Sacraments, her soul now freed from its vessel of clay, passed on to its eternal reward unto the blessed company of her departed Sisters.

Reference: Militia de Jesucristo: Manual de los Hermanos de la Tercera Orden de la Penitencia de Santo Domingo. (Manila: Tipog. del Colegio de Santo Tomas)

As she grew in charity for her neighbor, she also grew in the desire to surrender herself intimately to her celestial Spouse.