MOTHER FRANCISCA DEL ESPIRITU SANTO
Francisca de Fuentes was born in Intramuros, Manila in 1647 to Simon de Fuentes and Ana Maria del Castillo y Tamayo. Widowed and childless after a brief marriage, she dedicated herself to the pursuit of Christian virtues and in the works of charity helping the sick and the needy. She became a Dominican Tertiary in 1682 with the name of FRANCISCA DEL ESPIRITU SANTO. In 1684 she opted to live in community with 3 other companions under the Rule of the Third Order of St. Dominic. The Master General of the Friars Preachers, Fr. Antonino Cloche, OP, granted the approval for the pioneering community on January 11, 1688. The Beaterio, dedicated to the great teacher St. Catherine of Siena, was definitively established on July 26, 1696 with the profession of Mother Francisca and 7 other beatas, among them was her blood sister Ana. They benefited from the guidance of the Dominican Friars, particularly Fr. Juan de Sto. Domingo, author of the “Breve Relacion de la Fundacion del Beaterio de Santa Catalina” (dated October 28, 1711) published posthumously in 1911. The institution endured difficult trials in its first years and its members were even expelled from the place for more than 2 years in 1703. But the difficulties were largely external arising from the conflict over jurisdiction between the Dominican Order and the Archbishop of Manila. The Beaterio resumed its life and activity in 1706 and eventually took form as a “Colegio” for the education of native, mestiza and Spanish young girls. The personality of MOTHER FRANCISCA was the unifying element during the hardships of the community’s early years. She exuded so much Christian vitality. As foundress, she exhibited exemplary strength and virtues: deep Eucharistic and Marian devotions, compassion, charity of neighbor, penance, love of community and strict observance of the Rule. MOTHER FRANCISCA died in the peace of the saints on the 24th of August 1711. Her funeral was participated in by the entire city of Manila with all possible solemnity. Her tomb was placed over the steps of the main altar, Gospel side, of the Church of Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the Walled City of Manila. She left a memory of virtues that still lives on today. The Congregation is inspired to spread the knowledge and veneration of her life and charism therefore now promote her causes for beatification and canonization. On July 8, 2003 at 9:00 a.m at Sto. Domingo Church, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval, His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin formally opened the process for the causes of beatification and canonization of MOTHER FRANCISCA DEL ESPIRITU SANTO with a Eucharistic Celebration to be presided over by His Excellency Most Rev. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, OP, DD.
ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA
The 25th child of a wool dyer in northern Italy, St. Catherine started having mystical experiences when she was only 6, seeing guardian angels as clearly as the people they protected. She became a Dominican tertiary when she was 16, and continued to have visions of Christ, Mary, and the saints. St. Catherine was one of the most brilliant theological minds of her day, although she never had any formal education. She persuaded the Pope to go back to Rome from Avignon, in 1377, and when she died she was endeavoring to heal the Great Western Schism. In 1375 Our Lord give her the Stigmata, which was visible only after her death. Her spiritual director was Blessed Raymond of Capua. St, Catherine's letters, and a treatise called "a dialogue" are considered among the most brilliant writings in the history of the Catholic Church. She died when she was only 33, and her body was found incorrupt in 1430.
ST. DOMINIC DE GUZMAN
St. Dominic (1170-1221). Son of Felix Guzman and Bl. Joan of Aza, he was born at Calaruega, Spain, studied at the Univ. at Palencia, was probably ordained there while pursuing his studies and was appointed canon at Osma in 1199. There he became prior superior of the chapter, which was noted for its strict adherence to the rule of St. Benedict. In 1203 he accompanied Bishop Diego de Avezedo of Osma to Languedoc where Dominic preached against the Albigensians (heresy) and helped reform the Cistercians. Dominic founded an institute for women at Prouille in Albigensian territory in 1206 and attached several preaching friars to it. When papal legate Peter of Castelnan was murdered by the Albigensians in 1208, Pope Innocent III launched a crusade against them headed by Count Simon IV of Montfort which was to continue for the next seven years. Dominic followed the army and preached to the heretics but with no great success. In 1214 Simon gave him a castle at Casseneuil and Dominic with six followers founded an order devoted to the conversion of the Albigensians; the order was canonically approved by the bishop of Toulouse the following year. He failed to gain approval for his order of preachers at the fourth General Council of the Lateran in 1215 but received Pope Honorius III's approval in the following year, and the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) was founded. Dominic spent the last years of this life organizing the order, traveling all over Italy, Spain and France preaching and attracting new members and establishing new houses. The new order was phenomenally successful in conversion work as it applied Dominic's concept of harmonizing the intellectual life with popular needs. He convoked the first general council of the order at Bologna in 1220 and died there the following year on August 6, after being forced by illness to return from a preaching tour in Hungary. He was canonized in 1234 and is the patron saint of astronomers. Feast day is Aug. 8. |
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