Religious of the Virgin Mary

Religious of the Virgin Mary – Sister María Rosabella del Cielo, R.V.M.

Religiosas de la Beata Virgen María

☩ Originally called the “Beaterio de la Compañía de Jesús”. It is the first, therefore the oldest, and largest Filipino Catholic religious Congregation ☩

Motto: Ad Jesum Cum Maria – “To Jesus WITH Mary”

Foundress: Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, R.V.M. – a Chinese-Filipino mestiza who lit a lamp to guide the path of of native women aspiring to religious life. It remains undimmed today.

Place: Manila, Philippines

Year: 1684 A.D.

Her Charism: Under the guidance of Mary, this “Beloved of God” who is deeply in love with Him, centers her life on the suffering Christ and tries to imitate Him through a life of generous service and deep humility. She lives, loves, works for, and honors Him with a passionately transformative perspective of sharing in Christ’s mission to bring the whole of Creation to fullness of life: humanity’s salvation and the transformation of the world. She is a contemplative- in- action, rooted in Ignatian-Marian spirituality, and is focused on God’s Will, radical interior freedom, and humble loving service to the Church. This Sister is therefore grounded in the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola which emphasizes the greater service and the honor of God (Ad majorem Dei Gloriam) and discerning His active Presence in daily life. She models her life after the Blessed Virgin Mary’s profound humility, her “fiat”, her tenderness and maternal care, and serves as an instrument of God’s grace and quiet availability. By her vow to “remain in the service of the Divine Majesty” and “live by the sweat of her brow”, as her Foundress did, this Sister’s very being reflects a pioneer spirit of breaking racial and social barriers to open religious life to native women, trusting wholly in Divine Providence. In addition to her primary ministries of Christian education (K – college) her apostolates include direct service to the poor, assistance in hospitals, and offering spiritual retreats. But there is also a missionary component here. She also serves both local communities and overseas assignments.. Wherever she is, this Sister offers herself to Christ by living her religious life faithfully and teaching the Faith correctly and courageously, proving that God is the God of all peoples, whatever their color or race. It is Jesus’ love that urges her on to active listening, profound respect, loving patience, and a relentless effort to dialogue.