Religious of the Virgin Mary facts for kids

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Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary

Religiosas de la Beata Virgen María

Abbreviation

RVM

Established

1684; 341 years ago

Type

Centralized Religious Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right for women

Purpose

To seek the greater service and honor of God

Headquarters

Motherhouse
214 N. Domingo St.,
Brgy. Kaunlaran, Cubao, Quezon City Philippines

Members

702 members as of 2020

Motto

Latin:
Ad Jesum Cum Maria
English:
To Jesus with Mary

Foundress

Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espíritu Santo Iuco, RVM

Superior General

Very Rev. Mother Maria Rosabella R. Gallo, R.V.M.

Countries served

• Canada
• Ghana
• Indonesia
• Italy

• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Sweden
. Taiwan
• USA

Parent organization

Roman Catholic

Website

RVM

Remarks

Works include primary through tertiary education, spiritual retreats, direct service to the poor, and assistance at hospitals and various diocesan and parish works.

Formerly called

Beaterio de la Compania de Jesus

The Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) is a group of Catholic women religious sisters. They were founded in Manila, Philippines, in 1684 by a brave Filipina woman named Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espíritu Santo.

In 2016, there were over 700 RVM sisters. Most of them are from the Philippines. They manage a university and 58 other schools. They also work in seven countries outside the Philippines. From the very beginning, they have focused on helping others and offering spiritual retreats.

History of the RVM Sisters
The RVM Today
- Mother Ignacia's Special Status
RVM Motherhouse
The RVM Seal
Gallery
See also

History of the RVM Sisters

The Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary is the oldest and largest Filipina Catholic religious group. It was the first all-Filipina religious group for women in the Philippines. It was started in 1684 by Ignacia del Espíritu Santo.

This group aims to help its members grow in their faith. They do this mainly by offering Catholic education to young people. They also teach about the Catholic faith in churches. The sisters offer spiritual retreats for women and run dormitories. They also care for sick people in hospitals.

The Spanish Era

Ignacia del Espíritu Santo began her work in 1684. She decided on her path after a spiritual retreat. Her guide was a Czech Jesuit priest named Pablo Clain. At 21, she left her home. She bravely started a group of religious sisters. These sisters worked outside of convents, which was very unusual then.

She started with her niece, Cristina Gonzales. Two other young girls, Teodora de Jesús and Ana Margarita, joined them. This small group was called the Beatas de la Compania de Jesús. Later, it became the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM). People often called them beatas, meaning "saintly women". This name later changed to Sor (sister) or Madre (mother).

The house where the beatas lived was called the House of Retreat. This was because they also offered retreats and days of prayer for women. Mother Ignacia's kindness and good sense attracted more people to the group. In 1732, the Archbishop of Manila, Juan Ángel Rodríguez, approved their rules. Mother Ignacia, then 69, stepped down from her leadership role. By 1748, the group had fifty members.

They ran a school for 45 girls. These girls were Filipinas, Spaniards, and mestizas (mixed heritage). They learned about Christian living, reading, sewing, and embroidery. In July 1748, the Archbishop asked King Ferdinand VI of Spain to officially protect the Congregation. Mother Ignacia died two months later, on September 10, 1748, at 85. On November 25, 1755, the King granted the group official protection.

Growing the Congregation

From 1748 to 1770, the sisters helped Jesuit priests lead spiritual retreats. They also expanded their work to other areas in Luzon. They traveled in small groups to help people strengthen their faith.

Between 1872 and 1900, the first missions were set up in Mindanao. This area was mostly Muslim and took months to reach by sea. In a report by Pablo Pastells, the beatas were first called Sisters. This was when they sailed to Tamontaca in Cotabato in 1874. Some Muslims were not friendly to the nuns. They burned the mission orphanage. One Sister was badly hurt when an attacker went wild. Despite the dangers, the Sisters started new missions in other Jesuit towns. These included Dapitan (1880), Dipolog (1892), Zamboanga (1894), and Surigao (1896). They also opened missions in Lubungan and Butuan in 1896.

The Philippine Revolution of 1896 and the Spanish–American War caused hardships for the Sisters. But they still cared for wounded people in hospitals. When peace returned, they opened new schools in Luzon and the Visayas.

American Period and World War II

On June 21, 1902, the church leader in Archdiocese of Manila, Martin García Alocer, approved the sisters' request. They wanted to elect a new leader for the whole group. That same year, María Efigenia Álvarez was chosen as the first mother general. On March 17, 1907, Pope Pius X praised the group's rules. Pope Pius XI officially approved them on March 24, 1931. This approval meant the group was now under the direct authority of the Pope.

With Efigenia as mother general, the group grew a lot. She encouraged the sisters to study more at the University of Santo Tomas. This helped them become better teachers. During her time, ten new houses, schools, and dormitories were started. In 1938, Efigenia, at 80 years old, was allowed to resign. On July 10, 1938, María Andrea Montejo took over. She led the 26 houses the group had across the country. In 1939, the group moved its training house for new sisters to Quezon City.

After Independence

The Philippines became fully independent from the United States on July 4, 1946. Almost two years later, on January 12, 1948, Pope Pius XII gave the final approval for the group's rules. This placed the group directly under Rome. This date was also the 200th anniversary of the founder's death.

Golden Jubilee of the Religious of the Virgin Mary in the United States

After the war, the group expanded across the Philippines. In 1948, they opened a college in Davao City. This college grew into the University of the Immaculate Conception. By 1963, the group had 483 sisters who had taken their vows. They also had 40 new sisters in training.

The 50th anniversary of the Religious of the Virgin Mary in the United States was celebrated. It took place in Sacramento, California, on July 18, 2009. The Philippine celebration was held at Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel.

The RVM Today

By 2016, there were over 700 RVM sisters around the world. They managed 58 schools, including one in Islamabad, Pakistan, and four in Ghana, West Africa. While mostly involved in education, they also ran ten retreat houses and fifteen dormitories. They also helped people during disasters and those in great need. The sisters also worked in various special ministries. These included helping churches, campus ministries, and hospitals.

They have a presence in the United States, Canada, Indonesia, Ghana, Italy, Taiwan, Sweden, and Pakistan. In Italy, they have convents. In Taiwan, the sisters also care for older people with Alzheimer's disease.

Mother Ignacia's Special Status

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI declared the founder, Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, a Venerable of the Roman Catholic Church. This means she is recognized for living a life of great holiness.

The Pope said she showed great faith, hope, and love for God and others. She also showed wisdom, fairness, self-control, and courage in a heroic way.

Mother Ignacia Center for Spirituality

RVM Motherhouse

The main house of the RVM sisters is called the motherhouse. The current motherhouse is in Quezon City. It replaced the first motherhouse in Intramuros. That first house was destroyed in 1945 during the Liberation of Manila. Many other RVM houses and much of Manila were also destroyed then.

For some time during and after the war, the motherhouse was on Espania Street, Manila. In 1950, it moved to its current location in Quezon City. This large area has the Our Lady of the Assumption chapel, built in 1950. It also has the St. Mary's novitiate (for new sisters), juniorate, and infirmary (for sick sisters). Near the front gate is the Betania Retreat House. Sisters return to the motherhouse for gatherings and their yearly 8-day retreat.

The RVM Seal

The official seal of the RVM group is all about Mary, the Mother of God. It is inspired by the image of the Woman of the Apocalypse. The center of the seal has the letters A and M. These stand for Auspice Maria, which means "under the guidance of Mary" or "Hail Mary". Rays around the letters show the sisters' wide-reaching passion and kindness.

Twelve stars surround the A and M. These stars represent twelve special gifts of Mary. Through these gifts, people receive her motherly blessings. Rays come out from the starry letters in seven groups. These rays show the graces that come from Jesus with Mary. They also represent the group's motto, "To Jesus with Mary".

Under the letters is an open book. It has the Latin words, Ad Jesum Cum Maria. This translates to "To Jesus with Mary". Right below the book is a picture of the original Beaterio building in Intramuros. This strong building shows the unity and strength that led Ignacia del Espiritu Santo to start the first Filipina group of women religious in the Philippines.

Below the Beaterio is a sprig of sampaguita flowers. The sampaguita has been the national flower of the Philippines since 1934. It represents the Filipina roots and spirit of the Congregation. It also shows their mission to serve their country and Filipinos overseas.