Another Filipina up for sainthood

MANILA, Philippines (Update 3, 10:24 p.m.) — Another Filipina is a few steps away from being a saint after Pope Francis granted a nun from Iloilo the title of "Venerable".

The Vatican News reported that the pope recognized the heroic virtues of Servant of God Maria Beatrice Rosario Arroyo, also known as venerable Maria Rosario of the Visitation. The pope authorized the promulgation of a decree on her heroic virtue last June 11, along with seven others.

"With the promulgation of the decrees of martyrdom and of heroic virtue, the Servants of God are granted the title “Venerable”. The next stage in the “causes”, would be beatification, followed ultimately by canonization," Vatican News reported.

Arroyo is the founder of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary.

She was born in Molo, Iloilo on Feb. 17, 1884 and passed away June 14, 1957.

The Dominican nun is also reportedly the great great grandaunt of former first gentleman Mike Arroyo.

The Vatican’s declaration came months after Filipino teenager Darwin Ramos was also declared a Servant of God. Ramos, a scavenger, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy but continued to work with street children.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, declared Ramos a Servant of God in Rome last March 29. 

READ: Long road to sainthood begins for scavenger

With the Vatican’s latest declaration, Arroyo is in line to be the third Filipino saint.

READ: On the path to sainthood: Wheelchair-bound teen Darwin Ramos joins Filipino roster

Among the Filipinos on the path of eventual sainthood are the following:

• Bishop Alfred Maria Obviar – Founder of Congregation of the Missionary Catechists of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus

• Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo – Founder of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary

• Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo – Founder of  the Beaterio de Santa Catalina de Manila 

•  Bishop Alfredo Versoza – Founder of the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart

•  Archbishop Teofilo Camomot – Founder of the Daughters of Saint Teresa

• Cecilia Rosa de Jesus Talangpaz – Co-founder of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters

• Dionisia de Santa Maria Mitas Talangpaz – Co-founder of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters

• Darwin Ramos – Volunteer worker for Tulay ng Kabataan foundation

Several other Filipinos were also recognized by the Catholic Church.

The declaration as a Servant of God is the first step to sainthood. A candidate for sainthood will then be beatified or raised to the altar before being canonized as saint.

At present, Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod are the only Filipinos who were canonized as saints in 1987 and 2012, respectively. — Rosette Adel

(Editor's note: An earlier version of this article reported Arroyo was declared a Servant of God. This has been corrected to reflect she was already a Servant of God and was granted the title of "Venerable".)