(Photo courtesy of Diocese of Laoag)
MANILA – The Diocese of Laoag has started the long process for a Filipino teenage girl to become a saint.
An article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website on Thursday said Bishop Renato Mayugba presented to the bishops a request to open the sainthood cause of Niña Ruiz-Abad at the recently concluded plenary assembly held in Kalibo in Aklan.
The Laoag prelate said that at a very young age, Abad showed behaviors and acts that were unusual for her age.
“During her time, it is unusual that a young girl had already done acts to evangelize others,” he said.
“Niña’s life was a prayerful life full of reverence, worship and intimate relationship with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Mayugba added.
Abad died at the age of 13 on Aug. 16, 1993 after losing her battle against hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an incurable heart disease she was diagnosed with at the age of 10.
She had a strong devotion to the Eucharist and devoted her life to distributing rosaries, Bibles, prayer books, holy images, and other religious items.
The teenager was also known for always wearing a rosary around her neck and white dresses.
With the bishops’ approval, it opened the door to the formal investigation of her life and witnessing, which may take years before a possible decision from Rome regarding her potential beatification and canonization.
The initial stages include gathering information about the candidate and interviewing witnesses who knew the person.
Abad was the daughter of a lawyer couple from Sarrat, a town in Ilocos Norte, but she was born and grew up in Quezon City.
Her remains were brought to her hometown in Ilocos Norte. She was laid to rest at a public cemetery in Sarrat.
The sainthood process normally begins on a local level in the diocese where a candidate died. In the case of Abad, it is the Diocese of Novaliches.
On the other hand, Mayugba obtained the approval of Novaliches Bishop Roberto Gaa for the transfer of the “forum of competence” to the Laoag diocese, which was also approved by the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
The bishop said the young girl could serve as “a good model of piety and fortitude” for the youth.
“Knowing Niña’s character and traits and her strong faith in God will serve as a guide to the youth in handling their affairs towards a better Christian life,” Mayugba said.
If Abad becomes a saint, she will be one of the youngest saints in history. (PNA)
