MODULE 2: MOTHER IGNACIA: OUR MODEL AND INSPIRATION

SESSION 2
Mother Ignacia and
the Value of Work
INTRODUCTION
OPENING PRAYER
SERVANT SONG

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Father, you sent Your Son to
serve. You sent Him to give
His life for us. Let Your Spirit
awaken in us the same spirit
of service. Let us not look for
position or gain, instead
show us how to let others go
before us. Make us meek;
make us humble so we can
give our lives wilfully,
obediently and faithfully to
You. Amen.
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STORY TELLING
Sharing about your work
experience…
• What do you consider as
your most significant
experience at work or in the
workplace?
• What have you learned
from that experience?
• What value does it teach
you regarding your work?
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STORY TELLING
▪ How do you usually start
your day at work?
▪ Do you keep ‘to do list’?
▪ What makes your day
productive?
▪ What’s something you find
challenging about your
work?
▪ What part of your work/job is
most rewarding?
▪ Who/What motivates or
inspires you to do your tasks
and responsibility every
day?
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GOALS &
OBJECTIVES
ENABLING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, the students will be

able to know the true value of work as
exemplified by Mother Ignacia.

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TERMINAL OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, the students will be

able to share joyful experiences in the
fulfilment of one’s work.

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NEW
KNOWLEDGE
 The Value of Work
Work is an expression of human dignity
and should not be used to degrade a
human being. M. Ignacia enjoined her
companions to dedicate all their works to
God. “All their works should be offered to
God our Lord, avoiding vanity and
boasting, because Jesus tells us in His
holy gospel, that any person, who would
work for human respect without seeking
the divine honor, will not have the reward
of his works in the other life”
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 The Value of Work
M. Ignacia looked at
the deeper meaning of
work. Her spirituality of
work was rooted in trust
and confidence “in
God, rich in mercy with
those who trust in his
generous providence
and mercy.”
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 The Value of Work
M. Ignacia saw the value of
work as means of praising
God. Work is an opportunity
to express one’s creativity, a
gift that comes from God
Himself. Work, therefore, is
an experience of sharing in
God’s creative activity.
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 The Value of Work
One who is conscious of this gives glory
to God by his/her work. M. Ignacia also
realized that her work enabled her to
establish relationship with others. Her
apostolic involvement emerged from
these relationships. Her skill in
needlework must have encouraged
some women to bring their daughters
to her to learn the same skill and ability.

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 The Value of Work
For her part, M. Ignacia saw this as an
opportunity not only to share her skill
but also to guide and form young girls
in Christian virtues. Her work then as a
means of earning a livelihood became
an occasion for educating children in
the Christian faith.

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 The Value of Work
M. Ignacia saw God in work and
prayer. God’s presence was felt
both in her moments of prayer as
well as in her arduous task of
earning a living. God was there
present in her very struggle to live
a meaningful life. (copied from A
Lamp to Our Path, pp. 72-73)
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GOING DEEPER…
• What quality of Mother
Ignacia do you find
relevant in your area of
work?
• What contribution
would you want to
make for the RVM
ministry/mission of the
Church to continue to
flourish?
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ACTIVITIES
COMPLETE THE GRID

My Best Qualities at The Qualities I want to

Work improve at work
1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

• Group sharing.

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CHARITY INSPIRED
CHARACTER-
BUILDLING VALUES
VALUES INTEGRATION:

Excellence/ Respect and obedience

• How would you inspire/encourage others to

appreciate the value of work like that of Mother
Ignacia?

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SOCIAL INTEGRATION:

Cultural Differences

• Mother Ignacia’s response to the value of work

marks a turning point in the life of women in the
Philippine Church during her time. Hers was an
invaluable contribution which would emerge in a
truly indigenous form of religious life for both Indio
and Spanish women.
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SOCIAL INTEGRATION:

Cultural Differences

• As “Cognitive Tribalism”, (someone who dislikes

anyone who doesn't conform to his/her points of
view), is common now a days, how would you be a
channel of ‘beauty amidst diversity’, understanding
and moving beyond simple tolerance to embrace
and celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity
contained within each individual.
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INVITATION TO
SILENCE…GOD TIME
Faith Reflection/Faith Sharing

• Like needle and pair of scissors, you

have something in your hands to take
the initiative to help yourself and
others. There is an urgency to use
them to address your own and your
neighbors’ spiritual and material
needs. The only way to do great work
is to value and love what you do.
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Faith Reflection/Faith Sharing

• How does Mother Ignacia’s ways of

valuing work inspire you to value your
responsibilities and tasks at present?

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APHORISM
(SUMMARY/SYNTHESIS)
• Mother Ignacia’s way of responding
to God’s will is described as: “To earn
her living by the sweat of her face” is
a phrase that best describes Ignacia’s
choice of a life of poverty. This was
the way she thought she could follow
the poor Christ. She did not identify
with the honoured class of her
society; she did not seek a life of
comfort, honor and prestige. She did
not complain.
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• The retreat confirmed her conviction
not to be swayed by the lures of
social conformity. She did not choose
the easy way. She opted for the path
of life that Jesus chose. In her decision
to live poorly, Ignacia bore witness to
the capacity of an yndia to be self-
reliant and independent. She proved
her dignity as a woman and also the
dignity of work.
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• Mother Ignacia enjoined her
companions to dedicate all their
works to God. Her fame for holiness is
best contained in what the Jesuit
historian said that within the period of
more than 60 years, the servant of
God and her beatas never gave
reason for talk in the whole country.
Rather, people everywhere were left
edified by their work.

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NOTEWORTHY
APPLICATION OF
INSIGHTS GAINED
 Create an affirmation
bulletin of your
accomplishments at
work. Update it monthly.

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 Panginoon, turuan Mo ako maging
bukas-palad
Turuan Mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo
Na magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat
Na walang hinihintay mula sa 'Yo

Nang makibakang di inaalintana

Mga hirap na dinaranas
Sa tuwina'y magsumikap na hindi
humahanap
Ng kapalit na kaginhawaan
Na 'di naghihintay kundi ang aking
mabatid
Na ang loob Mo'y siyang sinusundan

Panginoon, turuan Mo ako maging

bukas-palad
Turun Mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo
Na magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat
Na walang hinihintay mula sa 'Yo. 34
Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo… pray for us!
REFERENCES:

• Co, S. Ma. Anicia, RVM. A Lamp to Our Path, 1998,

pp. 72-73
• IFP Module for Lay Partners, 1997

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