MOLO, Iloilo – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo yesterday attended the formal opening of the diocesan process of the cause for canonization of Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion at St. Anne’s Parish here.

The First Couple went to mass with Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) for the formal opening and mass celebrated by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, a press release from the Philippine News Agency said.

Mother Rosario is the great, great grand mother of the First Gentleman and Rep. Arroyo.

The First Couple offered flowers during the unveiling of the portrait of Mother Rosario. After the mass, President Arroyo and the First Gentleman lit candles and visited the remains of the servant of God and proceeded to the Dominican Sisters Mothers House right across St. Anne’s Parish.

The diocesan process is being initiated upon the petition. Lagdameo who said that he was initiating the process of canonization after having consulted with the Holy See, his brother bishops, and the faithful of the archdiocese, and after having verified the existence of a true and widespread sanctity enjoyed by Mother Rosario, in life and even after her death, the press release said.

Mother Rosario is the foundress of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She was born on February 17, 1884 from a wealthy couple Don Ignacio Arroyo and Doña Maria Pidal at this town. She was baptized as Ma. Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo.

She entered the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Sta. Catalina de Siena at the age of 27. After six months of postulancy, she received the religious habit and was given the name Sister Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion.

A scion of affluence, she was a model of religious poverty and simple life. Mother Rosario left footprints of virtues. She distinguished herself by a solid piety, love of prayer and strict religious observance.

According to the Dominican sisters, Mother Rosario’s life clearly mirrored the virtues of purity and innocence, deep simplicity and profound humility, ardent love for the poor and the needy, the press release said.

She also donated her inheritance to the congregation and lived a life detached from material and worldly goods.

Mother Rosario died at the age of 73 on June 14, 1957 after receiving the Holy Viaticum and anointing. After her death, the fame of holiness which she enjoyed during her life increases. Several persons have manifested allegedly having received favor from God through the intercession of Mother Rosario.

The Dominican sisters believe that canonization of Mother Rosario may attract more vocations to religious and priestly life and contribute to enliven her spirit of service and love to the poor and the marginalized of the society and serve as model to young people who are searching ways to give meaning to their life, the press release said.

The Tribunal which spearheads the diocesan process is still into more documentations of the graces and favors granted through Mother Rosario’s intercession.*PNA

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