13-Year-Old Filipina Who Loved the Eucharist Is Officially on Path to Sainthood
LAOAG CITY, Philippines — On April 7, the cause for canonization of 13-year old Filipina Niña Ruiz Abad was officially opened at the Cathedral of St. William the Hermit in Laoag City, Philippines, coinciding with Divine Mercy Sunday.
The event marks the first step of a lengthy process of making Ruiz Abad one of the youngest saints in history.
Bishop Renato Mayugba of Laoag City headed the tribunal to hear witnesses testify to the life and holiness of the Servant of God, who has been described as “an inspiration of piety, mercy, evangelization and fortitude to others.”
“We are starting our investigation on the life of Niña, to discern if indeed God has blessed us with a Servant of God who can be elevated to sainthood. … All holiness is, in fact, a work of God. God is the author of holiness, because all holiness is grace. Sanctity is ultimately the work of grace, the fruit of Divine Mercy,” said the bishop.
A video reenactment of Ruiz Abad’s life was shown at the beginning of the session, offering attendees a short glimpse of the teen’s life of deep piety and love for God from a very early age. She was shown as a young child to be always engrossed in praying before the Blessed Sacrament, with her arms extended toward God, and fond of distributing prayer cards and religious images, especially of the Santo Niño (the Child Jesus in Filipino), to her teachers and schoolmates. When faced with the diagnosis of incurable heart disease, the video showed an unfazed girl telling her aggrieved mother, “Don’t worry, Mommy; it’s okay — God will heal me!”
Father Dennis Ruíz, postulator of the cause, emphasized the importance of her example, especially for the youth of today, much like Blessed Carlo Acutis.
