Jerónima de la Asunción
Encyclopedia
The Servant of God Mother Jeronima of the Assumption, P.C.C.
(May 9, 1555 – October 22, 1630) was the foundress of the first Catholic
monastery
in Manila
and the Far East
. Mother Jermonia's monastery became known as the Monastery of Saint Clare
in Intramuros
, Philippines
. For her efforts as the first founding missionary
woman in the Philippines, the Vatican
issued an apostolic decree for her beatification
in 1734. This monastery was immortalized in the novel, Noli Me Tangere
, written by the Philippine novelist, José Rizal
.
, to a pious couple, Pedro García e Yánez and Catalina de la Fuente. Her parents were both native to Toledo and were of noble lineage. Jeronima spent her childhood in Toledo, where she learned the basics of Christian
life very early in life. At the age of fourteen, she met the great Carmelite reformer, St. Teresa of Jesus
, O.C.D.
After that meeting, she felt the calling to monastic life. She was also influenced by a biography of St. Clare of Assisi. On August 15, 1570, Jeronima entered the Colettine
monastery
of Santa Isabel la Real de Toledo. At this monastery, she joined two of her aunts who were already professed nuns in the community. She later occasionally functioned as Mistress of Novices
.
to establish a monastery in Manila, then part of the Spanish Empire
, and volunteered to be among this pioneering community. On October 21, 1619, she received notice that her offer had been accepted. Friar
José de Santa María, O.F.M., was named Procurator
to arrange the necessary royal travel permits and other financial matters for the venture, while Jeronima herself was appointed as foundress and first abbess
of the Philippine monastery. This monastery would be the first of its kind, both to be established in Manila as well as in the entire Far East
.
Mother Jeronima's journey began in April 1620, with the initial group of six nuns. She was already 66 years old at that time. From Toledo, they traveled by river to Seville
where they were joined by two more nuns, and then they traveled on to Cádiz
. From there, the group set sail to cross the Atlantic Ocean
. By late September 1620, the nuns reached Mexico City
in New Spain
and stayed there for about six months at a monastery of the Order. Two more nuns from that community joined the group.
On Ash Wednesday
of 1621, Mother Jeronima and her group left Mexico by road to cross the mountains towards Acapulco
city. Once there, on April 21, 1621, the group boarded the galleon
, San Andrés to sail for the Philippines.
The women kept a record of their travel from Toledo to Manila. One of the nuns died during the crossing, while they were near the Mariana Islands
. The rest of the group set foot in the Philippines, arriving in the port of Bolinao
on July 24, 1621. They reached Intramuros, the center of Manila at the time, on August 5, 1621. Their trip from Toledo to Intramuros had lasted one year, three months and nine days.
Mother Jeronima's remains were first buried in a niche
within a wall inside the monastery that she founded, but later experienced five relocations. The first was in 1670 to hinder the activities of local devotees. The second happened in 1712 due to the monastery's reconstruction. At the time, they were placed in the lower choir of the monastery. The third relocation was during the British
invasion of Manila in 1763, when the coffin containing her remains was transferred to the Church of St. Francis in Intramuros. The remains were brought back to the monastery in 1765. The remains survived a bombing of the monastery during World War II. In the 1950s, her bones were finally placed permanently at a new monastery at Quezon City
, Philippines.
Although not born in the Philippines, Mother Jeronima of the Assumption became a religious inspiration for many Catholic devotees. She was described as a woman of resolute character in managing political and religious conflicts both within and outside the confines of her monastery. Steps towards her canonization begun in 1630. To date, they have not proceeded.
s of Jeronima de la Asunción are replicas of the painting
done by the renowned court painter
, Diego Velázquez
. The portrait was composed during Mother Jeronima's stop-over in Seville, on her way to the Philippines.
The painting is described as conveying the then-sixty-six year old nun's "devoutness and strength of character through her stern expression and rugged countenance; her direct, outward gaze at the beholder; and her expressive accoutrements". Mother Jeronima is depicted wearing her dark religious habit
while holding a tome
and a crucifix
. There were inscriptions on the painting. The text across the top of the canvas read "It is good to await the salvation of God in silence", while the ribbon
that flows from her mouth stated "I shall be satisfied as long as He is glorified".
Colettine Poor Clares
The Colettine Poor Clares are a reform branch of the Order of St. Clare, founded by Clare of Assisi in Italy in 1211. They follow the interpretation of the Rule of St. Clare established by Saint Colette in 1410, originally a French hermit and member of the Third Order of St...
(May 9, 1555 – October 22, 1630) was the foundress of the first Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. Mother Jermonia's monastery became known as the Monastery of Saint Clare
Clare of Assisi
Clare of Assisi , born Chiara Offreduccio, is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi...
in Intramuros
Intramuros
Intramuros is the oldest district in the present day city of Manila, the capital of the Republic of the Philippines. Nicknamed the "Walled City", Intramuros is the historic fortified city of Manila, the seat ot the government during the Spanish Colonial Period. Its name in Latin, intramuros,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. For her efforts as the first founding missionary
Proselytism
Proselytizing is the act of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, another religion. The word proselytize is derived ultimately from the Greek language prefix προσ- and the verb ἔρχομαι in the form of προσήλυτος...
woman in the Philippines, the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
issued an apostolic decree for her beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
in 1734. This monastery was immortalized in the novel, Noli Me Tangere
Noli Me Tangere (novel)
Noli Me Tangere is a novel by Filipino polymath José Rizal and first published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany. Early English translations used titles like An Eagle Flight and The Social Cancer, but more recent translations have been published using the original Latin title.Though originally written in...
, written by the Philippine novelist, José Rizal
José Rizal
José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda , was a Filipino polymath, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and is listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines by...
.
Biography
Jeronima was born in Toledo, SpainToledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, to a pious couple, Pedro García e Yánez and Catalina de la Fuente. Her parents were both native to Toledo and were of noble lineage. Jeronima spent her childhood in Toledo, where she learned the basics of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
life very early in life. At the age of fourteen, she met the great Carmelite reformer, St. Teresa of Jesus
Teresa of Ávila
Saint Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, and writer of the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer...
, O.C.D.
Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers...
After that meeting, she felt the calling to monastic life. She was also influenced by a biography of St. Clare of Assisi. On August 15, 1570, Jeronima entered the Colettine
Colettine Poor Clares
The Colettine Poor Clares are a reform branch of the Order of St. Clare, founded by Clare of Assisi in Italy in 1211. They follow the interpretation of the Rule of St. Clare established by Saint Colette in 1410, originally a French hermit and member of the Third Order of St...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Santa Isabel la Real de Toledo. At this monastery, she joined two of her aunts who were already professed nuns in the community. She later occasionally functioned as Mistress of Novices
Master of novices
The master of novices or novice master is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to refer those religious to whom is committed the training of the novices and the government of the novitiate of a religious order or congregation...
.
Voyage to the Far East
Sister Jeronima learned about the intention of her OrderRoman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
to establish a monastery in Manila, then part of the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
, and volunteered to be among this pioneering community. On October 21, 1619, she received notice that her offer had been accepted. Friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
José de Santa María, O.F.M., was named Procurator
Procurator (Catholic Church)
This is the term for an office used among religious orders. In this context, the title is applied to a treasurer or financial officer of the group, with each level of the order having their own officer, from the local community to that of "Procurator General", who supervises the finances for the...
to arrange the necessary royal travel permits and other financial matters for the venture, while Jeronima herself was appointed as foundress and first abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of the Philippine monastery. This monastery would be the first of its kind, both to be established in Manila as well as in the entire Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
.
Mother Jeronima's journey began in April 1620, with the initial group of six nuns. She was already 66 years old at that time. From Toledo, they traveled by river to Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
where they were joined by two more nuns, and then they traveled on to Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. From there, the group set sail to cross the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. By late September 1620, the nuns reached Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
and stayed there for about six months at a monastery of the Order. Two more nuns from that community joined the group.
On Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter...
of 1621, Mother Jeronima and her group left Mexico by road to cross the mountains towards Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
city. Once there, on April 21, 1621, the group boarded the galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
, San Andrés to sail for the Philippines.
The women kept a record of their travel from Toledo to Manila. One of the nuns died during the crossing, while they were near the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
. The rest of the group set foot in the Philippines, arriving in the port of Bolinao
Bolinao, Pangasinan
Bolinao is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 69,568 people in 12,182 households.-History:...
on July 24, 1621. They reached Intramuros, the center of Manila at the time, on August 5, 1621. Their trip from Toledo to Intramuros had lasted one year, three months and nine days.
Later life, death and canonization process
During the last thirty years of her life, Mother Jeronima lived in constant illness. In early September 1630, her health deteriorated. She died at dawn on October 22, 1630 at the age of 75.Mother Jeronima's remains were first buried in a niche
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
within a wall inside the monastery that she founded, but later experienced five relocations. The first was in 1670 to hinder the activities of local devotees. The second happened in 1712 due to the monastery's reconstruction. At the time, they were placed in the lower choir of the monastery. The third relocation was during the British
British
The word British is an adjective referring in various ways to the United Kingdom or the island of Great Britain and its people and language.People...
invasion of Manila in 1763, when the coffin containing her remains was transferred to the Church of St. Francis in Intramuros. The remains were brought back to the monastery in 1765. The remains survived a bombing of the monastery during World War II. In the 1950s, her bones were finally placed permanently at a new monastery at Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, Philippines.
Although not born in the Philippines, Mother Jeronima of the Assumption became a religious inspiration for many Catholic devotees. She was described as a woman of resolute character in managing political and religious conflicts both within and outside the confines of her monastery. Steps towards her canonization begun in 1630. To date, they have not proceeded.
The Portrait of Mother Jeronima
Modern-day photographs and imageImage
An image is an artifact, for example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject—usually a physical object or a person.-Characteristics:...
s of Jeronima de la Asunción are replicas of the painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
done by the renowned court painter
Court painter
A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or noble family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Especially in the late Middle Ages, they were often given the office of valet de chambre...
, Diego Velázquez
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
. The portrait was composed during Mother Jeronima's stop-over in Seville, on her way to the Philippines.
The painting is described as conveying the then-sixty-six year old nun's "devoutness and strength of character through her stern expression and rugged countenance; her direct, outward gaze at the beholder; and her expressive accoutrements". Mother Jeronima is depicted wearing her dark religious habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
while holding a tome
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
and a crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
. There were inscriptions on the painting. The text across the top of the canvas read "It is good to await the salvation of God in silence", while the ribbon
Ribbon
A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily for binding and tying. Cloth ribbons, most commonly silk, are often used in connection with clothing, but are also applied for innumerable useful, ornamental and symbolic purposes...
that flows from her mouth stated "I shall be satisfied as long as He is glorified".
See also
- The First Filipino Saint
- Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz, New York
- Ignacia del Espiritu SantoIgnacia del Espíritu SantoMother Ignacia del Espíritu Santo is a Filipino Venerable of the Roman Catholic Church. She led a religious life in 1684 and the founder of Beaterio de la Compañía de Jesús, now known as Congregation of the Sisters of the Religious of the Virgin Mary , the first Filipino congregation for religious...
- The Religious of the Virgin MaryReligious of the Virgin MaryThe Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary is a ecclesiastical community of vowed religious Roman Catholic women of pontifical right and approval founded in Manila, Philippines. The community was founded in 1684 by Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espíritu Santo, a Filipino Roman Catholic...
- Three Fertility Saints of Obando, Bulacan, PhilippinesObando Fertility RitesThe Obando Fertility Rites is a Filipino dance ritual. Every year during the month of May, to the tune of musical instruments made out of bamboo materials, the men, women and children of Obando, Bulacan, Philippines wear traditional dance costumes to dance on the streets followed by the images of...
- Colettine Poor ClaresColettine Poor ClaresThe Colettine Poor Clares are a reform branch of the Order of St. Clare, founded by Clare of Assisi in Italy in 1211. They follow the interpretation of the Rule of St. Clare established by Saint Colette in 1410, originally a French hermit and member of the Third Order of St...
- The First Filipino NunMartha de San BernardoMartha de San Bernardo was the first Filipina Catholic nun in both Philippine and world history.-Biography:De San Bernardo belonged to an affluent and influential family in Pampanga, and was a ladina, a Spanish-speaking Filipina that had no Spanish lineage...