Martha de San Bernardo
Encyclopedia
Martha de San Bernardo was the first Filipina Catholic
nun
in both Philippine
and world history.
, and was a ladina, a Spanish-speaking Filipina that had no Spanish lineage. In 1633, despite the colonial ambience and the existing prejudices on race and gender at the time, De San Bernardo was able to secure support from the Spanish nuns of Madre Jeronima de la Asuncion
’s convent
, the Royal Monastery of Santa Clara
in Intramuros
, Manila
. With the assistance of the head friar
of the Franciscan Order
, De San Bernardo was sent to a newly opened monastery
in the Portuguese
colony
of Macau
, a place that was not under the administrative jurisdiction of any religious order in Manila. De San Bernardo officially became a nun after leaving Manila
bay and before reaching the shores of Macau
, while sailing along the South China Sea
, together with other Spanish women applicants to the nunnery of Poor Clares in Asia
.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
in both Philippine
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...
and world history.
Biography
De San Bernardo belonged to an affluent and influential family in PampangaPampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
, and was a ladina, a Spanish-speaking Filipina that had no Spanish lineage. In 1633, despite the colonial ambience and the existing prejudices on race and gender at the time, De San Bernardo was able to secure support from the Spanish nuns of Madre Jeronima de la Asuncion
Jerónima de la Asunción
The Servant of God Mother Jeronima of the Assumption, P.C.C. 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...
’s convent
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
, the Royal Monastery of Santa Clara
Jerónima de la Asunción
The Servant of God Mother Jeronima of the Assumption, P.C.C. 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...
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,...
, 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,...
. With the assistance of the head friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
of the Franciscan Order
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
, De San Bernardo was sent to a newly opened 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 the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
of Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, a place that was not under the administrative jurisdiction of any religious order in Manila. De San Bernardo officially became a nun after leaving 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,...
bay and before reaching the shores of Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, while sailing along the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, together with other Spanish women applicants to the nunnery of Poor Clares in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
See also
- First Filipino Saint
- Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz, New York
- Pontificio Collegio FilippinoPontificio Collegio FilippinoPontificio Collegio Filippino is the college of Filipino diocesan priests studying at pontifical universities in Rome, Italy. It was formally established as an institution with pontifical rights by Pope Blessed John XXIII on June 29, 1961 through the Papal Bull Sancta Mater Ecclesia...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...