BISHOPS in the country have approved the request of the diocese of Laoag to open the sainthood cause of Niña Ruiz-Abad who died due to heart disease at the age of 13.
The request was presented by Bishop Renato Mayugba of Laoag during the recent plenary assembly of the episcopal conference in the Diocese of Kalibo.
Mayugba said Abad left a major impact on people whose lives were touched by her deep faith in God and acts of charity despite being gone so young.
Abad was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy when she was 10.
She was born in Quezon City but her family moved to Sarrat, Ilocos Norte in April 1988 due to her parents' work as lawyers.
From elementary where she graduated at the top of her class up to first year high school, Abad studied at the Mariano Marcos State University Laboratory School.
She transferred back to Manila in 1993 during her second year of high school where she studied at the College of Holy Spirit in Quezon City.
Abad had a heart attack while in school on August 16, 1993 and it later resulted in her death.
She was laid to rest at a public cemetery in Sarrat.
Mayugba said Abad had a strong devotion to the Eucharist and devoted her life to distributing rosaries, Bibles, prayer books, holy images, and other religious items, which is “unusual for her age.”
She was also known for always wearing a rosary around her neck and white dresses.
“During her time, it is unusual that a young girl had already done acts to evangelize others,” Mayugba said.
“Niña’s life was a prayerful life full of reverence, worship and intimate relationship with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” he added.
He said Abad could serve as “a good model of piety and fortitude” for the country’s youth.
With the bishops’ approval, a formal investigation of Abad’s life and witnessing, which may take years before a possible decision from Rome regarding her potential beatification and canonization will be conducted.
The initial stages include gathering information about the candidate and interviewing witnesses who knew her. (SunStar Philippines)