CBCP eyes sainthood of 13-year-old Filipina

A Filipina is one step closer to sainthood after receiving approval from the bishops.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday said that it is considering 13-year-old Niña Ruiz-Abad to be a saint, three decades after her death.

According to CBCP, Niña left an impact through her devotion to God and acts of charity despite suffering from incurable heart disease.  

Remembering Niña as a little girl with a rosary on a white dress, she was known for her strong devotion to the Catholic church and to God—doing things such as “distributing rosaries, Bibles, prayer books, holy images, and other religious items—which Bishop Renato Mayugba of Laoag said was an "unusual" behavior for her age. 

“During her time, it is unusual that a young girl had already done acts to evangelize others,” he 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,” Bishop Renato added. 

With this, the bishops approved her nomination for sainthood.

The lengthy process of sainthood includes a formal investigation of her life, such as interviewing individuals who have interacted with her.

The gathered data will be submitted to Rome, who will then decide her possible beatification and canonization.  

Niña was born in Ilocos Norte but grew up in Quezon City with her lawyer parents and only sibling. They lost their father when she was just three years old.

The process for her sainthood began in the Diocese of Novaliches, but Bishop Mayugba “obtained the approval of Bishop Roberto Gaa for the transfer of the 'forum of competence' to the Laoag diocese, which was also approved by the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.” 

At the age of 10, she was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an incurable heart disease. Niña didn’t let her illness stop her from practicing her faith and even managed to ace her academics and graduate in elementary at the top of her class.  

In 1993, she had a heart attack while at school, which prompted her death. 

Leaving a significant impact with her works, Bishop Mayugba believes that she can be “a good model of piety and fortitude” for today's youth.

“Knowing Niña’s character and traits and her strong faith in God will serve as a guide to the youth in handling their affairs towards a better Christian life,” he added.