The Diocese of Laoag in the Northern Philippines formally opened the cause for the beatification and canonization of Servant of God Niña Ruiz Abad, a young lay faithful.
The diocesan phase of the 13-year-old’s path to sainthood began with the opening session at the Cathedral Church of St. William in Laoag City on April 7.
During the session, Bishop Renato Mayugba of Laoag named the officials of the diocesan tribunal, which will oversee the canonization process.
These documents included Abad’s biography and testimonies of alleged miracles that occurred through her intercession.
The event also saw the unveiling of Abad’s official portrait and the presentation of her first-class relic, a small piece of cloth cut from her clothing.
In his homily during the Mass of the opening session, Nueva Segovia Archbishop Marlo Peralta said that Abad’s cause for sainthood is now “all in God’s hands.”
“In the meantime, we continue asking for her intercession... We continue promoting her cause because the day will come, and only God knows when she will be presented to us as Saint Niña Ruiz-Abad,” said the prelate.
Abad was born on October 31, 1979, to Attorney Alex Abad and Corazon Ruiz of Sarat, Ilocos Norte.
She had a unique life of faith and piety, which was evident from her frequent church attendance and intense devotion to the Holy Eucharist.
Her family, teachers, and classmates also testified to her acts of mercy and charity, following her motto, “God first.”
Abad also loved to pray the rosary and the Angelus every day. She wore a rosary on her neck at all times, preferred to wear white dresses, and had a habit of giving away sacramentals to people around her.
She died on August 16, 1993, after suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an incurable heart disease.
The cause of Abad’s beatification and canonization was revealed three decades after her passing.
If canonized, she could become one of the youngest saints in the history of the Catholic Church.
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