Diocese of Laoag in Ilocos Norte Bishop Renato Mayugba has issued an edict inviting testimonies about Nina Ruiz Abad, a 13-year-old Filipino girl being pushed for sainthood.

The edict was published on Aug. 16, exactly 30 years since Niña’s death due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 1993. She was laid to rest at a public cemetery in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.

Bishop Mayugba signed the edict and said that it was in response to a petition from the God First Association, which called for the opening of Abad’s cause.
 

The edict was read during Sunday Masses in all the parishes under the jurisdiction of the diocese asking the faithful to provide information whether in favor or contrary to the opening of the diocesan inquiry.

“I invite all of the faithful to provide me useful information regarding the said cause,” the bishop wrote.

The CBCP said, Bishop Mayugba will assess the merits of testimonies before deciding whether to accept the petition or not. If the decision is affirmative, he will request the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints for the nihil obstat, paving the way for the official diocesan investigation on the young girl’s life.

The CBCP, earlier ,agreed to support the introduction of Abad’s cause during its plenary assembly in July.

The documentation from the diocesan inquiry will be sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints  which will review the gathered information. If the Vatican adheres to the findings of the diocesan tribunal, it issues the Decree of Validity. From this, a Relator will be appointed to guide the Postulator in the writing of the “Positio” – the official report of the Cause, which usually takes years, the CBCP said.

The report will then be reviewed by Vatican theologians and cardinals. Once approved, it is presented to Pope Francis for the Decree of Heroic Virtues for Nina to be declared as “Venerable.”

Before being declared a saint (canonized), she will have to be declared as “Blessed” upon beatification, both of which require proof of miracles gained through her intercession.

“Abad died at 13, but her faith in God and acts of charity made a major impact on people. She had a strong devotion to the Eucharist and devoted her life to distributing rosaries, Bibles, prayer books, holy images, and other religious items. She was also known for always wearing a rosary around her neck and white dresses,” the CBCP said in an earlier statement.

Bishop Mayugba who fully supports Nina’s elevation to sainthood said that Abad showed “acts that are unusual for her age.”