Image by Eustaquio Santimano via Flickr

Irene Flores was a devout Catholic Christian.  She attended Mass regularly, made ample use of her rosary, and most significantly, she lived according to the precepts of her religion. She not only worshipped the Virgin, but also imitated her by the piety of her life.

            Perhaps her early piety was due to an unusual practice of her mother. It is an almost universal Christian custom to instruct children before admitting them to the Lord’s Supper. But Irene was an exception whenever her mother Monica approached the holy altar, she did not immediately eat the Eucharistic bread, but holding it in her mouth, she would share it with her toddler when she returned to her seat.  The priest never found out what she was doing.  The Catholic faithful are supposed to confess their sins to their spiritual father and shepherd. But Monica thought that she was performing a virtuous act.  So she felt no need to confess.  Perhaps the Lord agreed. At least He blessed Monica with a virtuous daughter.

            Irene was born in Laguna, a province not far from Manila.  Her father Onofre was a maintenance man and occasional instructor at a local golf course.  They had a modest but comfortable income.

            Because of the competent ingenuity that Onofre consistently displayed, the management asked him to transfer to Marawi in northern Mindanao to develop a new golf course there. So he leased his home to trustworthy tenants and moved his family to Marawi, where his diligence and frugality soon enabled them to buy a house that was even more commodious than their previous dwelling.  Irene was 12 years old at the time.   

            Irene soon adapted to her new surroundings. The cooler climate of the mountains caused her little difficulty, though she never stopped loving the sunny lowlands. And the enchanting scenery soon captivated her soul.  From her father’s house she could see the beautiful Lake Lanao.  And not too far away were the Sleeping Lady and other beautiful mountain scenery.