Youthful Holiness in Our Time: The Life of the Servant of God Nina Ruiz Abad

In a time when many young people are drawn toward instant gratification and fleeting fame, the life of Nina Ruiz Abad stands as a quiet yet powerful testimony to the enduring beauty of holiness.  Though she lived a brief life - passing away at just 13 years old - her deep love for God, extraordinary devotion to prayer, and inspiring witness to faith continue to captivate hearts, especially among the youth.  

Amidst life's complications, the life of Nina Ruiz Abad shines as a quiet witness to a life of sanctity.  She stands as a gentle contradiction to the spirit of the age: humble yet strong, sickly yet joyful, ordinary yet remarkably holy.   Amidst the noise of the world, she chose a life anchored in prayer, simplicity and love for the Eucharist - reminding us that even the young can choose holiness over the conveniences and gratifications that modern living provides.  

Young Achiever

A Child Set Apart

Born on October 31, 1979 at Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City, Nina was the daughter of parents who were both lawyers:  Atty. Alex Cuadrante Abad from Naga City and Atty. Corazon Javier Ruiz from Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.  Her father passed away when she was just three years old, leaving her mother to raise Nina and her sister, Mary Ann by her self. 

Nina was baptized on March 15, 1989, at the Santo Domingo Church, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary - La Naval de Manila.  She received her first communion in 1987 at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish in Project 4, Cubao, Quezon City.

Her early education began at the University of the Philippines Child Study Center followed by kindergarten to grade two at Holy Angels Montessori School, both in Quezon City.  In April 1988, the family moved to Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, where her mother took a position as the chief hearing officer of the Commission on the Settlement of Land Problems under the Department of Justice.  Nina continued her studies at Mariano Marcos State University Laboratory Elementary School , graduating as a top student. She pursued high school in the same institution but transferred to the School of the Holy Spirit in Quezon City during her Sophomore Year.    

Nina grew up in a devout Catholic family where her love for the Church and the sacraments grew.  From a very young age, she displayed a profound love for prayer, the Eucharist, and especially the Blessed Virgin Mary. She has been known as the girl always wearing a rosary around her neck as an expression of her filial love and devotion to the Blessed Mother, a practice she began in an early age.  What set Nina apart was not only her piety, but the consistency and maturity of her spiritual life.  She wasn't simply a religious child, she was a deeply contemplative soul, someone who embraced her faith wholeheartedly and with remarkable intentionality. Nina begins and ends each of her activity with prayer - she consistently lived out her life motto - "God first", everyday.

Prayer for the Beatification of 
Nina Ruiz Abad

Nina's devotion to prayer and the rosary became her daily rhythm.  While other children her age played games or become obsessed over the latest trends, Nina was found deep in prayer - either silently meditating or praying the rosary.   The rosary brought her toward sacred communion.  Each bead she held was a lifeline to Christ and His mother.  In school, she encouraged her peers to pray with her, often handing out rosaries and prayer booklets  as gifts to her teachers, classmates and friends.  Her witness wasn't loud or imposing - it was magnetic in its gentleness and sincerity.  She has been described by witnesses as "an inspiration of piety, mercy, evangelization and fortitude to others."

Equally striking was her unwavering devotion to wearing white.  Even during her struggle with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare and serious heart disease that limited her physical activity, Nina will be seen dressed in white.  This wasn't just a preference, it was a symbol.  White, in Christian tradition stands for purity, light, and readiness for heaven.  For Nina, it was her quiet way of testifying to her interior longing to be pure in heart, as Christ calls His followers to be.

Suffering with Grace

Suffering was a major part of Nina's short but deeply meaningful life.  Her father died when she was just three years old, and at Grade four, she was diagnosed with a life threatening heart condition.  While many would become bitter or despairing in the face of such suffering, Nina accepted her illness with remarkable serenity. But Nina remained calm and placed her full trust in God and the Blessed Mother whom she believes were always beside her, guiding and protecting her always.  Though her physical heart was failing, her spiritual heart only grew stronger.  Her sickness did not diminish her joy neither deter her from loving and serving others.  

On August 16, 1993, Nina had a heart attack while in school.  She was immediately rushed to the hospital where she eventually died.  Her remains were brought to Ilocos Norte where it was laid to rest in Sarrat Public Cemetery.  On April 6, 2024, her remains were exhumed and transferred to the baptistery of Santa Monica Church in Sarrat.  

Nina’s tomb - Sta. Monica Parish Church, Sarrat

Her death at the tender age of 13, was not the end of her mission - it was just the beginning of her lasting legacy.  Many who knew her began to share stories of her holiness, her unwavering trust in God, and the impact she had made on their lives and people began visiting her tomb to pray to God and ask for Nina's intercession.  

The Witness of a Child

What makes Nina Ruiz Abad's life so compelling is not what she did, but who she was.  In an age when holiness is often misunderstood as inaccessible or reserved for the old and the ordained, Nina reminds us that sainthood is possible for everyone - especially the young.  

Pople Francis often speaks about the importance of the "saints next door" - those who quietly live lives of virtue without fanfare. Nina is one of those saints.  Her life is a call to rediscover the power of childlike faith, the kind that trusts completely and loves deeply.

For today's youth, who are often pulled in a thousand directions, Nina stands as a quiet and powerful witness to the value of stillness, purity and prayer.  In a culture where noise and chaos dominate, she reminds us of the strength found in silence and recollection.  In a society that often views suffering as punishment or meaningless, she reveals its redemptive power.   And in a generation tempted to chase affirmation and fame, she shows the joy of being hidden with Christ in God.

Nina's example is not just relevant - it is urgent.  The youth today need role models not only of achievements but virtue.  They need examples of how to live for something greater than themselves.  Nina's story encourages them to embrace a deeper identity rooted in God's love, to find joy in the sacraments, and to make space for prayer in their busy lives.  Her life is proof that holiness is not beyond the reach of the young - it is a path meant for them, a calling waiting to be embraced.

May Nina's life inspire the youth, to seek that which truly matters.  May her witness lead us to rediscover the beauty of a life centered on God, clothed in purity and anchored in prayer.  And may we, like her, become lights in the darkness - quiet, gentle and unwavering.  

On March 16, 2024, the Vatican has given the Nihil Obstat which means that nothing prevents the opening of the cause for canonization of Nina Ruiz Abad, who is now considered a Servant of God, the first step towards sainthood.  

Opening of the Diocesan Process for the Beatification
and Canonization of Nina Ruiz Abad

References: 

Catholic News Agency.  "Vatican authorizes opening of cause for 13 year old Nina Ruiz Abad from the Philippines." accessed April 2025. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257127/vatican-authorizes-opening-of-canonization-cause-for-13-year-old-nina-ruiz-abad-from-the-philippines

Catholic News Agency.  "13-year-old Filipina who loved the Eucharist is officially on path to Sainthood."  Accessed April 2025. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257350/13-year-old-filipina-nina-ruiz-abad-who-loved-the-eucharist-is-officially-on-path-to-sainthood

Nina Ruiz Abad.  Accessed April 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ni%C3%B1a_Ruiz_Abad

Photos:  Not mine. CTTO.