The devotion to our Blessed Mother as the Lady of Sorrows is one of the most popular in the country. The Mother of Sorrows became a staple in numerous Holy Week processions and devotions and pious practices are done in her honor are well known. The cult of the Sorrowful Virgin was so immense that it reached every part of the country – one of them in the province of Tarlac where the devotion to the Mater Dolorosa of Tarlac flourished over the years.
The Image
The image of Mater Dolorosa of Tarlac is an image of Our Lady of Sorrows which its attributes and iconography are easily recognized seen and venerated in different parts of the country, especially during Holy Week Processions.
Aside to the sorrowful visage of the Virgin, one of the most distinguished and the most diagnostic to the iconography of the Sorrowful Virgin is her heart pierced with seven daggers. The heart pierced with daggers is a symbol of Mary’s heart filled with prayers and sorrows, usually depicted with the seven daggers representing the Seven Sorrows of Mary in allusion from the prophecies of Simeon during the Presentation of the Child Jesus in Temple: “and a sword will pierce even your own soul.” (Lk. 2:35). She sports the resplendor on her face, her clasped hands holding a handkerchief, and wears a long dark veil.
The Beginning of the devotion
The devotion to Mater Dolorosa of Barangay Dolores, Capas, Tarlac began when the first image of the Virgin was brought by Mrs. Maria Alzadon Caguiran and was placed inside a small chapel made by nipa hut where Masses were held. Because of the threat of bandits called “Markang Bungo” that killed many of the populace, the people moved the image away and given to a certain matriarch for safekeepin, yet it was never returned.
Mr. Pablo Tsuseco Pineda, generous land owner from Concepcion, Tarlac, generously donated a portion of his land to Barangay Dolores for the construction of a barangay chapel in November 1954. A new image of Mater Dolorosa was later donated by the Tsuseco family and enshrined at the newly established chapel. Devotees grew over the years and the chapel continues to expand and was completed in February 1989. The chapel was later made a parish under the Patronage of Our Lady of Sorrows on July 17, 1998.
Church and Civil Recognition
Numerous miracles were attributed to the Mater Dolorosa that the on July 16, 2018, Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Bishop Enrique Macaraeg, DD, Local Ordinary of the Diocese of Tarlac issued the decree of the Episcopal Coronation of the barangay’s patroness in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Barangay Dolores in Capas, Tarlac and the 20th anniversary of the canonical establishment of the Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Episcopal Coronation rites took place on September 15, 2018, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.
In 2020, Pope Francis, thru the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments granted the honor of Pontifical Coronation of the image. The Pontifical Coronation rites took place on June 5, 2021.
On the day of the Coronation, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Tarlac issued a resolution that the Mater Dolorosa de Tarlac as the Mother and Protectress of the Province of Tarlac.
The devotion at present
The devotion to Mater Dolorosa de Tarlac grew over the years. Numerous devotional activities were practiced in her honor from Friday votive masses, praying the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows, and a silent Viernes de Dolores procession.
As we honor the Blessed Mother in her most sorrowful moments in her life, let us look at it as her cooperation in the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ as part of her Fiat on the day of the Annunciation. The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown in his homily, he invited everyone to turn to Our Lady and pray “for our difficulties, for the pains, for the sadness of our human life. Let us remember that in our Catholic Faith, sadness is transformed into joy. That joy will have the last word.” Her Holiness and suffering give us an image of hope as she is here to give us consolation in times of our own sorrow and desolation.
Mater Dolorosa de Tarlac, Pray for us!
References:
Aquino, Leslie Ann, “Canonical coronation of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Capas set” Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/14/canonical-coronation-of-nuestra-senora-de-los-dolores-de-capas-set/#close on March 10, 2022.
delos Reyes, Michael, “Coronadas: Pontifically Crowned Marian Images of the Philippines, 1907 – 2021”, RPD Publications, The Crown Book Groups, Inc., Makati City, 2021.
“Diocese of Tarlac to crown image of Our Lady of Sorrows in May” Retrieved from https://philippines.licas.news/2021/01/14/diocese-of-tarlac-to-crown-image-of-our-lady-of-sorrows-in-may/ on March 10, 2022.
“Image of Our Lady receives pontifical coronation at Shrine in the Philippines” Retrieved from https://www.gaudiumpress.ca/image-of-our-lady-receives-pontifical-coronation-at-shrine-in-the-philippines/on March 10, 2022.
Photos:
Naval, Wilfred Jason of My Religious Journey
Mater Dolorosa Parish Facebook Page
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