Whenever we encounter the term “fraile”, it gives the common and the historically amnesiac Filipinos a negative picture of Spanish friars being wicked, self centered and corrupt, just like the fictional Padre Damaso de Vardolagas of Dr. Jose Rizal’s often misinterpreted “Noli me Tangere”. But if will only look deeper in our history, these “bad fruits” overshadowed the good and saintly ones due to the strength of the Propaganda movement that promotes anti-Spanish agenda. Aside from the famed Franciscan saint and martry St. Pedro Bautista who developed several towns in the country who later became a martyr for the faith in Japan, the companion martyrs of St. Lorenzo Ruiz who worked tirelessly on evangelizing Nothern Luzon and became part of the faculty of University of Santo Tomas who also suffered the same fate in Japan, another friar also did much to the faith and culture of the Province of Pampanga who also suffered martyrdom in Japan that we’re going to introduce – Blessed Pedro de Zuñiga of the Augusitnian Order.
Early Life
Blessed Pedro de Zuñiga’s image in Sta. Lucia Parish, Sasmuan, Pampanga
Fray Pedro was born in 1579 and educated in Seville, Spain, where he completed his priestly studies. At the age of 24, he entered the Agustinian Order despire the opposition of her mother, wife of the Marquis de Villamanrique and sixth viceroy of the new Spain. He professed on October 2, 1604 in the hands of Fray Gerónimo de Añasco, prior of the convent, and was ordained as a priest and preacher. He was a young man of sharp wit, energetic, kind and affectionate. He excelled for his love of study, prayer and his ardent zeal for the salvation of souls.
His Missionary Zeal
The provincial vicar of the mission in Japan, Fray Diego de Guevara, arrived in Spain in 1609 requesting religious for the Christianity of the Philippine Islands and Japan. During his stay at the Augustinian convent in Seville, in the company of other religious who were traveling to the Philippine Islands, he described the progress made by the Christian religion in Japan and the martyrdom suffered years before by the religious.
Fray Pedro decided to join such a sacred mission. Despite the strong opposition made by the VII Duke of Medina Sidonia and his superiors of the Augustinian Province of Andalusia, taking into account his high membership and his chances of reaching high ecclesiastical positions, he obtained after a thousand insistence, eager to spread the gospel, permission to embark on the Philippines and mission in Japan.
His Pastoral work in Sasmuan and Porac
The newy professed Fray Pedro was arrived in the Philippines in 1609 and became the first Parish Priest of Sasmuan. His arrival resulted in the separation of Sasmuan from the parish of Lubao, reverting back in 1642 due to the scarcity of priests. He ministered in Sasmuan from 1615 to 1618, until he was transferred to Porac, Pampanga. During his tenure in Sasmuan and Porac as cura parroco (parish priest), he endeared himself to his flock by the diligent administration of the Sacraments, and his proficiency of the Kapampangan language that won the respect and the hearts of his parishioners.
The Augustinian Martyrs of Japan
The Japanese Mission
In 1620, Fray de Zuñiga sailed for Japan with a stop in Taiwan in June. He, along with other missionaries of different orders, were tasked with propagating the Catholic faith among the natives. The ship captain was Catholic Japanese, Joaquin Hirayama Diaz, and the crew all were members of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary of the Dominican Order.
Captivity and Martyrdom
En route, the ship was intercepted by Dutch pirates who surrendered the passengers and crew to pagan Japanese officials in the port of Hirando. They were kept in prison for two years, until Fray de Zuñiga, his Dominican companion, Fray Luis Flores and the captain, were tortured and burned to death in Nagsaki on August 19, 1622.
Fray De Zuñiga and his companions were beatified on May 7, 1867 by Pope Pius IX, His ashes were brought back by Augustinian fathers to the Philippines where they are interred at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila.
The tombstone of Bl. Pedro de Zuñiga in San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila
The relics of Fray Pedro de Zúñiga were collected by Martín de Govea, Portuguese, a neighbor of Nagasaki. Persecuted by the Japanese, he left there and went to the city of Macao carrying with him the holy burned body and the column where he was tied, having him in veneration. At his death his son Pedro Pinto de Govea deposited him in the home of Tomás Congi, a Christian Japanese, who brought him to the Jesuit school in Macau and then claimed him and had him in his house with great veneration. Knowing this, the provincial of the Augustinians of Manila, used the Jesuits of Macao and managed to bring him to Manila, where he was presented to the Provisional Judge and Vicar General, who, seeing the authenticity of the relics, granted that he should take in procession the holy body to Manila.
The venerated image of Blessed Pedro de Zuñiga in Sta. Lucia Parish, Samsuan, Pampanga
Prior Fray Francisco de Madrid solemnly received the holy body on July 9, 1651 and placed it in a golden box under the main altar of the Church. After the seizure and looting of Manila in 1762 the holy relics were mixed with those of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and others who were interred at the church, yet one faucet is found in the archive of the Convent of San Agustin, Manila. The tree, in which he suffered martyrdom Fray Pedro de Zuniga, was sent to Convent of San Agustin de Salamanca. For greater veneration he was made a cross that is placed on the High Altar on solemn days, trimmed, adorned and has an imperial silver eagle by auction, inside his chest is the bone of a finger of the holy martyr.
The legacy
The parish of St. Lucy in Samsuan, Pampanga honors their first cura parroco very much that they celebrate his feast day every August 19, the day of his martyrdom and his traditional feast day. (In the refoemd Augustinian calendar, his feas t was moved to September 28 as part of the collective feast of dedicated to the Augustinian MArtyrs pf Japan). An image of Blessed Pedro de Zuñiga is currently enshrined in his own altar and also enjoyed much devotion like that of their patroness Santa Lucia.
References:
Castro, Alex, “7 Spanish Friars from Kapampangan towns who met violent deaths”, Retrieved from http://kaplistorian.blogspot.com/2017/02/36-6-spanish-friars-from-kapampangan.html on September 20, 2019. Jiménez, OSA Fray Manuel, ” Mártires Agustinos del Japón. Vida y Martirio de los Beatos Fr. Fernando de San José, Fr. Pedro de Zúñiga y demás compañeros mártires beatificados el 7 de julio del Pte. año por N. Santísimo Padre Pio IX.” Valladolid: Imprenta de Juan de la Cuesta, 1867. Pérez, Elviro, “Catálogo Bio-Bibliográfico de los Religiosos Agustinos de la Provincia del Dulcísimo Nombre de Jesús de las Islas Filipinas desde su fundación hasta nuestros días.”, Manila: Tipografía del Colegio de Santo Tomás, 1901.
Special Credits to the owners of the photographs utilized in this blogpost. +AM+DG+
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros
Intramuros, the famed and iconic Walled City of Manila, is a place of history, faith, commerce, and education in these modern times. One of the most visited sites in the Walled City is the still-standing San Agustin Church of the Order of St. Augustine, the oldest existing church in Manila, that survived numerous natural disasters and the Second World War.
The Parish was originally dedicated to St. Paul of the Apostle and is currently dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary as its titular patroness. The iconic church is also known as the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa, the Patroness of the Augustinian Order and one of the few surviving venerated images of Old Intramuros.
The Virgen de la Consolacion y Correa of San Agustin became a silent witness to the colorful yet tumultuous history of Intramuros and the nation itself and numerous devotees of hers from different eras in our history knew how she manifests her love and provided much consolation to them for centuries in their times of desolation.
The image
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros
The beautiful image of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros is that of a de vestir image of Madonna and Child of Old Manila where she wears a plancha as her dress, a lace collar and veil and a light blue cape, the color of the Virgin of Consolation by Augustinian tradition. The Child Jesus on the other hand wears a full vestment. Both Mother and Child wear a crown while the Virgin sports her areola with stars and wears a set of jewels like earrings and an atocha. The Augustinian Cincture is worn by the Virgin and she holds the end of the black belt offering it to its beholder.
The origin of the devotion
The Appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Sts. Monica and Augustine handed over the black leather cincture
The devotion to the Virgen de la Consolacion began when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Monica of Tagaste, Mother of the future St. Augustine of Hippo who was at that time a wayward child who was very invested in the pleasures of the world. The Blessed Virgin appeared in mourning clothes and gave her cincture and asked Monica to wear it as a sign of her maternal consolation and protection.
Tradition has it that the Chord (Correa in Spanish) was immediately worn by Monica who later gave it to his son after his conversion. The Correa would later become part of the habit of the Augustinian Order that can still be seen in all branches of the Augustinian family.
There were two separate confraternities founded in the 15th century, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Consolation and the Confraternity of the Cincture of St. Augustine which later united into one by the power of the papal bull and formed an arch-confraternity which has affiliations all over the world. In 1575, it was ordained that all confraternities of the black leather belt should be aggregated to the arch-confraternity at Bologna, Italy.
The devotion in Intramuros
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros
Being the lone survivor of the Second World War, San Agustin Church served as the solace of some of the well-known images in the area and it is no surprise that its patroness, the Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros was spared from the ravages of War. The exact date of her arrival is unknown yet it is believed that the Consolacion was already enshrined in San Agustin Church in her own altar since the Seventeenth century.
The image was kept hidden during the Second World War and it was later enshrined on her altar once again years after the War and stayed there since then. The original Niño of the Consolacion was sacrilegiously stolen on February 13, 2005, and a replacement image was soon commissioned.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros
The Cofradia de la Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa was founded in Intramuros in 1607, one of the oldest Marian confraternities in the country, and Manila became the seat of this devotion in Asia. The devotion later spread to the provinces. Many chapters were formed to share its privileges and indulgences. The confraternity gives spiritual monetary assistance to people especially the poor who wish to pursue religious vocations.
The Asylum of Our Lady of Consolation was built to aid the victims of the cholera outbreak of 1882. It was situated at the site where Don Bosco University in Mandaluyong now lies. The confraternity’s headquarters at present is at the San Agustin Church where its members are obliged to wear the Correa and members gather every September 4, the Virgin’s feast day.
Church Recognition
The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros
Due to the numerous miracles attributed to her intercession, the Mother of the Augustinian Order was Canonically Crowned on her feast day, September 4, 2000 – then the Great Jubilee Year.
The devotion at present
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros on her fiesta
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros continues to flourish up to the present day and endured through the centuries. Every Saturday, masses were held in her honor. Her feast day is celebrated every September 4. On the Virgin’s feast day, devotees and members of the Cofraida gather in San Agustin Church and hold a general assembly, retreats, the recitation of the Coronilla of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture, a solemn fiesta mass, acceptance of new members and procession.
The Very Rev. Fray Dante Morabe Bendoy, OSA, Prior Provincial of the Order of St. Augustine – Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Philippines, issued a decree shifting the fiesta celebration of the Virgen de la Consolacion y Correa in her Archdiocesan Shrine in Intramuros to the 2nd Sunday of September. The liturgical celebration on September 4 will be retained in honor of the Solemnity of the Virgin of Consolation in the Augustinian Liturgical Calendar. The decree was signed on October 9, 2023.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros
The Virgin also participates in the annual Grand Marian Procession every first Sunday of December where she is accompanied by the Augustinian friars, religious, devotees, and members of the Cofradia.
The Clausura Procession is held every last Saturday of the month after the mid-morning Mass. The image is passed on from one shoulder to another shoulder by devotees as the procession goes around the convent in the tradition of the early monastic period.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated as the Mother of Consolation, because through her, God sent Jesus Christ the Consoler to the world. The devotion to Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture reminds us that there’s comfort, even in the parts of life’s pain and suffering. Mary is truly a mother to us because as a faithful disciple of her Son, she learned well the lessons of selfless love and generous service. As Mother of Consolation she is particularly near to those in need of companionship and comfort.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros, pray for us!
References:
Aviado, Lutgarda, “Madonnas of the Philippines”, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972.
Barcelona, Mary Anne, “Ynang Maria: a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines”. Ed. Consuelo B. Estampa, P.D. Pasig City, Anvil Publishing Inc., 2004.
Delos Reyes, Michael P., “Salve Regina: On Crowning image of the Virgin Mary”, Diliman, Quezon City, Claret Communications Foundation Inc., 2015.
“Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa Novena”, San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila, 2000.
Sanchez, Francisco, “La Virgen Maria Venerada en sus Imagenes Filipinas”, Manila: Imp. De Santos y Bernal, 1904.
Credits to the owner of the photographs that were utilized in the blog post. +AM+DG+
The image El Glorioso San Jose of old San Nicolas Church in Intramuros that became a casualty of the Second World War.
If we can recall one of the previous blogposts here in Pintakasi about the venerated images of Intramuros that survived the ravages of the Second World War either remained or left Intramuros either as venerated images in the relocated churches of the religious orders who brought them to the country or commissioned locally by our artisans or in some cases, museum pieces.
As its fitting follow up on this unexpected trilogy on the Catholic Faith in Old Intramuros (Due to the response on the first article regarding the surviving images of Old Intramuros), we now focus on the images that were unfortunately destroyed during the Liberation of Manila. These images enjoyed much cult following during the Spanish regime and the Pre-War period and became part of the lives of every Manileños for centuries until the atrocities of the Second World War. These images may be gone forever, yet their impact can’t be forgotten for these images and their respective devotional following created a lasting effect that shaped our present climate of our own popular piety.
The lone photo of the first image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario brought by the Dominicans in 1587 shortly before the bombings of 1941
Nuestra Señora del Santismo Rosario (The First image) Provenance: Iglesia de Santo Domingo
Before the famous image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosaio – La Naval de Manila, there was already a existing image of a Santo Rosario that was brought by the Dominicans from Mexico in 1587. The Mexican image was of one piece of wood and stood a meter and half high on a 30 centimeter tall pedestal. Until the 1863 earthquake, a relic from the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe is kept concealed in a hallowed-out portion at the back of the statue.
The first image was later replaced in the 1590’s by the one with ivory parts known today as the La Naval, but devotees requested that the wooden image be relocated somewhere where she could still be venerated. Thus the image was placed on the facade of the Iglesia de Santo Domingo and a light was provided by night thanks to a perpetual donation of ten pesos each year. The image survived the destruction of Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros by earthquakes and fires yet she was lost during the bombings of 1941.
Señor Yacente of Old Sto. Domingo Church
Señor Yacente de Intramuros Provenance: Iglesia de Santo Domingo
One of the earliest known Holy Week images in the country is that of the image of the Señor Yacente (More popularly known as the “Santo Entierro”) of old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros. Though the origins of this image is unknown yet it garnered a devotional following in Old Manila and the “Hermandad del Santo Entierro y Virgen de la Soledad”, the Hermandad in charge of the Good Friday procession of the old Iglesia de Santo Domingo was given formal approval by Pope Clement VIII in 1598.
The image is usually decked on his finest calandra where jewels from different affluent families decorates the calandra. The Solemn and Somber Good Friday processions are led by the Dominican Order, the Beatas of Beaterio de Santa Catalina, students of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and University of Santo Tomas, the military and the high ranking officials, including the Capitan General of the colony. The image is also accompanied by the different banners and symbols of the Passion and a flank of saints present in the Passion narrative and the Señor Yacente is the last image of the grand Good Friday procession of the Walled City. When the original image was destroyed during the War, a replica of the Señor Yacente later commissioned and it is being kept and it is currently used for Good Friday Processions at the present Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.
San Francisco de Las Lagrimas
San Francisco de las Lagrimas Provenance: Real Monasterio de la Inmaculada Concepcion y Sta. Clara de Asis
The miraculos image of San Francisco de las Lagrimas was brought to the Philippines in 1577, was venerated in a chapel of the Royal Monastery of Santa Clara.. During the earthquakes of 1645, Don Alonso Cuyapit, an indio principalla of Dilao (now Paco), had taken it to his house to use in the processions of the Franciscan Third Order of the area, and there this statue was seen away from its niche, kneeling at a window overlooking Manila, and shedding tears through all four days of earthquakes. Many people saw this, and wet their handkerchiefs in its tears, hence the title “De Las Lagrimas”. A procession was formed to take the statue back to Manila, at which point the quakes ceased. A wind came up, but the candles did not go out.
The image of San Francisco was declared miraculous and St. Francis of Assisi was named patron and protector against earthquakes. In 1742, when a galleon failed to arrive, this statue, now called San Francisco de las Lagrimas, was taken out in procession, accompanied by the crosses of all the parishes, the orders, the Real Audiencia, and the Governor. San Francisco de las Lagrimas was also known as the Seraphic Protector of Manila where during the invasion of the Chinese pirate Limahong, the enemies saw San Francisco holding a flaming sword and the enemies ran away from this vision.
San Francisco de las Lagrimas was considered as one of the three palladiums of the City of Manila together with Santo Cristo del Tesoro of Colegio de Santa Isabel, and Nuestra Señora del Rosario- La Naval de Manila of Iglesia de Santo Domingo.
The image, along with its companion Santa Clara image, were destroyed during the war yet interestingly, there were some images of St. Francis of Assisi from some Franciscan Churches, notably in the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Bustillos, Sampaloc, Manila that were patterned after the lost San Francisco de las Lagrimas so that the legacy of this once mighty protector of Manila cannot be forgotten.
Nuestra Señora de la Porteria
Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Provenance: Iglesia de San Francisco
In a Franciscan convent structure, one of the most prominent aside from its austere atmosphere is the “porteria”. A porteria is like a reception area that is located in the netrance of the convento. In the porteria, a friar porter is assigned asa gatekeeper of the convento who welcomes visitors, travellers, a temporary shelter for the dying (complete with medical and other provisions) and provided alms for the poor. In every Franciscan Porter, an image of the Immaculate Conception, whether it is a painting or a statue, is a prominent feature of the area.
The painting of the Immaculate Conception in the convento of the Franciscans in Intramuros later became known as Nuestra Señora de la Porteria. In the course of centuries, people who visited the porteria of the convento, whether a pilgrim, a traveller, a friend of the order, a poor beggar or a dying person, would pray to the Virgin of the Porter in their different needs and miracles were later attributed to her intercession.
La Inmaculada Concepcion de los Padres Franciscanos
La Inmaculada Concepcion de los Padres Franciscanos Provenance: Iglesia de San Francisco
In the early days, the Church of Old San Francisco of Intramuros was once the one of the centers of the devotion to the Immaculate Conception, along with that of the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral and the beautiful image was one of the most venerated in the country. The image was once known as the “festejada” of the Walled City for the archipelago was placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception.
The celebration of her feast is known to be a grand a huge festivity that would rival that of the Santo Rosario of the Iglesia de Santo Domingo with fairs, bands, bullfights, theater performances and a grand procession to cap the festivities.
Although the image was destroyed during the War, the memory of the grandeur of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception continues to live on with the annual Grand Marian Procession held every first Sunday of December organized by the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion and the Intramuros Administration. A new festejada image was also commissioned that takes part of the grand festivities within the Walled City.
San Antonio de Padua de Intramuros
San Antonio de Padua de Intramuros Provenance: Iglesia de San Francisco
The devotion to the miraculous and universal saint flourished when the Italian friars took over the Church and Convent of San Francisco from the Spanish friars when tehy were expelled during the Revolution.The devotion was proven to be popular due to the numerous miracles that were atributed to his intercession, especially during the novena days and wil culminate on his feast day, June 13. The popularity of the devotion reached its peak when Manila became the center of the and all of its ancient grandeur celebrates the 700th year anniversary of the saint’s canonization marked by a monument dedicated to the saint in front of San Francisco Church.
When the old San Francisco Church was destroyed during the Libertion of Manila, the devotion was transferred to its current location in the chapel of the Venerable Third Order of Saint Francis in Bustillos, Sampaloc, Manila and a faithful replica of the destroyed image is currently enshrined and the devotion continued to flourish.
As for the monument in front of the Old San Francisco Church, the monument was transferred to the current Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City that can be seen up to this day..
La Divina Pastora de Intramuros
La Divina Pastora de Intramuros Provenance: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
The Capuchin Order arrived in the shores of Manila in 1882 first as a satellite area for their missions in the Oceania islands until they later formally settled in Intramuros years later and on May 8, 1892, the order’s first chapel opened by the Capuchins to the public which was initially dedicated to La Divina Pastora – the Patroness of the Order where a Capuchin in Seville saw the Blessed Virgin as the Divine Shepherdess in 1703 and propagated the devotion all over Spain and its colonies as part of their missions.
This image of La Divina Pastora depicts a seated Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus with a sheep which gives an impression that both Mother and Child are tending the sheep. Veery little is written about this devotion in Intramuros due to the fact that the devotion to Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, which was originally intended as a grotto image, flourished due to the miracles that were attributed to her.
San Ignacio de Loyola de Intramuros
San Ignacio de Loyola de Intramuros Provenance: Iglesia de San Ignacio
The glorious image of San Ignacio de Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus, more popularly known as the Jesuits, was carved by Manuel Flores and was enshrined in the retablo mayor of the old San Ignacio Church. Since his enthronement, San Ignacio gained much devotional following with the Spaniards and the students of Ateneo Municipal in the Walled City.
The feast of San Ignacio takes a militant tone. The Ateneo cadet corps usually has an exhibition during this feast day, and the Marcha de San Ignacio, a Basque hymn, is sung in military cadence by all. In fact, the feast day Mass was also labeled as the “Basque Mass” because many of the Basque families of Manila hear this fiesta Mass in honor of one of the Pais Vasco’s most celebrated sons. The Elizaldes, Aboitizes, Echevarrias, the Luzarragas, Ynchaustis would be in attendance. Though the image of San Ignacio was gone forever, the Feast of San Ignacio de Loyola is still being celebrated with much solemnity in different Jesuit mission churches, schools and universities in the country.
Sagrado Corazon de Jesus de Intramuros
Sagrado Corazon de Jesus de Intramuros Provenance: Iglesia de San Ignacio
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was introduced to the Philippines by the Jesuit Order in 1856 and the Church of San Ignacio in Intramuros became the center of Friday devotions to the Sacred Heart. The first locally made image of the Sacred Heart was carved by Manuel Flores and was prominently enshrined in San Ignacio Church’s side altar and numerous miracles were attributed to the Sacred Heart.
Years later, in 1872, the devotion was further propagated when the Apostleship of Prayer was established in the country years after it was founded in France in 1884 to “Offer everything you are doing each day in union with the Heart of our Lord for what He wishes, the spread of the Kingdom for the salvation of souls.” as described by its founder, Rev. Fr. Francis X. Gautrelet, SJ. The first three centers of the Apostleship, namely Ateneo de Manila, Sta. Isabel College and the Colegio de la Concordia, all located in Manila. Since then, the Association has expanded its network and membership throughout the entire archipelago. When San Ignacio was bombed, the center of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was later transferred to the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Makati City.
The altar and processional image of El Glorioso San Jose de Manila
El Glorioso San Jose de Manila Provenance: Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino
Before Wednesdays are associated to Baclaran, it was then known as the day dedicated to St. Joseph in Manila. The Recoleto church was also an important shrine to San Jose, and throughout the year, several celebrations were held in his honor. There was a March devotion to the saint, and from November 18-26, the Recoletos came up with their biggest fiesta of the year, the solemnity of San Jose, highlighted with a pageant to honor the nuptials of Mary and Joseph.
There were two images of San Jose that were kept in San Nicolas Church, the altar image and the richly dressed processional image, showing the saint holding the Child Jesus on a base adorned with angels, occupied one of the many rococo altars that lined both sides of the Recoleto church. Regular masses were dedicated to the saint every Wednesday at 6:30 pm attended with the members of a cofradia dedicated to San Jose and devotees wearing green dresses or shirts with a yellow rope belt or cincture on their waists.
When San Nicolas and the statues of St. Joseph were destroyed, the devotion to San Jose in Old Intramuros died down yet it is still kept alive in different parishes in the country like those in Laguna where Wednesdays are still observed in his honor and some devotees were seen wearing green dresses and yellow rope.
Señor Sto. Cristo de la Pacencia de Manila
Señor Santo Cristo de la Pacencia de Manila Provenance: Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino
The dark image of the Señor Santo Cristo de la Pacencia was brought by the Recoleto Fathers from Mexico in an unknown date and was venerated in the Old San Nicolas Church. Sculpted by Juan de Araus of Aragon, Mexico, this image depicts a dark skinned Christ, seated right after he was scourged and crowned with thorns with his hands on his chin contemplating on his passion and death. In the annals of the Order, the mentioned on some occasions with one about his enthronement in San Nicolas as a replacement image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud when the image returned to her own Church in San Juan de Bagumbayan. However, the image of La Salud later returned to the Walled City in 1762 when the British troops destroyed San Juan de Bagumbayan and stayed in San Nicolas for the next centuries until the Second World War.
The Señor de Pacencia enjoy a cult following, along with the Señor Nazareno of the same church that both images were once the center of attention and devotion especially on the Palm Sunday processions in Intramuros. The cult of the Señor de la Pacencia became widespread in the islands that almost all parishes, oratories and home altars had an image of the La Pacencia and became one of the staple images that can be found in Holy Week processions across the country.
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno de Intramuros
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno de Intramuros Provenance: Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino
For some of the faithful who are familiar with the story of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo, the Quiapo image is a replica of this older image of the Nazarene that was enshrined in the Old Iglesia de San Nicolas.
This image was known to be the Nazareno of the elites while the Quiapo image is for the masses was available for physical veneration by devotees, this image on the other hand was always kept in the retablo menor away from crowds, bringing it out only on Palm Sunday for its Holy Week procession. This image is known to have a set jewels of precious stones on its regalia from diamond encrusted Tres Potencias, silver shoes, silver andas and ramilletes, robes embroidered with gold thread and only wears purple robes.
A replica was later commissioned which gained much popularity, most especially for the Indios. Due to the increase of number of Indios who are entering the Walled City, for this purpose, which was considered alarming at that time, Archbishop Basilio Sancho de Santas Justa y Rufina mandated the transfer of this image, which is now known as the famous Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo to the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Quiapo, Manila in the late 1787 where it has rested on its altar ever since as a living memory of the old Nazareno of the Walled City.
Santa Lucia de Manila
Sta. Lucia de Manila Provenance: Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino
The image of Santa Lucia of Old San Nicolas Church became the focal point of devotion to the patroness of those who have eye problems in Manila and its surrounding arrabals and provinces. The image of this virgin and martyr is usually garbed in red and crowned with gold. On her Feast day, December 13, everyone would flock San Nicolas to hear fiesta mass in her honor.
In the morning of the feast, one will find the streets crowded with sun-burned folk in peasant attire: camisachino and balintawak. They had come down from the hill-towns of Rizal Province to pay homage to Santa Lucía, The patio of the Recollects was transformed into a village market fair, and there you could buy fresh eggs, fat fowl, wild honey, fruit in season, native sweets, and candies and preserves, puto seco, and polvoron, suman sa lejia, and other delicacies you might need for the Christmas table and at the same time, the folks would earn some Christmas money. The annual fiesta fair will last until noon and when devotees would return to San Nicolas, the fair was already over and the surroundings were back to its usual silence.
Although the image was already destroyed, the devotion was silently transferred to San Sebastian Minor Basilica where a new image is currently enshrined and the townsfolk from Rizal province would still visit Sta. Lucia as what thir forefathers did, even with the absence of the fair.
San Nicolas de Tolentino de Intramuros
San Nicolas de Tolentino de Intramuros Provenance: Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino
The first Recoleto missionaries came to the Philippines with the intention to dedicate the first convent on Filipino soil to the glorious San Nicolas de Tolentino – the First Saint of the Augustinian family. Upon arriving in Manila in 1606, however, they came to know that the Augustinians had already an altar in his honor. Out of finesse, the Recollect Fathers desisted from this purpose. Yet in their simplicity, the tried to solve the problem by drawing lots. Pleasantly surprised, the good Fathers witnessed that for three consecutive times, the name of San Nicolas came out first. Naturally, they names the Saint as Patron not only of the first house but also of the while Province of the Order. An image of San Nicolas was later enthroned in the Church and became a center of pilgrimage since then. Numerous favors have been recorded through the intercession of this charitable Saint, both individually and collectively.
The original convent and Church of San Nicolas was destroyed and razed that the Superior Provincial was transferred to Spain and the Vice Provincial has been residing at San Sebastian convent until it was decided to have an independent and autonomous residence for the Central Office of the Recollects in the Philippines and China.
In 1970, the Recollect Fathers moved to their new location in Quezon City where they built the Motherhouse and it’s adjacent Church was erected on December 23, 1971. Both the house and the Church are meant to be a living remembrance of the convent and the Church in Intramuros. The devotion to San Nicolas was also resumed and his feast is still celebrated with much solemnity with the distribution of the famed “Panecillos de San Nicolas” to the faithful.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolation y Correa de los Padres Recoletos
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de los Padres Recoletos Provenance: Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino
Before the Second World War, there in fact 2 venerated images of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa existed within the Walled City, the La Consolacion Coronada of San Agustin Chruch of the Augustinian Friars and the La Consolacion of San Nicolas de Tolentino of the Augustinian Recollects.
The image of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa of old San Nicolas Church was one of the early images brought by the Augustinian Recollect Friars in the country joining the roster of Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian, Nuestra Señora dela Salud, Nuestra Señora del Pilar of Imus and the famed Nazareno images of Intramuros and Quiapo. The fiesta of the Virgin of Consolation is celebrated with solemnity with the image being brought out of procession in her beautiful carrozza. On some occassions, the image goes out alone without the Child Jesus on some occassions as evident in the old photograhs of the image mounted on her carozza.
When the image was destroyed during the War, only the doce estrellas survived and it later became part of the canonical reglia of Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian that can still be seen today. At present, a parish dedicated to La Consolacion of the Recollect Order can be found at Mira Nila Homes, Quezon City.
Post Mortem Commentary
One cannot help but to be saddened with the loss of these holy treasures that played different roles in our history. These venerable images became silent witnesses to our people’s faith, life story and everyday struggles who lived or visited the famed Walled City. As we learn the stories of these images, one may realized the impact they left in our devout popular consciousness and its continuous legacy, in some cases endurance either by the continuity or the unconscious reintroduction of the devotion that continues to shaped the Catholic faith and culture in the islands. May this anthology of the short history of these lost relics of our faith may serve as a call for a proper preservation and documentation of our religious images and its accompanying devotions and traditions that surrounds it for these tangible and intangible treasures gives us a picture of our past that later helped shaped our national identity.
References:
Aguilar, Antonio Martinez, OAR, San Nicolas de Tolentino (A biographical sketch), San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, Quezon City, 1972. Aviado, Lutgarda, Madonnas of the Philippines, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972. Gutay, OFM, JF. Church of the Our Lady of the Angels in Intramuros, Manila. OFM Philippines Archives. Order of Franciscan Minors in the Philippines. Retrieved 24 November 2014. Intramuros Administration, The Virgins of Intramuros and suburbs, Intramuros, Manila, 1982. Rubia, Rommel, OAR, La Salud: the Black Virgin of Health, Recoletos Communications, Order of Augustinian Recollects, Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, Quezon City, 2016. Sanchez, Francisco,. La Virgen Maria Venerada en sus Imagenes Filipinas, Manila: Imp. De Santos y Bernal., 1904.
Credits to the owner of the photos that were utilized for this blogpost. +AM+DG+
Pintakasi 