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
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 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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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