Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu de Colegio de San Juan de Letran
For some Filipino faithful, the term “Aranzazu” is synonymous to the popular and miraculous Marian image venerated in San Mateo, Rizal where the Virgin, under this unique title is acclaimed as the Patroness of the Pueblo and succor against natural disasters since 1716. However, there were records and proofs that the devotion to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu already existed in the Walled City of Intramuros before it was introduced to San Mateo, Rizal in 1716.
For this blogpost, we are going to discover the story of then one of the venerated Marian images in Old Intramuros and how the devotion kept going in for the students, faculty and the Dominican friars of Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
The image
The image of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu shows the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in his arm holding a scepter, with an absence of an apple, on top of thorn tree and a quadrilateral bell on one of its trunks appearing to a shepherd named Rodrigo de Balzategui that is depicted kneeling on the base of the image. The image wears a manto and the faces of the Mother and Child were serious, looking straight to the beholder.
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu de Colegio de San Juan de Letran
The beginning of the devotion in Manila
A Spanish captain brought the first image of the Virgin Mary from Mexico sometime in 1732. The devotion to the Virgin of Aranzazu in Letran flourished that led to the establishment of the Archconfraternity of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu on December 16, 1772 by virtue of a Pontifical Brief issued by Benedict XIV on September 18, 1748.
The confraternity was installed amid solemn ceremonies at the Letran Chapel and the image occupied the epistle side for public veneration on December 16, 1772 and its members grew in numbers. Devotions to her in the succeeding years were held with much fervor, at which the members attend decked in their special gala uniform of white tunic, red cape and a blue band with a medal with her image on it. Her feast day was once celebrated every December 16.
During the War years, the image was spared from the damages the war. When classes resumed in Letran after the Second World War in 1946, the image of Our Lady of Aranzazu comes out for public veneration every December 16, during the first day of Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo, which is considered as her patronal feast in Manila and in accordance with the decree of Pope Benedict XIV and the older provisions in Mexico drawn by Admiral Echeveste and Fr. Arrechedera that the feast be made on the said date. The nine days novena to her is also serve as a mini-recollection for Christmas.
Due to series of unfortunate events since the Second World War and the death of one of its esteemed member, Rev. Fr. Antonio Robles, OP, then the Rector of Letran (1794 – 1798) and former Prior Provincial of the Dominicans in the country, the festivities that accompanied the enthusiasm to Our Lady of Aránzazu was reduced to an observance of a novena and a celebration of the Mass. Membership to the Archconfraternity gradually declined and to this day remained dormant. At present, the image is kept in a private chapel of the Friars in the college and the image is exposed on rare occasions.
The new image of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu from the San Mateo Shrine enthroned at the college’s chapel
The Letran and San Mateo Shrine relationship
The relationship between San Matero and Letran began when Rev. Fr. Lupo Luamndan, an alumnus of Colegio de San Juan de Letran became the parish priest of Our Lady of Aranzazu Parish of San Mateo, Rizal sometime in the 1800s – 1900s. During his tenure, he invite students from Letran, especaily the Basques, to join the festivities in San Mateo. The relationship between the colegio and the parish continued until the Second World War ended when the Basques returned to Spain. The special bond between the two institutions rekindled when the image stayed in the Colegio in 2013 months after the Episcopal Coronation of the image for her participation to the annual Grand Marian Procession in Intramuros, Manila. This became a tradition since then that the Virgin would stay in Letran for three days prior to the procession and held vigils in her honor. The Letranites would also accompany the San Mateo Virgin joining her devotees form San Mateo and other parts of the country singing the joyful hymn dedicated to the Virgin at the Grand Procession held every First Sunday of December.
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu de Colegio de San Juan de Letran
In 2017, the Colegio received a new image of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu from the San Mateo Shrine and was enthroned to the Colegio’s chapel on September 8, 2017 – Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the image can still be seen today.
Plans for revival
At present, efforts are being made to give new life to the devotion to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu in Colegio de San Juan de Letran. In 2015, in preparation for the Quadricentennial celebrations of the Colegio in 2020, the Friars of the Convento de San Juan de Letran, in collabotation with the Dominican Tertiaries, the faculty and the students is set to revive the dormant Archconfraternity of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu.
With these developments of the devotion to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, we can see the efforts of the Letran community to revive this centuries old devotion to the Virgin on the thorn tree. As they celebrate their 400th founding anniversary in 2020, let us all hope that the devotion will come full circle and be renown once again, just like in the old days.
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu de Colegio de San Juan de Letran, pray for us!
References:
Aviado, Lutgarda, “Madonnas of the Philippines”, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972. Robles, Christian, “Re-enthronement of Aranzazu at the Letran chapel”, Retrieved from https://aranzazushrine.ph/home/index.php/2017/10/06/re-enthronement-of-aranzazu-at-the-letran-chapel/ on December 10, 2019. Losanta, Richard, “San Mateo, Letrán and the Nuestra Señora de Aránzazu: A Bond of Friendship and Devotion”, unpublished manuscript, 2019. Sanchez, Francisco, “La Virgen Maria Venerada en sus Imagenes Filipinas”, Manila: Imp. De Santos y Bernal, 1904.
Special credits to Mr. Michael Daquioag, Mr/ Davy Chioa and Mr. Christian Robles for the recent photographs of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and to Mr. Richard Losanta for additional documents relating to the devotion to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu of Colegio de San Juan de Letran. +AM+DG+
Written by: Lourdes Syquia Bautista Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer on October 6, 2014
Editor’s note: The Rosary month of October is one of the most celebrated months in our country due to the numerous festivities that are held nationwide in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. All of these celebrations, the Grand festivity of La Naval de Manila stood out as the most opulent and the grandest of them all – historically and culturally speaking. At present, the Virgin’s fiesta and its iconic gala procession, dubbed as “Procesion de las Procesiones” [Procession of all Processions], is one of the most awaited and often copied in the country.
The vicaria of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila was used for the re-enactment of the Old Intramuros procession for the film remake of “Ang Larawan”
While I was preparing for the annual festivities from wardrobe for the annual procession (Because as what are forefathers say, we have to look and be in our best on her fiesta.), religious paraphernalia fot the novena, besa manto and procession, gadgets for documentation, some important stuff like umbrellas, abanicos, medallas, and other material provisions. and of course the important spiritual preparations like confession, joining the novenas, spiritual meditations for the grand feast to celebrate the fiesta with the soul in good condition.
While reading some books and articles for a latest feature on this blog, I came across this article published in “Philippine Daily Inquirer” about the celebrations of La Naval de Manila in Old Intramuros before the Second World War narrated by one of the few “lucky ones” who witness the fiesta’s grandeaur in Old Intramuros. I just can’t help but to be amazed with what I was reading and imagining what was it like back in the day and then suddenly a screen grab of the re-enactment of her procession in Old Intramuros from the 2017 remake of Nick Joaquin’s “Ang Larawan” pops up on my phone that added to my lingering thoughts on the old yet iconic procession. At the same time, I felt sadness on the reality that came afterwards that almost erased the venerable image and its surrounding culture in popular consciousness – if it wasn’t through the efforts of the Dominican friars and the Virgin’s devotees.
Without further ado, I am sharing on this blog this nostalgic piece that gives us how the La Naval celebrations were celebrated back in the old days so we can further appreciate the current celebrations that is held in the present Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.
The Virgin of La Naval on her carozza triunfal inside Old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros, Manila
To me, October invariably brings memories of “La Naval de Manila”—a novena and procession celebrated to honor Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary at Santo Domingo Church. I’m not referring to the one in Quezon City but to the old Gothic Santo Domingo in Intramuros that was destroyed during the Liberation of Manila in 1945.
Once again I am clad in the long beige-and-red uniform of Santa Catalina College and attending the novena of La Naval. To Filipinos, especially of that time, October was La Naval and La Naval was the fiesta par excellence, at least as far as drawing power was concerned.
As early as four o’clock in the morning the huge bells would start tolling. But long before that there would be early Mass-goers waiting for the massive doors to open. Masses would continue nonstop at the main and side altars until almost 10. (Remember that we fasted from midnight. There were no afternoon Masses then.) [Editor’s note: This practice was prescribed before the Mass in the Tridentine Rite prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1970’s] High Mass was at eight. All these Masses were attended by thousands.
A rare photograph of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila in her original altar in Old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros
Afterwards the crowd would dwindle, only to return in the afternoon for the novena. Devotees came from all over. Out-of-town buses from Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, and Laguna crowded the patio; calesas transported people from nearby suburbs, and residents from Santa Ana, Malate and Tondo, riding on tranvias, alighted at Plaza Lawton and then crossed the Sunken Gardens and the Muralla to get to the church. From black limousines descended society matrons in their elegant ternos, and aristocratic gentlemen in their white de hilo suits. And all of them crowded the church, praying the rosary aloud, singing the hymns, reciting the novena prayers, and listening to the sermons which, to my recollection, were never shorter than 30 minutes. (For your information, all these prayers and songs were said in Spanish and Latin. The sermon was likewise in Spanish, delivered in the florid manner of the times and from the pulpit without a microphone.)
The climax of the celebration was the procession in the afternoon of the second Sunday of October. One particular procession I will never forget was when I was 12.
We, the students of Santa Catalina, dressed in our white gala uniforms, with veils on our heads and lighted candles in our hands, headed the long procession. My schoolmates and I walked in front of and behind the image of St. Catherine of Siena. We recited the rosary, sang hymns, and marched self-consciously to the music played by the Letran band.
I cannot describe the pride and excitement I felt in being part of that retinue. Looking sideways I saw people lined three-deep on the pavements, reciting the rosary, lighted candles in hand. Glancing up I saw faces crowding the wide windows of entresuelos and second floors, all reciting the Ave Maria. The deep, abiding faith of the devotees I could almost taste in my mouth.
The 1989 fiesta souvenir program cover by Rafael del Casal
We arrived at the patio of the church way ahead of the others and stayed by the side to await the arrival of the image of Our Lady. I saw the carrozas of famous Dominican saints being pulled by sweating men, the decorated images swaying in the night whenever there was a rut underneath.
And then, at last, after a long time, I heard the music coming from the UST band signaling her imminent arrival. Finally I caught a glimpse of her statue soaring above the multitude of devotees. In front of her, beside her, behind her walked the Dominican priests in their white habits and black capes looking like the brave medieval knights of old, jealously protecting their Lady.
Before I knew it, the surge of humanity had carried me along with them inside the church where I knelt in one tiny corner trying to catch my breath. Incense assailed my nostrils; “O Salutaris” and “Tantum Erg”o throbbed in my ears. Tiny bells rang and I looked up to see the Holy Eucharist floating in a haze above me. I was overwhelmed by a spirit of devotion and reverence I had never felt before.
The Holy Eucharist was lowered and I saw the image of Our Lady, in all her splendor, regal, majestic, wearing her crown of jewels, holding her scepter, her rosary, scented by thousands of roses and illumined by hundreds of candles. In her arm she held her Divine Son, who wasn’t looking at her, however, but at us, as though saying, “I am not only hers, but yours as well.”
The La Naval procession beside the Old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros
A strong feeling of joy gripped me, held me spellbound, and at that precise moment the plaintive strains of “Adios, Reina del Cielo” [Editor’s note: The actual song title is “Despedida a la Virgen”] sung by the tiples filled the whole church. I was overcome and the tears fell unbidden. When I could see again I looked up, but the curtain had already been lowered, hiding her from view.
When the crowd thinned, I went out the door and was met by a cold blast of October air. I knew I had to hurry; it was late and my parents were waiting for me on Cabildo Street for dinner at the house of Don Paco Gonzalez, my father’s best friend.
I tarried in the patio, nevertheless, not wanting the spell to be broken. I lingered by the fruit stalls, smelled chestnuts roasting on the fire, heard the lanzones vendors chanting as they counted fruit by the hundreds, and from the corner of my eye caught sight of the Ferris wheel going round and round…
And then, once more, the huge bells started pealing and the sounds reverberated in my heart. A sense of wellbeing enveloped me and I felt protected, secure and happy. I felt that I loved everyone. I thought my people to be lovely people and my country the best place in the world.
Lourdes Syquia Bautista, 90, is a retired professor of the University of Santo Tomas.
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+
The old La Naval de Manila Procession in Intramuros years before the Second World War
A depiction of Intramuros
Whenever we pass the area of the Manila City Hall going to Quiapo-Tondo-Sampaloc area, we always see an imposing wall on the opposite side of the iconic City Hall – the famed centuries old walled city of Intramuros. The area of Intramuros (Which literally mean “Within the Walls”) during the Spanish period was considered as Manila and the arrabals surrounding the walled city from Quiapo, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Sampaloc, Bagumbayan (now the Luneta area), Tondo, Binondo, Paco, Pandacan and Ermita are known as “Extramuros”.
Since its foundation in 1571 with the conquest of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and its construction sometime later, Intramuros became one of the nerve centers of the Philippine Catholic Faith, next to Cebu, for it was chosen as the seat of Catholic Church in the country with the foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila from its parent Archdiocese of Mexico in 1555, several religious orders established their mother houses inside the Walled City and built magnificent churches that pilgrims visited over the centuries.
Map of old Intramuros
The religious orders, namely the Augustinians, the Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Jesuits, the Augustinian Recollects and the Franciscan Capuchins introduced several devotions and religious images to the country over the centuries and these became part of our Catholic faith and even played important roles in Philippine history. The devotion to the Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin Mary in her several attributes and the saints was easily adopted by the people and the images that are associated with them became focal point of devotions and celebrations over the years.
But the peace and quiet period in the Walled City turned to an end with the destruction of World War 2. All churches were bombed and completely destroyed, with the exception of San Agustin Church in Intramuros and years later, the Manila Cathedral was rebuilt. Fortunately, some important miraculous images were spared from the destruction of War due to their preventive safekeeping and were later moved to their new shrines outside Manila, other images were not as fortunate for they were victims of the destructive war. Without any further a do, here are some images who survived the destruction of World War 2 and now venerated in their new Shrines, or in some cases were hidden in museums and oratories..
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila in Intramuros
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila Previous Provenance: Iglesia de Santo Domingo, Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: Santo Domingo Church – National Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, La Naval de Manila
The history of Intramuros is not complete without mentioning the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila and its grand procession that was once enshrined in the Old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros. The image of the Virgin of La Naval, also called as the “Santo Rosario” was carved in 1593 by an unknown Chinese Sculptor upon the request of then Governor General of the Philippines – Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas and art direction of the officer-turned Dominican Priest Don Hernando delos Rios Coronel. Years later, the image was donated to the Dominican Fathers and was enshrined in her own altar in the Gospel Side of the church. Miracles were later reported through the intercession of the Virgin of the Rosary of Santo Domingo Church.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila at present
The devotion to the Santo Rosario reached its peak with the Five Naval battles of 1646 where the Spanish-Filipino troops protected the islands from invading Dutch. The two old ill equipped Galleons, the Encarnacion and the Rosario were able to defend the islands against 18 big and well-equipped warships. Before the battle, the whole armada vowed to walk barefoot to her shrine in Santo Domingo if victory will be theirs – and it happened, they fulfilled this vow and the Arzobispado of Manila declared the victory a miracle through the intercession of the Santo Rosario which was later called as the Virgin of La Naval and a Grand Festival is in order to commemorate the event, and the festivities is well attended.
With numerous miracles that she continued to lavish her devotees, she was canonically crowned on October 5, 1907, in Plaza Magallanes in Intramuros and the event was well attended by Filipinos, Spaniards, and Americans. She was the first Filipino Marian image to receive such honor from the Holy See.
During the Second World War, the Santo Domingo Church was destroyed yet the Virgin and other images, along with almost all important documents were kept in a vault and they were later moved to the University of Santo Tomas and finally to her current home in her new location in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes of Quezon City
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes of Quezon City Previous Provenance: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Quezon City
There were two images of Our Lady of Lourdes in her National Shrine in Retiro, Quezon City, the “Primera Imagen” which is the oldest surviving image of Our Lady of Lourdes in the country, and the Pontifically Crowned “Venerada Imagen” altar image.
The Primera Imagen of Our Lady of Lourdes at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in the country
When the Capuchins arrived in 1882, they settled in Intramuros as their headquarters in Asia. The Capuchin Church was initially dedicated to the Divina Pastora then later to the Virgin of Lourdes when people began to flock to the grotto that they built with a beautifully carved image of Our Lady of Lourdes done by Manuel Flores in 1892 that was enshrined there. With numerous miracles that were reported through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Capuchin Friars later asked the same sculptor to carve the altar image two years later and a bigger church was later built with the bigger image in the center.
An Archconfraternity was later established to further propagate the devotion to the Lady of the Grotto who appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. The popularity of the Virgen de Lourdes was unparalleled in almost every Catholic home in the country, one could see a grotto of the Lourdes Virgin enshrined in their gardens.
The Pontifically Crowned altar image of Our Lady of Lourdes
When the Lourdes Church was destroyed, the miraculous smaller image and altar image was easily taken away and was first kept in the sacristy of San Agustin Church, then later at the University of Santo Tomas, and finally to her new home in Retiro, Quezon City. In 2019, Pope Francis, through the decree issued by the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, granted the Canonical Coronation of the venerable image of Nuestra Señora de Lourdes of Quezon City. The altar image received the honor of Canonical Coronation on August 22, 2020.
Nuestra Señora de la Salud in Intramuros
Nuestra Señora de la Salud Previous Provenance: Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino, Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, Quezon City
The image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud of the Augustinian Recollects was brought to the Philippines in 1623, along with the famous Señor Nazareno of Quiapo, Manila. The image was first enshrined in her own church in Bagumbayan, now Luneta, which was dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
The venerated image was transferred to Intramuros three times when the Bagumbayan Church was destroyed until it was permanently enshrined in the old San Nicolas Church of the Recollects in Intramuros.
One of the most notable miracle of the dark Virgin of Health was during the infamous Chinese uprising in 1639. A novena was held in her honor to ask for the health of the army and to establish peace. The novena were held with grand solemnity, attended by no less than the Archbishop of Manila, the city officials, the Royal Audiencia, and the great multitude of the faithful, who profited much from the devotion to the Virgen de la Salud. She generously granted that which they asked for and celebrated her feast day with much grand and solemnity. Since then, the devotion to the Virgin of Health flourished.
Years later, the War broke out and San Nicolas Church was one of the unfortunate casualties. The Virgin, along with the miraculous Crucifix of Casiguran, an ivory image of St. Michael the Archangel and a chalice given by Pope Leo XIII were spared and immediately transferred to the sacristy of San Sebastian Church. As for the other images that are mentioned earlier, they were all destroyed by the War.
Nuestra Señora de la Salud at present
The Virgin was later evacuated to the sacristy of Minor Basilica of San Sebastián in Quiapo, Manila and moved later to the new mother house of the order in Quzon City. The image was later donated to the Museo Recoleto in the 1980’s and stayed there since then.
In 2016, the image returned to Intramuros to participate at the annual Grand Marian Procession that sparked the revival of the devotion. At present, the Augustinian Recollects are now making efforts to revive the devotion to the Virgin of Health.
Estampa of Santo Cristo del Tesosro
Santo Cristo del Tesoro de Colegio de Santa Isabel Previous Provenance: Colegio de Santa Isabel, Intramuros, Manila (Old campus) Current Provenance: Colegio de Santa Isabel, Ermita, Manila (present campus)
The image of Santo Cristo del Tesoro of Colegio de Santa Isabel of Intramuros was also one of the most celebrated images in Intramuros and acclaimed as one of the so-called “Palladium of Intramuros” together with the Virgin of La Naval of the Dominicans and the now destroyed San Francisco de las Lagrimas of the Franciscans.
The image arrived in the country in 1631 from Acapulco for the Real Casa de La Misericordia. It was a gift of Don Juan Lopez, a captain who gave up the career of the sword, for that of charity. He was then bookkeeper of the above mentioned charitable institution.
The crucifix was placed in a shrine near the treasury of the Real Casa de La Misericordia as a guardian keeping a vigilant eye on the treasures of his beloved children. In fact, the crucified Christ proved that the treasury remained inexhaustible in spite of the many poor whose cries for alms and mercy were unfailingly answered.
Facial details of Santo Cristo del Tesosro
In times of drought, the Archbishop of Manila with his parishioners joined in a solemn procession in honor of this image, imploring for rain, and the events that followed did not fall short of the trust he and the people of Manila had placed in the Black Crucified Christ.
In the wake of the Second World War, the Santo Cristo was whisked away from the old Santa Isabel College to San Agustin Church and later transferred to Colegio de Sta. Rita of old Calumpang (now Plaza del Carmen of Quiapo). During the Japanese occupation, devotion to Santo Cristo del Tesoro found its way into the dreaded Fort Santiago and other places of torture. Freed or liberated prisoners form the fort went to the chapel of the Señor with fervent and humble thanksgiving. The image was later transferred to his new shrine in the relocated campus in Ermita, Manila.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros Previous Provenance: Iglesia de San Pablo (San Agustin Church), Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila
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 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 is very invested to 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 and later gave it to his son after his conversion.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros at present
The Augustinians later adapted the Correa together with their habit when they are formally founded thru the Papal Bull “Cum quaedam salubria,” issued on July 15, 1255 by Pope Alexander IV which ordered a number of religious monks to gather for the purpose of being amalgamated into a new Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine which is called “The Grand Union”, contrary to the popular belief that St. Augustine himself founded the Augustinian Order. A confradia was later founded in the country under her patronage for the propagation of the devotion to the Lady of Consolation and for promoting the spiritual life of St. Augustine.
The image was kept hidden during the Second World War and it was later enshrined to her altar once again years alter 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 Mother of the Augustinian Order was Canonically Crowned on her feast day, September 4, 2000 – then the Jubilee Year.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Universidad de Santo Tomas
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Universidad de Santo Tomas Previous Provenance: Friary Chapel of University of Santo Tomas, Intramuros, Manila (old campus) Current Provenance: Santisimo Rosario Parish, UST Central Seminary, Sampaloc, Manila
The beautiful venerated image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario of the Royal, Pontifical and Catholic University of Santo Tomas, the oldest Universtiy in Asia, was once enshrined in a chapel in the old campus of the University. In an interesting note, the University was actually under the patronage of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary and it is originally named as “Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario”.
History is silent on where the image came from and who carved the image for a chapel in the old Intramuros Campus. In a study conducted by the Committee for the Centenary of the Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosaio – La Naval de Manila speculated that the opus was done either by Maximo Vicente or Graciano Nepomuceno which is yet to be confirmed.
When the then newly constructed UST Campus in Sampaloc, Manila was completed, another chapel was also constructed for the Virgin. The Chapel was among the earliest edifices in the Campus of the University of Santo Tomas. It was completed on November 13, 1932 and it was later became a parish in 1942, this chapel likewise became the center of the liturgico-sacramental life of the students and parishioners up to the present.
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Universidad de Santo Tomas at present
On September 28, 1942, the image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario – La Naval de Manila, which was saved from the bombings that destroyed the Old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros, was transferred to the University of Santo Tomas and enshrined at the main altar of the UST Chapel. Thus, the first fiesta celebration of the Santisimo Rosario Parish, set on October 7, the universal feast of the Holy Rosary, was graced by the presence of the historical image of the Blessed Mother, and this went on for several more years until the year 1954, when the La Naval was solemnly transferred to her new and permanent temple, the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.
The original parish image was then restored to its former place at the high altar, until the implementation of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The Feast day of the University’s patroness was moved from Second Sunday of October to First Sunday of the same month to give way for the traditional Feast of the La Gran Señora de Filipinas. The Fiesta is well attended by its parishioners and most importantly, by its students to pay homage to patroness of the Universtiy.
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu de Colegio de San Juan de Letran
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu de Colegio de San Juan de Letran Previous Provenance: Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Intramuros, Manila
For some Filipino faithful, the term Aranzazu is synonimous to San Mateo, Rizal where the Virgin, under this unique title is acclaimed as the Patroness of the Pueblo since 1716. However, the devotion to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu already existed in Intramuros before it was introduced to San Mateo, Rizal.
The image of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu shows the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in his arm holding a scepter and an apple on top of thorn tree and a quadrilateral bell on one of its trunks appearing to a shepherd named Rodrigo de Balzategui.
A Spanish captain brought the first image of the Virgin Mary from Mexico sometime in 1732. The devotion to the Virgin of Aranzazu in Letran flourished that led to the establishment of the Archconfraternity of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu on December 16, 1772 by virtue of a Pontifical Brief issued by Benedict XIV on September 18, 1748.
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu de Colegio de San Juan de Letran at present
The confraternity was installed amid solemn ceremonies at the Letran Chapel and the image occupied the epistle side for public veneration on December 16, 1772 and its members grew in numbers. Devotions to her in the succeeding years were held with much fervor, at which the members attend decked in their special gala uniform of white tunic, red cape and a blue band with a medal with her image on it. Her feast day was once celebrated every December 16.
During the War years, the image was spared from the damages the war have caused to the Walled City. Probably it was in that period that the hiding of the image to the public began and only a few, with the exception of the Dominican Friars who run the Colegio and stewards of the image, could get a glimpse of once celebrated images of Our Lady in Intramuros. At present, the image is kept in a private chapel of the Friars in the college and the image is exposed on rare special occasions.
Apoteosis de Santo Tomas de Aquino
Apoteosis de Santo Tomas de Aquino Previous Provenance: Iglesia de Santo Domingo, Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: National Museum, Manila
Probably, one of the least known miraculous image of Old Intramuros that survived the Second World War. The painting of the St. Thomas Aquinas – the Prince of Theologians and popularly known as the “Angelic Doctor”- in full glory, was attributed to Damian Domingo, the celebrated mestizo painter during the early years of the Spanish era.
The painting is said to be enshrined in old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros and being flocked by pilgrims. In 1819, the Archbishop of Manila, Juan Antonio Zulaybar y Aldaope, OP granted indulgences to the faithful who will recite the “Our Father”, the “Hail Mary” and the “Glory be”before this particular painting as it is inscribed in this painting.
The painting was one of the treasures that were kept in the vault of Old Santo Domingo and it was later kept in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas once retrieved. The painting is currently on display in the National Museum.
*Note: Apotheosis (Apoteosis in Spanish) – the elevation of someone to divine status
Santo Niño – El Conquistador
Santo Niño – El Conquistador Previous Provenance: Iglesia de San Pablo (San Agustin Church), Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: Museo de San Agustin, San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila
Another image that was once celebrated within the Walled City is the ivory image of Santo Niño – El Conquistador. The image of the Santo Niño is clad in a conquistador regalia with a crown, scepter and a globus cruciger – symbols of power and domination. The origins of the image is unknown yet it is believed that it was enshrined since the Seventeenth Century to the Gospel side of the altar, along with the image of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa de Intramuros which was located in the epistle side of the altar up to the present.
The Fiesta of the El Conquistador is celebrated with much pomp and solemnity and enjoyed much devotion from the entire Intramuros populace. However, during the Second World War, the image, along with the La Consolacion were hidden for sometime for safekeeping until both were re-enthroned after the War. At present, the image is now located in San Agustin Church Museum for preservation.
Mary, Help of Christians of Parañaque City
Mary Help of Christians of Parañaque Previous Provenance: Manila Metropolitan Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila Present Provenance: National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, Parañaque City
The devotion to Mary, Help of Christians began in the Philippines with the appointment of Salesian Archbishop William Piani as Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines. In 1922, he brought the statue of Mary Help of Christians to Manila and was first enthroned at the Manila Cathedral.
In 1942, during the Japanese occupation, the statue was brought to the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Loreto in Sampaloc, Manila for safekeeping. During those years, the Archconfraternity of Mary help of Christians in the Philippines was organized. The archconfraternity continuously offered novenas and masses every 24th day of each month to Our Lady. Perhaps due to Archbishop Piani’s influence, the following parishes adopted Mary Help of Christians as titular and Patroness in different places in the country. Years later, in 1994 the image was transferred to the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in Betterliving, Parañaque City while a new image of was enthroned in the original chapel in Manila Cathedral in 2016.
Virgen de la Soledad de Intramuros
Virgen de la Soledad (Mater Dolorosa) de Intramuros Previous Provenance: Iglesia de Santo Domingo, Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: Santo Domingo Church – National Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, La Naval de Manila
One of the earliest known Holy Week images in the country is that of the image of the Nuestra Señora de La Soledad (More popularly known as the “Mater Dolorosa”) 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 her silver andas for the Solemn and Somber Good Friday processions 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 saints of the Passion and the Señor Yacente.
The Dolorosa image, along with the image of San Juan Evangelista, survived the Second World War and was kept first the UST Sampaloc Campus and later in the present Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. At present, the image can still be seen every Good Friday during the annual televised Siete Palabras and later on the Good Friday procession in the afternoon.
Santo Cristo de Casiguran
Santo Cristo de Casiguran Previous Provenance: Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino, Intramuros, Manila Current Provenance: Museo Recoleto, Mira Nila Homes, Quezon CIty
The small crucifix of Casiguran was brought to the old San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Intramuros from Casiguran, Quezon by the Augustinian Recollect missionaries when they left that mission area in 1704. Believed to be miraculous, tradition has it that the Crucified Christ gave absolution to a dying Recollect missionary who hid together with his flock in the forest of Casiguran to escape Moro pirates. It also recorded that whenever there will be an impending danger or natural disasters that would befall Casiguran, the head of Christ would turn to it’s direction as a warning to the faithful. Recently, there were some witnesses said that the head of Christ also turned to the direction of Leyte days before the devastating typhoon Yolanda (Internationally known as ‘Haiyan’) hit the island province. At present, the miraculous crucifix is currently kept in the Museo Recoleto for safekeeping.
The lasting value of the surviving images of old Intramuros
These miraculous images that are miraculously preserved during the Second World War is quite astounding for it only shows the Hand of God is working in our midst. These images are silent testaments and witnesses to the enduring faith the Filipinos have for centuries despite its rich, colorful and tragic history that shaped Philippine history. The survival stories of these miraculous images tells us that with God, we can endure every havoc or tragedy that we will face in our lives.
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. Mary, Help of Christians Fiesta 2000 Souvenir Program, National shrine and Parish of Mary, Help of Christians, Betterliving Subdivision, Parañaque City. 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.
Photos:
Choia, Davy Landicho, Miguel Yu, Biggie Some photographs that were used in this blogpost are credited to its owners.
Within the confines of modern Quezon City, there is a precious treasure that was once one of great importance of Old Manila’s Glorious Past. This principal treasure is the dark image of the Blessed Virgin, under the title of”Nuestra Señora de la Salud” (Our Lady of Health) brought by the Recollect missionaries to the Philippines in 1634.
In the olden days, the Virgen de la Salud is one of the most celebrated Marian images in the country with numerous miracles were attributed to this Dark Virgin of Old San Nicolas Church. So numerous and well known that even high government officials of the time are in attendance and one of most awaited in the summer and it somehow rivals that of the Virgin of the Santo Rosario of Old Intramuros (now will be venerated in her new Shrine in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.)
However, after the ravages of World War 2, though the image was safe and kept by her custodians, the devotion her seemed to be forgotten by almost majority of the faithful over the past decades. Now, with the recent developments on the devotion, Let us rediscover the rich history and devotion to this miraculous Lady, who became known as the “Health of the Sick”.
The Visage of the Virgin
Nuestra Señora de la Salud
The image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud is that of the image of the Madonna and a Child with the head of the Virgin is that of wood and the hands and the Child Jesus was made of darkened Ivory. The nearly 400 year old image of “La Salud” wears a corona y rostrillo de oro and a tunic of beaten silver and gold encrusted with precious stones. The Image of the Virgin stands with the measurement of 63.5 cm. with the inclusion of the base and crown while the Child Jesus stands at 13 cm.
History
An old print of Nuestra Señora de la Salud
The Order of the Augustinian Recollects, a Reformed Order of the great father and Doctor of the Church, St. Augustine, entered Manila in the year 1606 and began their evangelization work. The apostolic zeal of the order has attained abundant results from their labors, in the reduction of the most barbarous islanders, and in the exemplary lives of their reformed religious.
Years later, several batches of the Augustinian Recollect Order came to the country, the seventh group arrived in 1634 bringing with them the dark image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud.
Nuestra Señora de la Salud
The venerable image was first enshrined in the Church and Convent of San Juan de Bagumbayan (now Luneta), however, the the Virgin was transferred to to main Church of San Nicolas de Tolentino of Intramuros three times due to different circumstances: first during the Chinese uprising, second was the demolition of the Bagumbayan Church by the Governor General Sebastian de Corcuera, and lastly, upon the threat of the British invaders in Manila.
Regardless of the transfer of location, the Virgin of Health’s popularity at that time never waned and pilgrims continuously flock her on those two churches. It also noteworthy that an author wrote that in the late 1600’s “it is certainly that the image that has more devotees in the entire islands.” This is proven with the existence of the devotion in Laguna, some parts of Luzon and in Bicol Region.
The Celebrated Past and Devotion to the Lady
When the people of Manila heard the miracles that the Virgin granted to the missionaries while sailing to Manila, they clamored that the Virgin must be enthroned in San Nicolas Church and she was later enthroned in her own altar in that church and “ex votos” filled her altar. What made the Virgen de la Salud more famous was due to the miracle that she wrought during the infamous Chinese uprising in the middle of the Seventeenth Century.
The desire of the Governor General of the increase of royal revenues led to the Second Chinese Revolt that lasted for five months. It was from this event that the image od Nuestra Señora de la Salud was moved from her first church in San Juan de Bagumbayan to San Nicolas Church in Intramuros. The transfer was done, not only for safekeeping, but also to have a novena for the health of the army and to establish peace. The prayers were held with grand solemnity, attended by no less than the Archbishop of Manila, the city officials, the Royal Audiencia, and the great multitude of the faithful, who profited much from the devotion to the Virgen de la Salud. She generously granted that which they asked for. On March 15, 1640, the revolt ended with the surrender of the rebels and in thanksgiving, the image was returned to San Juan de Bagumbayan Chruch with much pomp and solemnity.
Nuestra Señora de la Salud
With that particular miracle attributed to the petite image of the Virgin of Health, devotees grew over the centuries. Pregnant women seeks her powerful intercession for safe delivery of their offspring and the sick were immediately cured through her intercession. One of the most prolific devotee of the Virgin was the great St. Ezekiel Moreno whom he invokes as “Nuestra Señora Salud de los Enfermos” and sought her Patronage.
In thanksgiving to her help, the devotees gave her several “ex votos” as a sign of their thanksgiving. The “ex votos” that were given by her devotees ranging from priceless heirlooms from prominent families, jewels and some “medallions” bearing body parts of the devotees that were cured by the Virgin. Tuesdays was assigned as the devotional day to Nuestra Señora de la Salud and pilgrims flock San Nicolas Church to seek her intercession.
The oldest known photo of Nuestra Señora dela Salud
The Feast of the Virgen de la Salud was transferred to several dates over the centuries. Her Feast was first celebrated every Third Friday of Lent then transferred to a fixed date of April 28, then again in February 2 and November 17 then lastly to Saturday nearest to the Solemnity of St. Joseph, The reasons of the ever changing feast day are still unknown yet the people attended her fiesta to give thanks to her unconditional help to her devotees. Not satisfied with the ever increasing devotion to the Virgin of Health, a confraternity was started in her honor was known as “Confradia de la Transito de Nuestra Señora”.
The Fate of the Virgin During and Post War period
During the Second World War, most of the Churches in Manila were destroyed, the old San Nicolas church is not spared. All the beautiful miraculous images that were housed in San Nicolas Chruch disappeared in smoke, except to the images of Nuestra Senora de la Salud, Santo Cristo de Casiguran, an ivory image of St. Michael the Archangel and a Chalice given by Pope Leo XIII. Majority of the stately churches—including the Recoleto Church—were destroyed in this destructive episode of Philippine history.
Despite the old popular belief that the Virgin disappeared, the image was actually kept first in the sacristy of Basilica Minore de San Sebastian since 1945 until she was transferred to their new Monastery in Quezon City and was later donated to their museum in in the same city in 1988 up to the present. Consequently, the devotion came to the oblivion due to her long absence in the public eye.
The revival of the devotion
Nuestra Señora de la Salud
Year later, there were clamors of some faithful who studied and remembered the Glorious history of Old Intramuros and those who recently discovered the almost forgotten devotion to the Black Virgin, to revive the devotion and expose the miraculous image once again for public veneration. And sometime in 2006, the Virgin came out to from the Museo for the first time for the International Order of Augustinian Recollects Mission Congress held at San Sebastian Church and the whole Recoleto family saw her for the first time in decades and this ignited the desire to revive the devotion to her. A decade later, in 2016, the Virgen de la Salud made a triumphant comeback to Intramuros where she graced the Grand Marian Procession 2016 and the public finally saw her for the first time since her shrine was destroyed during the Second World War.
As of this writing, efforts are being made to restore the devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Salud by the Augustinian Recollect Order so that the people may once again experience the miracles that the Lady showered to her devotees centuries ago. On November 4, 2017, after 72 years since her church was destroyed, she finally found a new home in the Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino in Congressional Ave, Quezon City where the Filipino faithful can finally gave their love and devotion to their Beloved Mother, the Lady of Health, just like what their ancestors did centuries ago. Her feast day is currently celebrated every November 17.
Nuestra Señora de la Salud at the Grand Marian Procession
Since her re-enthronement, numerous miracles were immediately reported and duly recorded. One of the most recent miracles of the Virgin was when she cured a dying man from coma when he and his family prayed the novena in her honor. As of this writing, other cases of healings from different diseases and illnesses were also reported through her miraculous intercession.
Truly, the revival of the devotion to Nuestra Senora de la Salud is very timely, as if it’s designed by Divine Providence. She returned when our generation is plagued with diseases of the body and of the soul that we need a lasting cure, comfort and strength and once again experience her motherly care as she did centuries ago.
We will end this entry to the Nuestra Señora da la Salud with a prayer for the Lady of Health:
Sovereign Empress of heaven and earth, Mary, Mother of God, inexhaustible sea of health, on whom all your children and devotees pinned their greatest consolation, all of us prostrate before your holy altars, we offer you our humble gift and brief tribute of the holy novena, and we would like to have an ardent love and fervent devotion, with which the Seraphs in glory praise you, and all the Saints praise you, and the just on earth, so that it may be pleasing before your eyes, and for the great benefits that we owe you.
For all these we all give you endless thanks, confident that with your clemency, our sins may not hinder the love that you always have for us.
Never stop looking at us Our Lady, if your eyes look at us, it is impossible that they will stop helping us. Watch over the Supreme Pontiff, take care of the universal benefit of the Church, the promotion of the Holy Catholic Faith, the eradication of heresies, and for all the souls in Purgatory who from thy prison of fire implore your patronage.
And finally, because you are the most sweet Mother bestow on us all your abundant blessing, nd grant us health of body and soul, so that we may celebrate you later on in the Kingdom of Glory. Amen.
Nuestra Señora de la Salud, pray for us!
Reference
Aviado, Lutgarda, “Madonnas of the Philippines”, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972. Rubia, Rommel, OAR, “Novena to Nuestra Señora de la Salud”, Order of Augustinian Recollects, Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, Quezon City, 2017. 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.
Pintakasi 