Marian Image – Pintakasi

Our Lady of the Mission of Tagaytay – Mother and Queen of MIssions

As part of a national movement of the Church for a call for prayer to end the COVID-19 pandemic that took lives of millions of people world wide, every Wednesdays, the “Healing Rosary for the World” is held in different Cathedrals and Shrines all over the country that are streamed online. In one of the stops. a certain Marian image caught the attention of many for this image was never before seen by the public – at least for now. This image is the beautiful painting of Our Lady of the Mission venerated in the Chapel of the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Cavite. The painting caught the attention of Marian devotees in social media and it is evident to the number of views on the day of its healing rosary streaming. Now its time to get to know more about her and appreciate its meaning and message.

Our Lady of the Mission of Tagaytay City

The painting

The beautiful painting of Our Lady of the Mission depicts the Blessed Mother holding the Child Jesus in her arms while covering the people under her mantle. The painting was set in a beautiful scenery of Tagaytay with the view of the Binintiang Malaki (which is commonly mistaken as the Taal Volcano) on the right while the Divine Word Seminary is situated on the hilly side of Tagaytay on the left. In this painting, the Virgin wears a white robe, a large blue cape/mantle with gold trimmings on the neckline, wears a crown on top of her beautiful long wavy hair while the Child Jesus wears a red robe and a golden tunic on His waist.

The painting also depicts 3 saints and a unidentified missionary sister (could have been the painter as I will discuss later) namely St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Patroness of the Missions (although she never left the cloisters of the Discalced Carmelite convent in Lisieux, France, she desired to be part of the a Carmelite Mission that will be established in Vietnam yet this was hindered due to her bouts with tuberculosis, hence she resolved to assist the Missionaries with her prayers ans sacrifices as their “spiritual sister”) on the left with the unidentified missionary sister while on the right it depicts St. Arnold Jansssen, Founder of the Society of the Divine Word and St. Joseph Freinademetz, the Society’s foremost missionary due to this successful missionary work in China (hence he wears a Chinese costume).

The painting of Our Lady of the Mission depicts the Madonna and Child in the Schutzmantel iconography: The Blessed Mother, in this case holding the Child Jesus and the faithful were under her mantle of protection. For this Schutzmantel Madonna painting, it shows the Blessed Mother covering under her mantle to the children from different nations and continents in the world, which also represent the nations where the Society of the Divine Word established their missions centers. The Child Jesus on the other hand looks down on the people under her Mother’s mantle and even holding the right side of it to help cover the people.

The Society of the Divine Word

Given with the depiction of the two foremost saints of the Society of the Divine Word, it is just proper to give a sort of a background of this famed mission society. The Society was founded in Steyl in the Netherlands in 1875 by St. Arnold Janssen, a diocesan priest and a Dominican ertiary, and drawn mostly from German priests and religious exiles in the Netherlands during the church-state conflict called the Kulturkampf, which had resulted in many religious groups being expelled and seminaries being closed in Germany.

In 1882, the Society started sending missionaries across the globe and as of 2020, it consisted of 6,023 members composed of priests and religious brothers working in more than 70 countries which make the society the largest missionary congregation in the Catholic Church. The Society arrived in the Philippines in Bangued, Abra, in 1909, founding schools in Bangued, Vigan, in Ilocos Sur and Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, as well as in other parts of the Philippines. Now there are about 500 Filipino SVD priests and brothers and around 150 of them are serving in overseas missions on all continents. The Society also established a publishing center, Logos publications and a media arm to further expand their efforts on evangelization.

History

The origin of the painting came through when Rev. Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD was travelling for his missionary work and during his stop in Spain, he saw a painting of the Blessed Mother in the Schutzmantel iconography with children from other parts of the world under her mantle. Fr. Uy also saw a similar painting of the Virgin with the same Schutzmantel iconography, this time with people representing the Society’s missions in different countries around the world.

Because of these events, he was inspired to have a similar image to be commissioned for the Philippines missions. Fr. Uy commissioned Sister Eliesea Quinto of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary to paint the image in 1985 and it was enshrined at the Divine Word Seminary Chapel in Tagaytay for veneration of the society’s priests and student brothers. The image appeared in numerous publications of the Society and recently, on August 19, 2020, Filipino Marian devotees thru social media got a glimpse of the beautiful painting of Our Lady of the Mission for its first public appearance to implore her help to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mysteries of Mission

A unique Marian devotion to honor Our Lady of the Mission was developed and introduced by the Society called “The Mysteries of Mission” on October 20, 2020 , World Mission Sunday during the Year of the Rosary (Proclaimed by Pope St. John Paul II where he introduced the Luminous Mysteries of St. George Preca of Malta). These set of mysteries were formed as an invitation to deeper contemplation and humility to allow Our Lord through Our Lady to lead people enkindle the spirit of all missionaries worldwide and enrich their mission spirituality.

The following are the Mysteries of Mission:

The Incarnation
The Epiphany
The Calling of the Twelve Apostles
The Washing of the feet
The Mission sending of the Disciples to the World.

The Mysteries of Mission is prayed every Tuesdays in honor of Our Lady of the Mission and it is also prayed in the month of October, the month of the Rosary and mission, especially on ‘World Mission Sunday”, “Church Unity Octave”, “Vocation Awareness Week”, “Mission Week”, on certain feasts like the feasts of the Epiphany, the feasts of the apostles and missionary saints, martyrs and blessed servants of God like those feast of St. Arnold Janssen (January 15), St. Joseph Freinademetz (January 29), Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk (November 28), St. Therese of the Child Jesus – Patroness of Missions (October 1), St. Francis Xavier – Patron of Missions (December 3).

The devotion

The devotion to Mary as the Lady and Mother of Missions is quite unique yet important , especailly to our missionaries. Pope Francis has stated that Our Lady provides us with the best example of a missionary. First,because she brought love into the world through the birth of Christ, but also because, by following her virtues, we will be better able to bring God’s love to others. Let us ask Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Missions to help our missionaries in their evangelizing work and for the conversion on non-believers so that all will be united under One True Church, One Savior, One God.

Our Lady of the Mission, pray for us!

References:

Hermann Fischer, Life of Arnold Janssen. Founder of the Society of the Divine Word and the Missionary Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Ghost, translated by Frederic M. Lynk, Mission Press S.V.D.: Techny, Illinois/USA 1925.
The Mysteries of the Mission : Praying the Rosary with One Heart as Missionaries, Second Edition, Logos Publications, Manila, 2004.
Fritz Bornemann, A History of the Divine Word Missionaries, Rome 1981.

Images that are used for this blogpost is taken from the Healing Rosary for World Live streaming broadcast streamed on August 19, 2020.
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Mater Dolorosa of Taytay, Rizal – The Miraculous Lady of the Creek

In the scenic and historic municipality of Taytay, Rizal, famous for its recreational places, tiangges and it pilgrimage site, the centuries old Parish of San Juan Bautista.

For the locals of Tatay, a chapel in Barangay Dolores is also a important pilgrimage site frequented by the townsfolk of Taytay of all ages because it was in this simple and quiet place that a miraculous image of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay is venerated.

The image

The beautiful image of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay is an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows taht is enshrined in her chapel in Barangay Dolores, Taytay, Rizal.

The de tallado image of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay was carved from stone. She is presented standing, looking upwards to heaven, her hands held together and her face expresses grief yet it is more of a gentle and dignified grief.

Although the image was carved with vestments of a purple dress, a white wimple and blue veil, the Virgin is vested with real clothes and styled similar to how the statue was presented with real cloak and veil and even holds a handkerchief. The Virgin also sports a set of metal accessories from the resplendor to her face and a dagger that pierced her chest.

A painting of the discovery of the Mater Dolorosa of Taytay, Rizal

The origin of the image

The stone image of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay was commissioned by Padre Pedro Silva in 1701 yet for some unknown reason, the image disappeared for 174 years. In 1875, the image was found in an old “sapa” or creek where residents usually wash their clothes. The image is piled among rocks where women place clothes they are washing and hit it with a ‘palo-palo.’

On one occasion they heard a lady crying in pain while they were using the ‘palo-palo.’ To their surprise, when they lifted up one of the rocks they were using, they discovered the stone image of Our Lady of Sorrows. A large group of men lifted the image and brought it to the parish church and was enthroned there during the tenure of Padre Esteban Martinez.

Later, the Dolorosa disappeared to the parish and after a long search, the image was found from the spot near the creek where she was found. The townsfolk took it as a sign that the Virgin wanted to be venerated on the spot where she was found. Soon after, a “kubol” was constructed located near the creek and through the centuries, the kubol would later develop to a simple yet beautiful chapel where devotees and pilgrims visit the Virgin in her chosen abode and devotion to the Virgin of Sorrows flourished.

The devotion at present

The devotion to Mater Dolorosa of Taytay contineues to grow and develop up this day. Pilgrims flock her simple yet beautiful chapel in Baragay Dolores, Taytay, Rizal to ask for her maternal guidance and intercession. The Feast of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay is celebrated every September 15, the Liturgical feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and her chapel would always be full of devotees on her novena masses and on the fiesta day itself and a replica of the image is brought out for a solemn procession.

Why the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is important in our rimes. The Church calls us to ponder the sufferings of the Sorrowful Mother to more deeply appreciate the sacrifice the Virgin of Nazareth endured in order to participate with and under Jesus in humanity’s redemption, and through this suffering, to become the spiritual mother of all peoples, as designated by her crucified Son: “‘Woman, behold your son!’ … ‘Behold, your mother!’”

We too are called to enter into the mystery of the passion of Christ and the compassion of Mary, to join our sufferings with theirs, in order to mysteriously release the graces of redemption for the many spiritual needs of the Church and world.

Mater Dolorosa of Taytay, Rizal, pray for us!

References:

“Maria, Birheng Dolorosa: Tradisyon, Kultura at Pananampalataya”, Retrieved from https://taytaynijuan.me/maria-birheng-dolorosa-taytay-rizal/ on February 28, 2020.

Photos:

Dacquiaog, Micahael – Buen Viaje PH
Maria, Birheng Dolorosa of Taytay Facebook page

Special thanks to Mr. Michael Dacquioag of Buen Viaje PH and Maria, Birheng Dolorosa of Taytay Facebook page for the photogrpahs used for this blogpsot.
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Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia de Siquijor – The lovely Mother of Siquijor province

Siquijor, an island province in the Visayas island group infamously known as island of local witchcraft, sorcery and allegedly a den of “aswangs” – a mythical creature that devours children or induce harm to some people. Despite this unflattering portrayal of the province, the Catholic faith in the province prevailed with the presence of old Churches that are frequented by the locals. One of these chruches is the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia of Maria, siquijor where two know images are enshrined in this parish: the controversial Santa Rita de Cascia image known as “Black Mary” and the beautiful image of Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia, the patroness of Siquijor.

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia is a beautiful de tallado image of the seated Madonna and Child where the Child Jesus seated at the lap of the Blessed Mother. Both image has a sweet and tender expression facing the beholder. The Virgin wears a yellow robe and her head is covered with a pink and blue mantle while the Child Jesus wears a pink robe.

Mater Divinae Providentiae of Scripione Pulzone

The origin of the devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence

The title of “Mary, Mother of Divine Providence” is often traced to her intervention at the wedding in Cana. Christ’s first public miracle was occasioned in part by the intercession of his mother. She helped through her foresight and concern to avoid an embarrassing situation for the newlywed couple. Our Lady of Providence is sometimes also identified as Queen of the Home.

Devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence originated in Italy, and spread to France and Spain. According to tradition, St. Philip Benizi, a Servite preist, prayed to Mary for help in providing food for his friars, and subsequently found several baskets of provisions left at the door of the convent. The devotion was brought to Puerto Rico in the early 1850s by the Servite Fathers.

In 1580, an Italian painter Scipione Pulzone painted the image of “Mater Divinae Providentiae,” which depicted the Blessed Mother cradling the Infant Jesus. From here, the story of this devotion will start its connection with the Barnabites Congregation (Formally known as the Congregation of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul (Congregation of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul founded by St. Anthony Zaccaria). The Barnabite connection begain 1611 when one of the Brnabites traveled to Loreto to pray for assistance in finding the financial resources to complete the Church of San Carlo, their motherhouse in Rome. Upon his return, they received the necessary assistance, and the Barnabites began to promote devotion to Our Lady of Providence.

Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia de Puerto Rico

Pulzone’s painting was given to the Barnabites in 1663. It was placed on the altar of a chapel on the first floor of the Saint Charles rectory behind the main altar. In 1732, a copy of the painting was placed in a location adjacent to the main altar of the church of San Carlo ai Catinari in Rome, where it drew many faithful visitors.

In 1774, Pope Benedict XIV authorized the foundation of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Providence that promotes special works of Christian charity or piety. Pope Gregory XVI elevated it to an Archconfraternity in 1839. In 1888, Pope Leo XIII ordered the Canonical Coronation of the image and approved the Mass and Office of Mary, Mother of Divine Providence. The feast of Our Lady of Providence in the Barnabite calendar is set on Saturday before Third Sunday of November.

In the Americas the devotion also got a stronghold in Puerto Rico and Indiana, USA. The devotion reached Puerto Rico in the early 1850s by the Servite Fathers and it gained many devotees due to the numerous miracles attributed to her. Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia was declared the patroness of Puerto Rico by Pope Paul VI on November 19, 1969. Her feast day is celebrated in many Puerto Rican communities. In 1925, Monsignor A.J. Rawlinson, chaplain of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, USA found a replica of Pulzone’s image of “Mater Divinae Providentiae” at Catholic University of America. Msgr. Rawlinson gathered historical information on the devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence and then brought back prints of the painting to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. On May 1, 1925, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence was canonically erected at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods with the purpose of encouraging families to make Mary the queen of their homes.

The devotion in Siquijor

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia de Siquijor began when the Augustinian Recollects established a parish in Maria (then known as “Cangmeniac”), Siquijor in 1877. The parish was placed under the patronage of Our Lady of the Divine Porovidence. The origin of the image is unknown due to scant information available regaring this image. The virgin under this title gained a significant number devotees in the province and miralces were also reported though her intercession. The parish at present is currently under the Diocese of Dumagete and her feast day is celebrated every May 24.

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia shows us that through her motherly prayers, Mary can influence the design of Divine Providence in our regard. This title celebrates the role that the Lord entrusted to Mary, whose “loving providence is always wise and unfailing.”

As we end this blogpsot dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia de Siquijor, here is a prayer to Our Lady under this title that is prayed by the Barnabites:

Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of Divine Providence, protect our life and sanctify us with the gift of grace. Obtain for us from the Father of mercy and the God of consolation pardon for our sins, reconciliation with our brothers and sisters, and comfort in the midst of afflictions.

Renew our hearts that they may be come worthy dwelling places of your Divine Son, Jesus.Help us in our struggles against mediocrity, self-seeking, and pride so we can generously serve our neighbor. We entrust ourselves to you, o Mary, in our pilgrimage in this world.

We invoke you as our guide and our defense against dangers. In the present tribulations, give us secure refuge. O sweet Mother of Divine Providence, turn your eyes to ward us, you who are our hope on earth. Grant that we may have you as our Mother in the glory of heaven. Amen.

References:

McCammon, Connie, “Bringing beauty into the world”. HOPE Magazine. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana: Sisters of Providence, 2009.
“Mary, Mother of Divine Providence”, Retrieved from http://barnabites.com/marymotherofdivineprovidence#origin on September 21, 2019.
“Our Lady of Divine Providence Church in Maria, Siquijor”, Retrieved from http://www.aroundphilippines.com/2015/11/our-lady-of-divine-providence-church-maria-siquijor.html on September 24, 2019.
“Siquijor: Historical Intro”, Retrieved from https://www.mysiquijor.com/facts2.html on September 24, 2019.
Tierney, J. C., “Who is Our Lady of Providence?”, Marian Library, University of Dayton, 2010.

Special credits to the owner of the photographs utilized in this blogpost.
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El Ecce Homo and Virgen dela Cotta de Cebu – The Unsung Gifts of Ferdinand Magellan

The gifts of Ferdinand Magellan (From the left): Virgen de la Cotta, Santo Niño de Cebu, El Ecce Homo de Cebu

In common Philippine history books, the majority of Filipinos would encounter that in 1521, after the Mass in Cebu, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave the newly baptized Raja Humabon and Hara Humaymay an image of the Child Jesus, which will later be known as the famous and miraculous Santo Niño de Cebu. However, little that the people know is that there were two more images that were given by Ferdinand Magellan to the newly baptized couple, the Ecce Homo and the Virgen de la Cotta of Cebu. Antonio Pigafetta, the chronicler of the voyage attested to this act of Magellan to the newly baptized ruling couple and their subjects.

These two images were hidden for some time and later rediscovered separately and enjoyed much devotion for centuries until the Second World War came that signaled the abrupt obscurity of the devotions of these two important venerated images in Philippine history that the majority of Filipinos never knew.

El Ecce Homo de Cebu

The image of El Ecce Homo de Cebu is a bust image of Christ in his suffering, His head tilted to the side, while his eyes were looking with a sad expression. The image sports the traditional Tres Potencias and sometimes, the Crown of thorns.

The original image of the Ecce Homo was brought by Ferdinand Magellan together with the two images in 1521 as gifts to Rajah Humabon and Hara Humamay who were later baptized as Carlos and Juana. History was silent on what had happened to the images after Magellan was slayed in the Battle of Mactan yet years later, the image of the Ecce Homo was found on August 20, 1572, at the burial site of Rajah Humabon and it was enshrined at the Basilica Minore de Santo Niño de Cebu afterward. Since the rediscovery and enthronement of the image, numerous miracles were reported through the devotion to Christ in His suffering image, and His feast day was celebrated every August 20th to commemorate the founding of the image.

However, when the Second World War erupted, the image was said to be kept for safety, and years later, it was brought to Manila in 1965 when the Augustinian fathers were celebrating the 400th year of Christianization of the Philippines that this image was transferred to Manila and stayed there for decades which at that time, the Augustinian Fathers’ lone main headquarters was in Intramuros, Manila. The Augustinians later established a new and separate province of the Santo Niño de Cebu which is independent of the original Intramuros and whatever was in Manila belonged there and in Cebu, it was to the new province. After forty-six years the image returned to its home in Cebu on August 20, 2011. Today, the image is currently enthroned to his own altar at the Basilica Minore de Santo Niño de Cebu and efforts are being made to restore the devotion to the suffering Christ that he enjoyed before the Second World War.

Virgen de la Cotta de Cebu

The petite image of Virgen de la Cotta of Cebu is also one of the three holy images that Magellan gave to a ruling couple of Cebu. The image of the Virgin is that of a typical Madonna and Child where the Child Jesus is resting in the arms of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Virgin in turn sweetly looked at her Son resting.

The image of “Birhen sa Cota sa Sugbo” was found floating inside a well located in Fort San Pedro, Cebu, around the years 1572-1575. The image is made in the Flemish style of carving. The venerated image was enshrined in Cota San Pedro and it gained many devotees since then. The waters from the well were also said to have miraculous properties that due to the cures attributed to the Virgin, she was given the name “Nuestra Senora de los Remedios”. Her feast day was then celebrated every December 18.

In the mid-1900s, the image was later transferred to Cebu Cathedral where a chapel was built to house the venerated image. Over the years Cebuanos developed a loving and special devotion to the Virgin. However, during the Second World War, the Cathedral was bombed yet there were several unverified stories that are circulating for years that the image was spared and the whereabouts of this miraculous image are unknown. Two replacement images were later commissioned to revive and maintain the devotion to the Virgin of Remedies, one in the Cathedral of Cebu, and the other in Fort San Pedro.

These two venerable images have a very significant historical value in our country by playing a significant role in the Christianization of our country for centuries and these should not be forgotten by many. As the Catholic Philippines is preparing for the 500th anniversary of the introduction of the faith in 2021 and it is about time to rediscover our history so that our present generation could have a glimpse of the past and appreciate it.

References:

Aviado, Lutgarda, (1972), Madonnas of the Philippines, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City.
Mayol, Ador Vincent S. (2012), ‘Ecce Homo’ comes home to Cebu, Retrieved from https://cebudailynews.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/%E2%80%98ecce-homo%E2%80%99-comes-home-to-cebu/.
Sanchez, Francisco (1904). La Virgen Maria Venerada en sus Imagenes Filipinas, Manila: Imp. De Santos y Bernal.

*Special thanks to Mr. Louie Nacorda for the guidance on forming this blogpost.

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Nuestra Señora de Guia – The Oldest Existing Marian image in the Philippines

The Image of Nuestra Señora de Guia is considered as the oldest Marian statue in the Philippines. There were different historical theories regarding the origin of this image, either from the Ferdinand Magellan expedition or from Chinese traders. The wooden Black Madonna statue is locally venerated as patroness of navigators and travelers since the Spanish times, the image is enshrined at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia, popularly known as the Ermita Church, in Ermita, Manila.

Features of the Image

Made of molave (Vitex cofassus) wood, the statue stands about 50 centimetres (20 in) and is characterized by dark skin with a long, light brown hair. The image is depicted as the Immaculate Conception, she is dressed in both a manto and a stylized tapis, the traditional wraparound skirt of Filipino women.

Actual Condition of the image of Nuestra Señora de Guia

Upon close inspection, the image reveals a sarong-like bodice painted in the Chinese tradition of red, blue and gold paint… the unusual stance of the virgin, from the conservative stiffness of body line, has a bent torso very much like the Chinese goddess Kuan Yin.

Among her regalia is a scepter, a set of jewels given by Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Rufino Santos in 1960, and a golden crown donated by Pope Paul VI during his visit to the Manila Cathedral on May 16, 1971.

Details of the face of the original image

At present, the pandan leaves (whether a real or plastic pandan leaves) are incorporated around the image’s base as one of its iconic attributes. The statue is notable for its narrow, almond-shaped eyes, which some consider evidence of a Chinese origin for the statue.

These characteristics shows the probability that the image may have come from an Asian or if brought by galleon traders, it could have been commissioned to an artist who gets inspiration from Asian models. In spite of its old age, the De Guia retained the ruddiness of its cheek and its youthful allure. It conveys an oriental charm Filipinos can easily identify with

History

According to the Anales de la Catedral de Manila, the crew of Miguel López de Legazpi discovered a group of animist natives worshiping a statue of a female figure in a pandan bush, later identified as the Virgin Mary along the seaside of what is now Ermita. Later accounts claimed the statue was brought by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and was given as a gift to Rajah Humabon, whose realm included what is now Cebu City to the Kingdom of Maynila.

The origins of this image is still in question by Ecclesiastical and Secular Historians for different theories arises to her origin: whether it is brought by Ferdinand Magellan because of its close resemblance to the Sto. Nino de Cebu, whether it is brought by Chinese merchants and the image is actually that of a Taoist deity “Kuan Yin” because of its oriental features and stance as evidently shown, or whether the image was brought by Blessed Odoric of Pordenone, a Franciscan Missionary for his Missionary work in Bolinao, Pangasinan in 1324 for the image was actually that of the Immaculate Conception. Regardless of these historical circumstances, historians reconcile to the fact that the De Guia image is the oldest Marian image in the Philippines.

On May 19, 1571, the sovereigns Rajah Sulaiman III and Rajah Matanda ceded the Kingdom of Maynila to the Spanish Empire, with López de Legazpi consecrating the city to both Saint Pudentiana and Our Lady of Guidance. In 1578, Phillip II of Spain issued a royal decree invoking Our Lady of Guidance to be “sworn patroness” of Manila, making her the city’s titular patroness. The statue was first enshrined in Manila Cathedral inside the walled city of Manila until 1606, when the first parish compound was built on the present shrine’s site.

Called La Hermita (“The Hermitage”), it was originally made of bamboo, nipa, and molave wood. It was later rebuilt with stone but suffered damaged in an earthquake in 1810.

During the Second World War, the statue was saved by the parish priest of Ermita Church, Fr. Blas de Guernica, and Justo N. López. They secretly kept the statue in one of the niches of the crypt behind the main altar a few weeks before the Allied liberation of Manila. Ermita Church was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in February 1945. Fr. Rogelio Bedonia with a chaplain and four soldiers of the American Army went to the ruins of what had been the church of Ermita, dug up the sacred image from the debris of the crypt and brought it to a safer place. Since then until the construction of the temporary chapel, the sacred image stayed in a private house on Taft Avenue, in San Miguel and then finally in Quiapo. The current parish church was built in 1947.

The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de Guia

The image was given a Canonical Coronation on Rizal Day December 30, 1955 by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi. Father Patrick Peyton also once delivered a homily preaching the Family Rosary Crusade in the presence of the image. The statue was removed from the Shrine and remained in the room of Pope John Paul II for the duration of his 1995 Apostolic visit.

A replica of the image was made to commemorate the image’s Quadricentennial year. From May 1970 to 1971, the replica visited almost all parishes, chapels, hospitals, schools, and other institutions in the Archdiocese of Manila. Since then, it is the replica that is brought out in procession and for public veneration during the its feast day on 19 May, with the original remaining ensconced in its glass-covered alcove above the main altar for preservation purposes.

On 14 January 2015, the image was securely removed from the Ermita Church and transferred to the Apostolic Nunciature building along Taft Avenue in Manila, where Pope Francis will stay during his apostolic visit. The replica of the image was brought to the Quirino Grandstand for veneration during the Pope’s open-air mass on January 18, 2015.

Patronage

In the olden days, she was decalred as the Sworn Patroness of Manila that signaled the Patronage of the Immaculate Conception in the Philippines due to numerous miralces attributed through her intercession.

The De Guia became the patroness of the seafarers. According to accounts, before an arrival of a trading galleon, investors would hold novena to guide and guard the merchant ships safely to the port and prevent the delay of the shipment. Mariners, in turn, gave abundant tithes to the church. Many benefactors donated and money, jewelry among many others in return for the favors they received.

Due to the church’s proximity to the United States Embassy, the statue is often visited by locals who petition Our Lady for safety in overseas travel. Devotees claim that under this title, the intercession of Our Lady is speedy and miraculous, particularly in securing approval of requests for United States visas. She is also considered the patron saint of all Overseas Filipino Workers.

Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia

Church and Shrinehood

The Shrine of the Virgin was established from the moment the image was found and the Church became one of the most visited in Manila since the Spanish regime. The church was granted Archdiocesan Shrine status in 2005 by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, then the Archbishop of Manila.

Bota de Flores Festival

The feast of Our Lady of Guidance is celebrated every May 19. The original feast of the image was celebrated on December 18, but was moved to its present date, May 19 when a rainstorm hit Manila Cathedral in February 1771.

The origin of the “Bota de Flores” harks back to the Spanish era when the people of Ermita demanded the return of the image to her original shrine in Ermita from the Manila Cathedral. The Capitana were tossing flowers in front of the Cathedral as a sign of protest and after much deliberation, the image returned to her original site with much rejoicing. The Flower tossing later evolved as a homage to the Virgin for her continues guidance to the people of Ermita and her devotees.

Today, the traditional flower-tossing ceremony is held where young women headed by a Capitana, who is chosen on the basis of standards set by the Parish Council. It is believed that the Capitana is the personal choice of Our Lady, for even if a vote is casted in favor of one candidate, if she does not end up with the role for one reason or another, the true choice will still emerge. The privilege to serve as a Capitana is considered a great honor by the young women of Ermita. The young girls pass down the line of honor guards going to the altar in a solemn candlelight ceremony and lay bouquets at the feet of our Lady whom they consider their guide for life.

Through centuries, the Virgin of De Guia continues her maternal guidance by the miracles that she wrought to her devotees. With the discovery of her image, She formally initiated the Christianization of Manila and the rest of the country. The arrival of her image prior to the Spanish colonization is considered as a plan from the Almighty God to put the newly discovered islands of the Philippines under the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception. She witnessed the turbulent yet glorious history of the country and she never failed to give her guidance through the course of our history. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sworn Patroness of our land guide us as we continue in our earthly pilgrimage until we reached our eternal goal – to be with His Son for all eternity.