The Miraculous Headless Santa Quiteria de Caloocan

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Santa Quiteria de Caloocan
In the silent area of Baesa, near Tullahan Road in Caloocan City where urbanization is very evident in the area filled with commercial buildings and residences, a simple parish in the area enshrines a strange yet peculiar Patron Saint of the area - the headless Santa Quiteria, Virgin and Martyr.

The miraculous decapitated Saint is currently enshrined in a parish dedicated to her and St. Francis of Assisi in Caloocan City and locals frequent this parish to ask for the intercession of the holy martyr - especially to those who were afflicted by rabies.

The image

This unique image of St. Quiteria is that of a de vestir image where she is vested regularly with vestments given by her devotees over the years. The image is holding her beheaded head and the palm of martyrdom, or sometimes a scepter to denote her royal origins.

The life of Santa Quiteria

Quiteria was born into royalty, the daughter of a Galician prince.  She was one of nine daughters born together (nonuplets).  Her mother, Calsia, was disgusted at the fact that she had produced nine daughters (rather than sons), and suffered through nine childbirths. Viewing the experience as a waste of her time, she ordered her maid, Sila, to take the nine girls to the river and drown them.  Sila, however, was a Christian, and secretly refused the task, instead delivering the infants to the Christian community to be raised.

Quiteria and her sisters were raised and baptized as Christians, and embraced the faith. Quiteria was the most dedicated of her sisters, studying and practicing the tenets of the faith, The Christians placing a strong premium on truth, informed the girls of their royal lineage when they were old enough to understand.  Yet, none of the girls wished to return to the palace or live a luxurious lifestyle.  Instead, they became warriors for Christ, forming a group who traveled the country, breaking Christians out of jail, proclaiming the Gospel, and smashing pagan idols.

The sisters survived for a few years, but were eventually caught and brought before the King, their father.  Recognizing his daughters, he requested that they give up their reckless ways and come live in the palace with him. This they did, but only to witness to the royal court.  The sisters converted their rooms into prayer halls, and spent their days praying and praising the Lord.   When the king realized they were Christians, he ordered them to renounce their ways, sacrifice to the Roman gods, and marry pagan husbands. The nonuplets refused and were imprisoned in a tower. However, they escaped and liberated all of their other prisoners. They subsequently waged a guerrilla war in the mountains against the Roman Empire.

Quiteria was caught and beheaded. Her sister Euphemia, unable to escape from the soldiers who pursued her, threw herself from a cliff situated today in the Peneda-Gerês National Park. A rock opened up and swallowed her and on the spot there sprang up a hot spring.  Prior to beheading, she is said to have kept the king’s vicious attack dogs at bay, with simply a gentle word which led the people to invoke her against rabies.

After she was beheaded, miraculously, however, her body rose up, grabbed her head with her hands, climbed a mountain and stopped in the place where she wanted to be buried.took her to heaven and this was witnessed by her father and it is also mentioned that he was later killed either by lightning or an earthquake. Her Feast day is celebrated every May 22nd.

Parish of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Quiteria in Baesa,
Caloocan City
The devotion in Caloocan

The date of the arrival of the devotion to Sta. Quiteria is uncertain yet the local recall that their patroness was already in their parish, first as a Visita and later established as a parish in September 11, 1979 - dedicated to her and St. Francis of Assisi.

It is said that favors were granted to those who seek her intercession and apparently, cures from rabies are also known that the locals of Baesa are forever grateful to their unique patroness and she became embedded to the lives of the area.

The life of Santa Quiteria is one of struggle for the faith. Despite a chance at a luxurious lifestyle, this lovely young woman and her sisters instead chose to fight for the truth of the Gospel, forsaking her family, her comfort, and eventually her life. Saint Quiteria’s courage and faith remind us that in our moments of difficulty, we need only turn to the Lord for inspiration and support, and that He will send His angels to protect and assist us.  We pray today for the confident faith in Christ, as exemplified by so many of the saints and martyrs that have come before us!

Santa Quiteria de Caloocan, Ipanalangin mo kami!

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