Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu of San Mateo, Rizal - the Miraculous Lady on a Thorn tree

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Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu of San Mateo, Rizal
In the historic and quiet town of San Mateo, Rizal, known for its kakanin, there is a unique shrine that is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a very unique title that can only be found in San Mateo, the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu.

The Virgin of Aranzazu became a beacon hope to the people of San Mateo for she is known as the advocate against natural calamities, especially typhoons and earthquakes, healer of the sick, comforter of the afflicted among others.

The original image of Nuestra Señora
de Aranzazu in Oñate, Spain
The Visage of the Lady

The Lady of Aranzazu depicts the apparition in 1469 as she stands in a thorn-tree with a small quadrilateral bell hanging on it . It includes the statue of the visionary Rodrigo de Balzategui in a kneeling position. The image is known for its unusual artistic posture, as the original image in Sanctuary of Arantzazu, in Oñate, Spain is a seated Madonna, yet stylized as standing posture when its devotion was first introduced to the Philippine islands based from the Mexican version of the Virgin of the same sobriquet venerated in that country. Another unique feature of the Virgin is that she holds an apple for it symbolizes the Blessed Virgin Mary as the New Eve for it was her that she restored life by being the Mother of the Author of Life - Our Lord Jesus Christ that Eve destroyed that led to Original Sin that brings death to all of us.

The Apparition
The apparition of Nuestra Señora
de Aranzazu

In June 11, 1469, in the mountains of Alonia in Onate, Spain, while tending sheep, Rodrigo saw the Blessed Mother on top of a thorn tree and asked him to build a chapel in that place in her honor and promised protection and graces to the people. At his amazement, he uttered the words "Arantzan Su" in the Basque dialect that is translated in Spanish as "Tu en el espino?" (Dear Lady, why are you in the thorn tree?).

At that time, a severe drought hit Oñate and they are preparing for a penitential procession for rain. Rodrigo immediately went to the crown and revealed the apparition and convinced them to climb the mountain to prove the authenticity of the event people were skeptical at first yet when Rodrigo was willing to vouch for the authenticity of the apparition, the people decided to see it for themselves.

When the people got to the mountain, they found a quadrilateral bell in the branch of the tree where the Lady appeared and the image of the Virgin that he saw and the people soon built the chapel and several miracles were recorded. Pilgrims flocked the shrine in Onate and saints also frequent her shrine, most notably St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus or the Jesuit Order.

The Arrival in the Philippines

The history of the Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal dates back to the early Spanish era of 1596, when the Augustinians friars built the first settlements in the place.

On 6 December 1696, the Jesuits came and gained control of the town. In 1705, a Jesuit priest, Father Juan de Echazabal, started the devotion to Our Lady of Aranzazu from Spain and changed the patron of the town from St. Matthew to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu. The image is believed to have ensured the safe journey of the ship and its passengers despite being caught in the midst of a raging storm. In 1732, the Dominicans of Letran in Intramuros also made an effort in spreading the devotion to the Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu among Filipinos during the Spanish era with the foundation of the Arch confraternity of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu.

Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu

 The Shrine

The Shrine of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu was first established on August 29, 1596, then under the patronage of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist until it was replaced by the Virgin of Aranzazu. Aside to the Chapel dedicated to Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu in Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila, it is the only parish the country that is named and dedicated to Our Lady of Aranzazu in the Philippines. In June 2004, the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu was canonically erected to the joyous thanksgiving and celebration of the parishioners and all her devotees and it the solemn proclamation took place in July 16, 2004.

Miracles

Thousand of devotees offer testimonials of miracles through the intercession of the Virgin of Aranzazu. One of the most popular is when during one typhoon season in the country, San Mateo was in danger of flooding that it was decided to bring out the image of the Virgin from her shrine and to be brought in every area in San Mateo. It is said that once the Virgin faced each household or area, the floods suddenly subsided. Another case was during the Typhoon Yolanda that would also threaten Rizal area and it was at that time the Episcopal Coronation of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu will take place. Heavy rain downpour was looming in the area yet when the Virgin arrived for her Episcopal Coronation, the rain suddenly stopped and the coronation ceremony took place.

Other miracles from her devotees were recorded by the shrine and can be seen in the prayer chapel of the Virgin from cures from different diseases like cancer, passing of qualifying examinations for different professions, financial aids, reconciliation of families, conversion of non believers among others that the people of San Mateo gave their loving devotion and affection to their beloved patroness over the centuries.

Church Recognition

The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu
With the miracles that were attributed to the lady of the thorn tree, the image was given much recognition from the church. The image was first granted an Episcopal Coronation on 13 November 2013 by the Bishop of Antipolo, Gabriel V. Reyes, while the coronation ceremony was officiated by Reverend Francisco M. De Leon, D.D.

Years later, the request for the official recognition of the church, thru the Canonical Coronation of the image was granted in response to the petition made by the community through the parish priest Reverend Father Lawrence C. Paz with the necessary documents prepared by the Cofradia de Nuestra Señora de Aranzau (now known as the Association of Our Lady of Aranzazu) in compliance to the requirements needed for the Canonical Coronation of a Venerated Marian Image.  The decree of the Canonical Coronation was promulgated on June 17, 2016 by Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the sacraments, Robert Cardinal Sarah. The much awaited day. on May 31, 2017, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the original Feast of the Queenship of Mary in the Tridentine Calendar, she was Canonically Crowned in the presence of thousands of devotees from all over the country in attendance and was simultaneously viewed online thru live stream for her devotees around the world.

Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu wearing her
Canonical Crown and Regalia
The Devotion

The feast day of the Virgin is celebrated every September 9 with much solemnity and joy for the people will carry her image in procession while waving their white hanker chiefs singing her joyful hymn. Her feast day was once celebrated every Sunday or Sunday near Pentecost until it was discovered by then Parish Priest Reverend Father Marcelino Prudente that in Onate, Spain, they celebrate her feast day on September 9 and through his efforts, Bishop Protacio Gungon, then the Bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo, declared that the feast of the Virgin will be celebrated on September 9 in 1989. Today, every ninth of the month is dedicated for the devotion to the Virgin of Aranzazu that is still practiced in the shrine up to the present.

The devotion to Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu continues to inspire the people of San Mateo to strive for their faith. Miracles continued to be reported through her intercession up to the present and pilgrims from all over the country flocked to her shrine to seek her intercession.

In times of adversities, Our Lord never abandoned us in every step of the way and He will do something to help us and for the case of the Virgin of Aranzazu, He sent His Mother to help the people to alleviate their sufferings and this led to development of the people's faith to God, through Our Lady.

 Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu, Ipanalangin mo kami!

References:

Aviado, Lutgarda, (1972), Madonnas of the Philippines, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City.
Paz, Lawrence, (2010), Pagsisiyam sa Mahal na Birhen ng Bayang San Mateo Nuestra Senora de  Aranzazu, Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu, San Mateo, Rizal.
Mahal na Birhen ng Aranzazu, Pintakasi ng Bayang San Mateo, Rizal [Pamphlet], Diocesan Shrine  and Parish of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu, San Mateo, Rizal.

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