Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Atimonan - Atimonan's Protectress

-
Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Atimonan
In the quiet yet thriving area of Atimonan, located in Quezon Province, there is a place of local pilgrimage where the people sought her maternal protection for centuries up to the present - the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Atimonan. This unique image of the Virgin is one of the most revered in the province and news of her miracles continued to multiply through the years.

The image 

The unique image depicts that of the Blessed Virgin Mary with wings standing on a globe and lifting the Child Jesus as an offering. There were two images of the de los Angeles, the altar image which serves as the processional image and a second de tallado image that meant for the traditional fluvial procession.

This unique image of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles of Atimonan was based from the image of Nuestra Señora de Apocalypsis carved by Bernardo Legarda found in the camarin of the Convento de San Francisco in Popayan, Colombia. When the Franciscans brought the devotion to the Philippines, particularly in Quezon Province, the name was changed to that of the Nuestra Señora de los Angeles.
The apparition of Our Lord and Our Lady to St. Francis of Assisi
at the Portiuncula
The Lady of the Portiuncula

The devotion to Our Lady of the Angels can be traced back to the life of St. Francis of Assisi. In August 2, 1216, Francis was immersed in prayer and contemplation, in the small church of the Portiuncula, when all of a suddent the church was filled with a brilliant light and Francis saw above the altar the Christ clothed in light and on His right His holy Mother, surrounded by a multitude of Angels. Francis with his face on the ground adored his Lord in silence.  They asked him what he desired for the salvation of souls. Francis responded immediately, “Father, even though I’m a poor sinner, I pray that all who come to this church, repented for their sins and having confessed them, may they receive a bountiful and generous pardon,with the full remission of all faults.” Our Lord granted Francis' request.

The Portiuncula Chapel in Assisi, Italy
Forthwith Saint Francis presented himself to Pope Honorius III, who, after having assured himself of the truth of the vision, granted his request, but with the restriction that the indulgence could be gained on one day of the year. The 2nd of August was the designated day, that being the anniversary of the little church's dedication. At the command of the pope and in the presence of 7 bishops, St Francis preached the extraordinary indulgence at the Portiuncula before a great concourse of people. From that time the Portiuncula was annually the goal of innumerable pilgrims. Subsequently the indulgence was extended to every day of the year.

A large basilica was built over the chapel, and so the little sanctuary of the Portiuncula has been preserved in its original condition. By virtue of their apostolic power the popes have extended this indulgence to all Franciscan churches and later to the Universal Church. The Portiuncula Indulgence can be obtain to those who have been to confession and to Holy Communion, visits one's own Parish Church or to any Franciscan Church on Portiuncula day and prays 6 Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glorys for the intentions of the Holy Father. Besides, the indulgence can be applied to the holy souls in purgatory.
The two original images of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Atimonan
which is said to were destroyed during the Second World War
The Lady of the Angels in Atimonan

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Angeles began sometime in the 1600's with the arrival of the Franciscans in Atimonan, Quezon province and it is said that there were two images of the delos Angeles, the original ivory image and a wooden processional image that were unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War. After the War, a new image was commissioned that is currently enshrined in the parish.

The Karakol image of Nuestra Señora delos
Angeles
The devotion to the de los Angeles heightened during the Moro attacks in Atimonan. It is said that during the Moro attacks in Atimonan, the people saw that the image of the Virgin disappeared from her altar and they frantically searched the entire town for their patroness.

During the search, the people from the nearby town testified that they saw a woman with her child appeared to the Moros who were about to attack the area and the attackers fled the area out of fear and they later found the image on the mountains and they were surprised that the image has the exact same look as what the people saw.

Since this particular miracles, the Virgin of the Angels was immediately regarded as the Patroness and Protectress of Atimonan and the devotion grew stronger in Atimonan. The Winged Madonna and Child received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on August 2, 2012.

Tagultol Festival
The devotion

The Feast of Nuestra Señora delos Angeles of Atimonan is celebrated with a joyful Tagultol Festival. The Town & Patronal Fiesta every August 1 & 2 are celebrated with a parade, a cultural program, thanksgiving mass and procession in honor of their patroness. In 1981, the Karakol tradition began to commemorate the miracle that Our Lady of the Angels wrought to Atimonan.

It is a fluvial parade done in the afternoon of the 2nd day of the fiesta. The boats traveled around Lamon Bay within the boundaries of the town proper headed by the Grand Boat where the Virgin was aboard. There were singing, dancing & band playing, all in expression of gratitude to the Almighty for the year’s bountiful catch. The parade then joined the religious procession and ended at the church.

Our Lady is Queen of the Angels because her Son is the Creator of all things, the rightful Lord of heaven and earth. She is holy enough to prompt an angel to greet her with the words "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." She, a human being, lower than the angels by nature but infinitely higher by grace, is given the rule over that vast, mysterious civilization.

Let us ask the Queen of Angels to send her angels down to help humanity in this time of great turmoil. Let us ask her intercession that the holy angels triumph over the devil and his forces in this present darkness, so that peace and love rule the earth.

Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Atimonan, Ipanalangin mo kami!

Reference:

 Alcantara, Arnel; de Torres, Cecilia; Modelo-Sornito, May (2015) Barangay Angeles, Atimonan Quezon: Socio-Economic Profile, Retreived from http://www.atimonan.gov.ph/atim_bsep/BSEPANGELES2015.pdf.
Atimonan, Quezon, Retreived from http://juncarloanselmo.blogspot.com/.
August 2nd – Feast of Our Lady of the Angels & The Pardon of Assisi, Retrieved from http://peaceandallgood.org/2012/08/august-2nd-feast-of-our-lady-of-the-angels-the-pardon-of-assisi/.
Portiuncula, Retrieved from http://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/portiuncula.html.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Nuestra Señora de la Regla: Cebu's Gracious Lady

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Regla de Cebu Aside to the famed Santo Niño de Cebu, there is another devotion that flourished in the island that pilgrims visit through the centuries succor in times of great need - the felicitous Nuestra Señora De la Regla. The miraculous image is venerated widely by the Cebuanos who believe that the prosperity they enjoy is a blessing achieved through the strength of her maternal intercession. The image is currently venerated at The National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Regla in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu. Features of the image The image of the Virgin is patterned to the original located in Chipiona, Spain. The Our Lady of the Rule image carved from the trunk of dark Philippine hardwood, was installed at the her own altar of Our Lady of the Rule Church in Lapu-Lapu City. The Brown Madonna holds the Infant Jesus in a form of offering and showing - as if she is presenting the Child Jesus to the people and telling them to worship his Son -
Read more

Nuestra Señora da la Salud: The Powerful Health of the Sick

-
Image
Nuestra Señora da la Salud 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
Read more

The Regal and Miraculous Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor of Bacolor, Pampanga

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor (Church image) Bacolor, Pampanga, one of the most historic town one of the most populated in the province that was once the provincial capital of the province bearing the name "Villa de Bacolor" and dubbed as "Atenas de Pampanga" due to its significant role in the history, culture, economy and faith in Pampanga. Bacolor is also famous for its centuries old sunken San Guillermo Church where half of edifice was submerged by lahar during the Pinatubo eruption in the early 1990's and decades later as the church from the iconic ABS-CBN teleserye "May Bukas Pa". Bacolor is also known as one of the main Marian pilgrimage sites in the province and also of Central Luzon because it was in the famed Bacolor Church were the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor is enshrined. The Virgin of the Rosary of Bacolor became a silent witness of the colorful yet tra
Read more

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga - the Queen of Cavite

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga In the province of Cavite, located in Southern Luzon area, there lies a church in Cavite City, then known as Cavite Puerto where it has been, and still is, the center of pilgrimage in the whole province and outside, including Metro Manila and other provinces for the parish San Roque in Cavite City is the home of the famous Patroness of the Cavite - Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, the undisputed Queen of Cavite. For Caviteños, the Soledad will always be part of their lives for tremendous miracles were attributed through her intercession and it is no wonder that in almost every home in Cavite, altars and doorsteps are not complete without an image of the Soledad either in print, sculpture, reliefs and other media. The icon has received several titles in its history, including "Queen of Cavite" and "Exalted Patroness and the Celestial Guardian and Protectress of the Province of Cavite and its Port" (Spanish
Read more

Nuestra Señora de Barangay - The Mother and Protectress of the Barangay

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de Barangay Of all Marian images venerated in the country, there is a simple yet beautiful image of Our Lady that is very unique in our consciousness, the very Filipina image of the Virgin of the Barangay. The image of the "Virgen sang Barangay" gained much attention since its first public appearance in the 1950's as the Patroness of the Barangay sang Birhen Organization and began touring the nation for some years and numerous replicas of this image, whether it is a painting or a three-dimensional statue, this particular Venerada clearly shows how the Blessed Virgin became became our own Mother of the Filipino Nation and became a unifying force for centuries and still enjoys much love and veneration as time passed by.  The image The icon of the Virgin of the Baranggay depicts the Virgin presenting her Son to the barangay. The Virgin wears the traditional balintawak and wearing a red and yellow tapis on her waist while the Child is covered with
Read more