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.