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 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

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila - The Queen and Protectress of the Philippines

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario –  La Naval de Manila Within the busy streets of Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, a towering shrine is seen along its road. Inside that massive shrine of Santo Domingo Church, it houses the silent witness to the turbulent yet triumphant history of the Philippines – the beautiful and grand image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila. The Virgin of the Rosary of La Naval is not only a silent witness, she is the anchor of hope of the Filipinos through the centuries of its turbulent and challenging history, better yet, the Great Protectress of the islands, the La Gran Senora de Filipinas. The Image of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario, La Naval de Manila (colloquially known as the Santo Rosario or Our Lady of La Naval de Manila), is one of the most miraculous and the most important in the country. As with the Battle of Lepanto of 1571, Filipinos credit her intercession for successfully repulsing Dutch invasion during the Battles of L
Read more

Sisters in Blood, Sisters in Christ - The Talangpaz Sisters

-
Image
Servants of God Dionisia and Cecilia Rosa Talangpaz During the Spanish period,, there were few women who pioneered for a change in the early years of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, then controlled by the Spanish Clergy from the likes of Venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, foundress of the Religious of the Virgin Mary, Servant of God Francisca del Espiritu Santo, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena and the two sisters who founded the Second Congregation for Filipino women, the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of Manila - the Talangpaz sisters of Calumpit, Bulacan. The Talangpaz sisters heeded the call to serve the Lord and later founded a Congregation for Filipinas who wanted to live a contemplative life within the cloisters of a convent which was then denied by the Spanish colonial clergy at that time until the foundation of these Congregations. Despite the Controversies and hardships they faced, the sisters, backed up with their unwavering faith
Read more

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles: The Regal Patroness of Angeles, Pampanga

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles inside the Holy Rosary Parish's famed sunburst altar Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles In the previous blogpost, we discovered the history of the image and the surrounding devotion to Santo Angel Custodio , the titular Patron of Angeles City, Pampanga where the progressive city was named after, aside from its founder Don Ángel Pantaleón de Miranda. On this blogpost, we are going to present the history of the devotion to Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles - the Queen and Patroness of Angeles City, Pampanga. The image The venerable image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Angeles is a de vestir image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary somehow patterned to that of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Manila where the image is also vested in regal robes with bombas (conical enhancements), wears a set of metal accessories and jewels
Read more

Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila - La Fuerza y Alegria de Manila

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Manila (Courtesy of Mr. Christopher Palabay) In the busy streets of Modern Quiapo - Santa Cruz areas, commercial establishments from ever present shopping malls down to the bangketas that sells almost everything from clothing, food, jewelry, that covered the area is always a common scene. With that modern yet looming atmosphere of that district, it is easy to forget that the same district was once one of the most aristocratic and arrogant arrabal (Spanish for district) during the glorious days of Old Manila. The district that several novou riche families and aristocrats used to stay in that neighborhood and where commerce thrives in.  The link between the Glory days of Old Manila and its present atmosphere is located in a dominant Parish Church of Sta. Cruz, the centuries old miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The beautiful sliver gilded image of the "La Pilarica" is the silent witness to the colorful history of the district. As
Read more