One with her Tears - The devotion to the Mater Dolorosa in the Philippines

Mater Dolorosa of Nepomuceno Family of Pampanga

Originally Written in Filipino by James Malabanan
Translated and Edited by Billy Malacura
Additional text by James Malabanan

The Marian devotion in the Philippines is one of the trademarks of Philippine popular piety. The devotions to the Virgin as the Immaculate Conception, the Virgin of the Rosary and Our Mother of Perpetual Help was among the most popular. What we will be presented in this blogpost is one of the most popular and ancient in our country, the devotion to the Virgin as the Mother of Sorrows, the Mater Dolorosa.

The popularity of the devotion to the Mater Dolorosa is one of clandestine yet noticeable with the proliferation of images of the Sorrowful Virgin in almost all parishes in the country, the women with the name "Dolores" and its variations, the popularity of shrines dedicated to in her honor that became center of pilgrimages and confradias, hermandades and associations dedicated to the devotion to the sorrowful Virgin.

Mater Dolorosa of Cabuyao, Laguna

The Sorrowful Lady's mien

The Blessed Virgin in her sorrowing is presented in a unique way. Aside to the sorrowful visage of the Virgin, one of the most distinguished and the most diagnostic to the iconography of the the Sorrowful Virgin is her heart pierced with a dagger (either one or seven daggers). The dagger and crown of thorns, and other symbols of Christ's Passion are also often associated with Mary's Sorrows. Some of the usual elements that illustrate are the Rostrillo, the Corazon con Puñales, her clasped hands holding a handkerchief and wears a dark veil.

The Rostrillo comes from the Spanish word "rostro", which means "face" is a circular sunburst around the face of the Blessed Virgin symbolizing her holiness being the "Woman clothed with the sun" (Rev. 12:1). Usually mafe from hand-wrought metal and oftentimes encrusted with precious stones. The heart pierced with daggers is a symbol of Mary's heart filled with prayers and sorrows, usually depicted with the seven daggers representing the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Sometimes one dagger provices the emphasis to the painful death of her Son Jesus. This is taken from the prophecies of Simeon during the Presentation of the Child Jesus in Temple: "and a sword will pierce even your own soul." (Lk. 2:35).

Maria Santisima de la Esperanza de Triana Filipina
of Bocaue, Bulacan

Her clasped hands sometimes positioned close to the heart, a seeming gesture of prayer. Like everyone else who's cried, it is believed that the Blessed Mother also wiped her tears with a handkercheif.A dark or black veil is placed on the head of the Blessed Virgin as a symbol of her bereavement. Appropriately worn by the Mater Dolorosa during the Good Friday processions of the Holy Internment and during the re-enactment of the Salubong on Easter Sunday, the black veil is removed by a child acting as an angel, this signals the end of grief.

In the recent times, with the availability of internet and social media, the depictions of the Mater Dolorosa developed with the popularity of the Sevillan style of dressing with the Virgin sporting a "Tocado" (Head covering consists of folded layers of lace) which was developed in Seville, Spain and was later spread throughout Spain. The purpose of the "tocado" is to emphasize the face of the Virgin in greif and to give a clear signal as the chief mourner of the Semana Santa Processions in Spain.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary by Stefano Rotonda

The origin of the devotion

The devotion to the Blessed Virgin as Mother of Sorrows refers to the Seven Sorrowful events in her life. These were intergral in her obedient response as Mother of Our Savior and her role in our Salvation history. The Seven Sorrows of Mary, or Siete Dolores are (1) the Prophecy of Simeon on her hardships, (2) the Flight to Egypt to escape Herod, (3) the Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple, (4) Witnessing Jesus carry His cross on Via Crucis, (5) the Death of Christ on the Cross, (6) Receiving the lifeless body of her Son and (7) the Burial of Jesus.

Bl. Henry Suso, St. Bridget of Sweden, Bl. Anna Katherina Emmerich,
The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order

It is believed that the devotion to the Virgin of Sorrows was introduced by Blessed Henry Suso, a Dominican priest. It began as prayerful reflection on the Blessed Virgin at the foot of the Cross and later included the sorrowful events in the lives of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin. The devotion become more known following the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to St. Bridget of Sweden (1348 - 1372) and centuries later to Blessed Anna Katherina Emmerich (1821 - 1824). In 1233, the Blessed Virgin appeared to the seven religious men of Florence, Italy who then founded the "Order of the Servants of Mary" (More popularly known as the "Servites") dedicated in propagating the devotion to the Virgin of Sorrows, specially through the Rosary of Seven Sorrows.

Mater Dolorosa of Candelaria Family of Paco, Manila

It is however in the apparitions to St. Bridget of Sweden where the Blessed Mother gave seven promises to those who will propagate the devotion to her sorrows:

• “I will grant peace to their families.”
• “They will be enlightened about the divine Mysteries.”
• “I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.”
• “I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of My divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.”
• “I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.”
• “I will visibly help them at the moment of their death — they will see the face of their Mother.”
• “I have obtained this grace from My divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to My tears and sorrows will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and My Son will be their eternal consolation and joy.”

The apparitions of Fatima (1917) and Rue de Bac (1830)
explicitly shows the emblem of the Sorrowful Heart
of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pope Pius VII introduced the memorial of the Sorrows of Our Lady in the General Roman Calendar in 1814. It was initially observed on the Third Sunday of September while another feast of the Sorrows of Our Lady was observed on the Friday of Passion Week popularly known as "Viernes de Dolores". In 1912, Pope St. Pius X fixed the date to September 15, fittingly a day after the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross and a former octave day of the Birth of Our Lady.

In the recent years, several apparitions of the Blessed Mother strengthen the significance of the devotion to her Sorrows. In 1830, the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in Paris, France where she revealed the design of the Miraculous Medal showing her heart pierced with a dagger. Visionaries witnessed the weeping Blessed Mother wearing a Crucifix and some symbols of Christ's Passion in her apparition at La Salette, France. In Fatima, Portugal in 1917, the Blessed Virgin showed her heart surrounded by a crown of thorns to the three children symbolizing mankind's indifference that she asked for the establishment of the Five First Saturday devotion to make reparation.

From top: Virgen de los Dolores de Turumba, Virgen de la Soledad de
Porta Vaga, Virgen de la Soledad de Nueva Ecija and Virgen de los
Dolores de Provincia de Quezon

The devotion in the Philippines

The Filipino devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows was integral in the introduction of Christianity by Spanish Missionaires. In Old Manila (present-day Intramuros), an image of the Virgen de La Soledad on her silver platform joined the Solemn Holy Week processions led by the Santo Domingo Church. It was also in the same church where the "Hermandad del Santo Entierro y Virgen de la Soledad" was approvd by Pope Clement VIII in 1598. On the other hand, Gaspar Aquino de Belen published the "Mahal na Pasion" in 1703 which featured poetic lines dedicated to the Sorrows of the Blessed Mother.

In the course of time, shrines across the country were constructed in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows. These shrines became center of pilgrimages and the propagation of the devotion like in Puerto de Cavite (now Cavite City), Cavite (c1600); Buhi, Camarines Sur (1776); Pakil, Laguna (1788); Camba, Manila (c1800); Dolores, Quezon (1834); San Isidro, Nueva Ecija (c1900), F.B. Harrison, Pasay City (1941), Darasa, Tanauan, Batangas (2009) and many more.

Maria Santisima de la Esperanza Macarena of Santa Maria,
Bulacan and the processional image
of + Rev. Fr. Aloysius Aliño

A replica of the Maria Santisima de La Esperanza Macarena, the celebrated image of Seville, Spain under the care of the late Rev. Fr. Enrique Aloysius Ma. S. Aliño first appeared in the annual Intramuros Grand Marian Procession in the 1980's. And in 1999, the "Hermandad y Confradia de La Sagrada Pasion de Nuestro Señor y Maria Santisima de La Esperanza Macarena" was established in Santa Maria, Bulacan and later in 2008 was recognized by the Hermandad de Macarena in Seville.

The devotion as a social reflection

The images of the Sorrowful Mother, the Mater Dolorosa, reminds us how Mary "treasured all these things to her heart." (Lk. 2:19). The Blessed Virgin's Sorrows have inspired art for ages and the devotion of holy men and women. And for us Filipinos, she will always be the venerated lady accompanying the Santo Sepulcro at every Good Friday procession.

Mater Dolorosa of Mariano Family of
Bocaue, Bulacan

But what else do we see in the image of a weeping Virgin Mary?

Is it the woman at the foot of the cross, is it the OFW mother about to leave her family, is it the Mother who lost her baby to biliary atresia. Do we also see a helpless Mother Nature pleading to change our ways? And in our recent days, do we not see a sorrowful Motherland for the abuse of power and our indifference to diversity. Do we not also see our Holy Mother Church in tears, for the conversion of sinners and reparation of souls? How painful is it for a child to see a mother cry?

It is up to us, her beloved children of God on how we will wipe the tears of our Blessed Mother who loves us so deeply as she manifested in different ways over the centuries. If we will heed her call to change our ways, then we can wipe her tears so that we can share to her joy as she saw her Resurrected Son, Jesus on Easter morning.

As we close this article about the devotion to the Mother of Sorrows, here is a prayer that was derived from the "Hail Mary" that recieved Papal approval by granting Indulgence available for this prayer, provided it's said with a contrite heart:​

Hail Mary, full of sorrows, the Crucified is with thee. Tearful art thou among women and tearful is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.​

Holy Mary, Mother of the Crucified, pray for us, crucifiers of thy Son, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

References:

Books:

Aviado, Lutgarda, (1972), Madonnas of the Philippines, Manlapaz Press, Quezon City.
Barcelona, Mary Anne.(2004) Ynang Maria: a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the    Philippines. Ed. Consuelo B. Estampa, P.D. Pasig City, Anvil Publishing Inc.
Borelli, Antonio, (2016), Our Lady of Fatima: Prophecies of Tragedy or Hope - Centennial  Edition, The Philippine Crusade for the Defense of Christian Civilization, Inc. Makati Avenue,  Makati City.
Cruz, Joan Carroll (1989), Prayers and Heavenly Promises; Imprimatur: Most Rev.
Francis B. Schulte, TAN Books, United States of America,
LeBlanc, Marie FSSP, (1995), Marian Apparitions and Devotions, Pauline Publications, New York,  United States of America.
Sanchez, Francisco (1904). "La Virgen Maria Venerada en sus Imagenes Filipinas", Manila: Imp. De Santos y  Bernal.

Devotional materials:

The Devotion of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1999), [Devotional booklet] The Fatima Center,17000 State Route 30, Constable, New York, United States of America.
Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows (2010), [Novena booklet], Pauline Publications, Makati City.

Blogger's Note: This blog article was the extended and annotated version of the museum texts that was shown in Esculuras Religiosas en las Islas Filipinas' "Luha ni Maria" Dolorosa Exhibit held in San Agustin Museum, Intramuros, Manila.  Special thanks to Mr. Christian Layug, founder of Esculturas group and Mr. Billy Malacura of San Agustin Museum.

J+M+J
+AM+DG+