Our Lady of China of Iloio - The Mother of Iloilo's Filipino Chinese Community

-
Our Lady of China of Iloilo City
In the progressive Iloilo City in Iloilo, with a long historical link with the Chinese community since the early years in our history, it wasn't until the 1950's that Virgin of their homeland would arrive, under difficult circumstances, that was proven to be providential to the Filipino-Chinese community of the Hiligaynon City. Under the mantle of Our Lady of China of Iloilo, she guided her children, regardless of race, for she is the Mother of all nations, as His Son is the King of All Nations.

The image

Though her robes be pagan, she belongs to every age, to all people and to every race. The image of Our Lady of China in Iloilo is a standing figure of Madonna and Child wearing the Oriental style of clothing from the Imperial Chinese Court, the yellow traditional dress with colorful trimmings, the diagnostic hairdo of a Chinese noblewoman, the bald Child Jesus, and the sinitic eyes of both Mother and Child which gives with a mixture of a strong willed yet motherly impression.

The Original image of Our Lady of Dong Lu,
Empress of China
The origins of the devotion

The devotion to Our Lady of China began during the dark times of Chinese history. In April 1900, When the Boxer Rebellion broke out, nearly 10,000 hostile soldiers attacked the small impoverished mission village of Dong Lu (near Peiping), home of 700 - 1,000 Christians and founded by Vicentian fathers. The Virgin Mary appeared as a beautiful lady in white in the sky surrounded by light. The soldiers, in senseless rage, started to shoot into the sky. Then suddenly they fled, frightened, and never came back again when a fiery horsemen - perhaps St. Michael - chased the attackers out of the village. The Chinese pastor of the village, Father Wu, had prayed for Our Lady's intercession.

In thanksgiving for Our Lady’s protection, a beautiful church was built in her honor. It was meant to serve as a constant reminder to the people of Mary’s loving and motherly protection.

The modern painting of Our Lady of China
The priest secured a painting of the Dowager Empress Ci Xi, the long time ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, dressed in imperial robes.He commissioned an artist to use it as the background for the image of Our Lady holding the Christ Child. The picture was hung above the altar in the Church of Dong Lu, which eventually became a famous place of pilgrimage starting in 1924. That same year, Shanghai Synod of Bishops in China, the first national conference of bishops in the country, chose this image to be denoted as "Our Lady of China" or "Our Lady Queen of China". People began coming to the shrine. Following the event, Archbishop Celso Costantini, Apostolic Delegate in China, along with all the bishops of China, declared the Chinese people dedicated to Our Lady of China, using the official image.

The Church has not issued an official judgment of the apparition at Dong Lu. Pope Pius XI's establishment of the church as an official Marian Shrine constitutes implicit approval. In 1941, Pope Pius XII designated the feast day as an official feast of the Catholic liturgical calendar. Following the Second Vatican Council, the Chinese Bishops conference, upon approval from the Holy See, placed the feast day on the vigil (day preceding) of Mothers Day (the second Sunday of May).

Santa Maria Parish, Iloilo City
The devotion in Iloilo

The Santa Maria, Our Lady of China Parish in Iloilo City is by far, the only Chinese Catholic Parish in Iloilo City. It started way back in 1953 when the Chinese Jesuits first arrived from mainland China. The Chinese Jesuits were expelled from China due to the Communist takeover. Since their arrival, they began their apostolic work among the local ethnic Chinese community as a continuation of their missionary work in Mainland China. With the relentless support of the Iloilo Filipino and Chinese communities, the Santa Maria Parish under the patronage of Our Lady of China was established by Rev. Fr. Guerrino Marsecano, SJ, an Italian Jesuit Missionary.

As the parish grew, the Jesuits began accepting students for kindergarten until it grew to become Ateneo de Iloilo - Santa Maria Catholic School. While the school was relocated to its current site, the parish has remained and became a center of pilgrimages in Iloilo.

The devotion
Our Lady of China of Iloilo City


The devotion to Our Lady of China in Iloilo grew over the past decades since it's  establishment. The Jesuits continued to administer the needs of the Chinese and Filipino-Chinese community in the city. Masses in the Parish is said in English and Chinese pin yin. The feast of the Virgin of China is celebrated every Second Sunday of September.

As we conclude this blogpost dedicated to the Virgin of China, here a prayer dedicated to her for the conversion of the Chinese people to the true faith.

Hail, Holy Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ,Mother of all nations and all people.You are the special heavenly Mother of the Chinese people. Teach us your way of total obedience to God's will.Help us to live our lives true to our faith. Fill our hearts with burning love for God and each other.Stir up in our youth an unconditional giving of self to the service of God.

 We call on your powerful intercession for peace, reconciliation and unity among believersand the conversion of the unbelievers in China and throughout the world, for God's mercy is our only hope.

 Our Lady of China, Mother of Jesus, hear our petitions and pray for us. Amen.

References:

Our Lady of China, Retrieved from http:/ /www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/approved_apparitions/donglu/index.html on February 4, 2019.
Santa Maria Parish, Retrieved from https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attraction_Review-g298466-d15191495-Reviews-Santa_Maria_Parish-Iloilo_City_Iloilo_Province_Panay_Island_Visayas.html on February 4, 2019.

Photos:
Galera, Carl of Pitik Ilongo
Santa Maria Parish Facebook page

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Did Mama Mary Appear in the Philippines? - A Closer Look

-
Image
The Finding of Nuestra Señora de Caysasay of Batangas Disclaimer: The intention of this blogpost is to present data of different reported Marian apparitions that took place in our country from the Spanish era up to the modern times based from the reports gathered by the blogger. The blogger does not have any intention to incite belief in these reported events, especially those that do not have formal approval in accordance to the ruling of Pope Urban VIII regarding reported supernatural phenomena (anticipation of a formal approval or disapproval of such events without the official ruling of the Church). Therefore, the blogger  submits himself to the judgement of the Holy See, together with every interpretation or theory contained in this blog special. Introduction "Did Mama Mary appear in the Philippines?" a question that many Filipino Marian devotees would sometimes wonder given that we are known as the "Pueblo Amante de Maria" for our love for the Mother
Read more

Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon - The Sorrowing Mother of Quezon Province

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon (Altar image) In the quiet yet mystical town of Dolores, Quezon, known as one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the province where the famed Mount Banahaw is located where syncretic folk beliefs are practiced up to this day. Aside form the “mystical” Mount Banahaw, pilgrims would flock a church near the mountain and it became a center of pilgrimage for ages, the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows of Dolores, Quezon flourished over the years and it became one of the most visited in the Quezon Province due to the numerous miracles that were attributed to her intercession. The image There were two images of the Virgin of Sorrows that is venerated in the shrine, the famed altar image that is currently enthroned at the center of the main altar and the processional image that also served as the pilgrim image of the shrine. Both images depict the Blessed Virgin Mary in her moment oi sor
Read more

Santo Niño de Cebu - The Eternal King of the Philippines

-
Image
Sto. Nino de Cebu The most revered image in the Philippines -  Santo Niño de Cebú is an image of the Child Jesus much venerated as miraculous by the majority of Filipino Catholics and revered as the symbol of the Catholic Faith in the country. The oldest Christian image in the Philippines, it was originally given in 1521 as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Hara Humamay, the chief consort of Rajah Humabon, along with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a bust of depicting Christ as Ecce Homo. The image is one of the most celebrated in the country that is highlighted through the celebration of Sinulog Festival every Third Sunday of January, its Liturgical Feast and on Kaplag every April 28th, its Original and Traditional Feast, to commemorate the rediscovery of the image by Juan Camus. Miracles have recorded through his help that he continues to shower his devotees up to the present. Features of the Image The image measures approximately tw
Read more

San Agustin de Tanza - Cavite's famous "Tata Usteng"

-
Image
San Agustin de Tanza "Tata Usteng" In the collective consciousness of the faithful in lowland Cavite, three famous Patrons are community not heard in their lips and centers of devotion, that of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga or "Nana Choleng" of Cavite City, Santa Maria Magdalena or "Nana Nena" of Kawit and our San Agustin of Tanza or more popularly known as "Tata Usteng". Arguably the most famous image of St. Augustine in the Philippines, Tata Usteng lavished his devotees with answered favors, unbelievable miracles and other phenomena that was engrained to the hearts and minds of Cavitenos and his devotees outside Cavite. The image The famed image of San Agustin of Tanza is that of a wooden detallado image of St. Augustine as a Bishop wearing his canonical garb, holding his staff, wearing his mitre and holding a book topped with a scale model of a church in allusion to his title as "Doctor of the Church". Although t
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