The Weeping San Buenaventura of Liliw, Laguna

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San Buenaventura de Liliw

In the historic parish of St. John the Baptist of Liliw, Laguna, known as the red bricked Church of Laguna, is not only known for its miraculous Patron San Juan Bautista, it also known for it's miraculous second patron - San Buenaventura. The miraculous San Buenaventura of Liliw gained much attention and devotion in Liliw since the miraculous lachrymation of his image in 1664.

The image

The image of San Buenaventura of Liliw is a wooden image of St. Bonaventure as a Franciscan bishop holding his crozier and a book - to signify his title as "Doctor of the Church". The image also wears a stole given by his devotees.

Life of St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure, known as "the seraphic doctor," was born at Bagnoregio, in the Lazio region of central Italy, in 1221. He received the name of Bonaventure in consequence of an exclamation of St. Francis of Assisi, when, in response to the pleading of the child's mother, the saint prayed for John's recovery from a dangerous illness, and, foreseeing the future greatness of the little John, cried out "O Buona ventura"-O good fortune!

St. Bonaventure
At the age of twenty-two St. Bonaventure entered the Franciscan Order. Having made his vows, he was sent to Paris to complete his studies under the celebrated doctor Alexander of Hales, an Englishman and a Franciscan. After the latter's death he continued his course under his successor, John of Rochelle. In Paris he became the intimate friend of the great St. Thomas Aquinas. He received the degree of Doctor, together with St. Thomas Aquinas, ceding to his friend against the latter's inclination, the honor of having it first conferred upon him. Like St. Thomas Aquinas, he enjoyed the friendship of the holy King, St. Louis.

At the age of thirty-five he was chosen General of his Order and restored a perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. He did much for his Order and composed The Life of St. Francis . He also assi bsted at the translation of the relics of St. Anthony of Padua. He was nominated Archbishop of York by Pope Clement IV, but he begged not to be forced to accept that dignity. Gregory X obliged him to take upon himself a greater one, that of Cardinal and Bishop of Albano, one of the six suffragy an Sees of Rome. Before his death he abdicated his office of General of the Franciscan Order. He died while he was assisting at the Second Council of Lyons, on July 15, 1274. St. Bonaventure was canonized by Pope Sixtus IV in 1482 and was declared Doctor of the Church in 1588.

San Buenaventura de Liliw
The miracle of Liliw

The account of the miracle dates back on December 26, 1664 where one day, the image began to weep and sweated blood in the presence of Rev. Fr. Juan Pastor and 120 witnesses in the parish of Liliw. Since the reported miracle, people began to develop a devotion to San Buenaventura and numerous favors and other miracles were reported and duly recorded which is why he is immediately regarded as the Second Patron of Liliw, Laguna.

The image was then enthroned in the a retablo menor then after some years, it was kept to the public for some time until in 2008, the image was re-enthroned to his own chapel after records of the lachrymation resurfaced.

The devotion

At present, the image is enshrined in his own chapel within the parish where devotees would visit San Buenaventura and his first class relic that was also enshrined in his altar. His feast day, July 15, is also celebrated solemnly by the town with a solemn procession as a fitting honor to their miraculous weeping patron.

St. Bonaventure managed to unite the pastoral, practical aspects of life with the doctrines of the Church. Thus, there is a noticeable warmth to his teachings and writings that make him very appealing. St. Bonaventure so united holiness and theological knowledge that he rose to the heights of mysticism while remaining a very active preacher and teacher, one beloved by all who met him. To know him was to love him; to read him is still for us today to meet a true Franciscan and a gentleman.

References:

Huerta, Felix de, OFM. Estado geográfico, topográfico, estadístico, histórico-religioso. Binondo: Imprenta de M. Sanchez y Ca., 1865.
Farmer, David Hugh, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Oxford University Press, New York, 1987.
"Tourist Spot in Liliw, Laguna". Retrieved June 26, 2018.
Credits to the owners of the photos that were utilized to this blogpost. +AM+DG+

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