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Showing posts from July, 2019

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves de Cavinti - Patroness of Cavinti, Laguna

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Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves de Cavinti We have already made a feature about the miraculous Amamang Badong of Cavinti , a quiet yet historical town in the mountainous portion of Laguna province, the principal Patron of the town and its miracles that developed a strong devotion to the Transfigured Lord. Now we will also feature the accompanying Marian Patroness of the town, the miraculous Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. The image The miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves of The Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish in Cavinti, Laguna is a de tallado image of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Snows - one of the few venerated titles of Our Lady in the country. The image presents the Blessed Virgin Mary, standing in a moon, holds an long imperial scepter and holds the Child Jesus. The Virgin wears a white robe and a blue cloak, has loose long hair and sports the her traditional metal accessories of her queenship: the crown, a rostrillo and estrellas.

On holy images and how we should properly venerate them: A Treatise by St. John of the Cross

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St. John of the Cross receiving a vision of Jesus carrying His Cross Us Filipinos are very fond of images, most especially religious images. We cannot deny the fact that religious images became part of our identity as Catholics and we always defend the correct teachings regarding to this aspect to other so-called "Christian sects". So much so that some of our venerated images played vital roles that shaped our history.  Although these holy images, whether they are venerated in a church or in a shrine or privately kept in their home oratories, there were some instances that some of the faithful became very particular on which image that they will give their outmost devotion with and it will come to a point that they will have this mentality that this image is more miraculous than the other. Often times, some would go overboard on it's decorations and vestments, this is more common on privately owned Lenten and Marian images which they would claim as an "act devo

Venerable Isabel Larrañaga Ramirez - A Teacher in the name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Venerable Isabel Larrañaga Ramírez In the recent weeks, we are all elated with the news of the development of the causes of Venerable Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion of Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary based in Molo, Iloilo and Venerable Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes of the Domiinican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena (then Beaterio de Santa Catalina of Intramuros) based in Quezon City. Also, the topic of the role of Filipina women in the Philippine CatholiC church during the Spanish regime gained a renewed interest. These development slowly gives us a picture how Filipina women gained the right of establishing their own religious communities despite the racial and gender limitations during the Spanish era. One of these women religious was a Filipina by birth yet she established her congregation outside the Philippines to help spread and nourish the Catholic faith through education of the young. Isabel Larrañaga Ramírez (Madre Isabel de Sagrado Corazon

Santo Cristo del Perdon - Pampanga's Holy Redeemer

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Santo Cristo del Perdon We have already featured in this blogpost the role of the Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga on stopping the spread of communism to the province of Pampanga after it posed a threat after the Second world War through the initiative of the late Bishop Cesar Ma. Guerro of then Diocese of San Fernando and his Crusade. Now we are going to feature the story of the image of Santo Cristo del Perdon that accompanies the Virgin up to the present to bring the message of faith, hope and charity. The image The venerable image of Santo Cristo del Perdon is a de talado image of Our Lord Jesus Christ crucified on the Cross. The Cross is a round logged type which a unique feature for such in the country and it is decorated with metal accessories from rayos on the four inner corners of the cross, the 3 ends coverings and the "INRI". The corpus also sports metal tres potencias and crown of thorns. Santo Cristo del Perdon in procession The origins Due to

The Miraculous El Glorioso Patriarca, Señor San Jose de Mandaue

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El Glorioso Patriarca, Señor San Jose de Mandaue In the progressive city of Mandaue, a few kilometers form Cebu City known for its sceneries and its fast economic growth. It can be missed out by many faithful that it was in this city were the center of devotion to St. Joseph in the Philippines is located - the National Shrine of St. Joseph. The image The venerated image of San Jose de Mandaue is an image of St. Joseph standing with the Child Jesus. St. Joseph is holding his staff with a sheaf of lilies on his left hand which is diagnostic to the iconography of St. Joseph where according to tradition when the men from the house of David were summoned to the temple to ask for the hand of the Blessed Virgin Mary for marriage, lilies began to grow on the staff of St. Joseph - a sign that he was chosen by God to be Mary's pure spouse. St. Joseph – Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Foster Father of Jesus Saint Joseph is an important figure in Christianity as the husband o

Nuestra Señora de las Victorias of Victorias City - The Protectress of Negros Occidental

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Nuestra Señora de las Victorias of Victorias City, Negros Occidental In the prosperous City of Victorias, located in the province of Negros Occidental, the people were proud to the origin of the name of their city for the city was named after their powerful protectress - Nuestra Señora de las VIctorias. The Blessed Virgin Mary, together with the city's first patron Saint Casimir of Poland, protected the city from a series of Moro and tulisanes raids that spreads terror in the city during the Spanish era. The image The image of Nuestra Señora de las Victorias is an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus standing on guard looking rightwards as if they are guarding the faithful from enemies. The Virgin stands beside her Son who on the other hand stands on a pillar of clouds imparting His blessing and protection. The depcition of the Virgin of Victories of Victorias City is one of the few images venerated in our contry under this title and representation which

Santo Niño de Ibajay - The Miraculous Child of Ibajay, Aklan

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Santo Niño de Ibajay In the Western Visayas region, the devotion to the Santo Niño became well  known in the region for time  was in this island region that the third oldest image of the Santo Niño in the country is enshrined - the Santo Niño de Arevalo of Iloilo then  the famed Dinagyang Festival in honor of the Santo Niño. The Province of Aklan is also known for its own Santo Niño festivity - the Ati-atihan festival and two of it's miraculous Santo Niño images, the Santo Niño de Kalibo and  Santo Niño de Ibajay. The image and it's surrounding devotion in Ibajay became part of the fabric of life to the people of Ibajay for the Santo Niño gained much love and devotion to the people that it was impossible to be separated from this miraculous child. Santo Niño de Ibajay The image The image of Santo Niño de Ibajay depicts the Santo Niño inits traditional princely regalia like those of his contemporaries in Cebu, Aklan, Iloilo, Tondo among others. The Santo Niño has a t

Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Mesa, Manila - The Lord and Protector of Santa Mesa, Manila

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Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Mesa, Manila In the busy district of Santa Mesa, Manila, behind its modern facade, it was in this place that the first parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was established and became the erstwhile center of the devotion next to Intramuros. The parish became a haven to the people of Santa Mesa, where most of its population are composed of emigrants from different provinces who are looking for better opportunities in the Capital. The image The venerable image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Santa Mesa, Manila is presented in its standard iconography based from the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacocque: Our Lord Jesus standing presenting his Sacred Heart, his left hand on a gesture of blessing the beholder, wears a white robe and a red tunic. The face of the image is one of the most serene depiction of the Sacred Heart image in the country. The sculptor of the image was unknown. Humble beginnings The pioneering parish dedicated to the