Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Agoo - The Gracious Queen of Agoo, La Union

-
Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Agoo
In the historic and thriving municipality of Agoo, La Union, known for its historical landmarks and natural scenery, is also one of the most visited pilgrimage towns in Northern Luzon because it was here that the Minor Basilica of our Lady of Charity of Agoo is located which is dedicated to its powerful patroness, Nuestra Señora de Caridad (Our Lady of Charity). Through the centuries, pilgrims and devotees flock her Basilica to seek her help in their needs and the Virgin does lives up to its title due to numerous miracles attributed to her intercession.

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Agoo, or more popularly known as "Apo Caridad", is a de tallado image of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the category of "Madonna and Child" where this image is presented holing the Child Jesus on her left. The image presents the Blessed Virgin Mary, while carrying the Child JesuS, presenting her correa to the beholder for this image of the Virgin was in fact an image of Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa (Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture), the Mother and Patroness of the Augustinian Order. It is interesting to note that the right hand of the Virgin is extended and open while holding her correa which gives an impression of offering her assistance and consolation to her devotees. The child Jesus is presented raising his right hand as in a blessing, and holding a golden globe on his left hand.

The origins

The origins of Nuestra Señora de Caridad, venerated in her Minor Basilica in Agoo, La Union were unknown due  to scant records regarding the image's carving and arrival in La Union. However, it is believed that the devotion to Our Lady of Charity was derived from the devotion to the Virgin of the same title in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. The system of rotation of assignments among early Augustinian missionaries in Ilocos could have brought one missionary in Bantay, who in turn introduced the devotion in Agoo.

The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora de
Caridad de Agoo
The innumerable miraculous accounts attributed to Apo Caridad in the Basilica's altar, which includes the quick recovery of Agoo from the destruction of the July 1990 massive quake, has made Agoo a major religious center in northern Luzon. The Church of Our Lady of Charity of Agoo, La Union was established in 1578 and it was elevated as a Minor Basilica in 1982.

Church Recognition

Bishop Victorino C. Ligot of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Fernando de La Union filed the ecclesiastical petition to the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship in Rome for the canonical coronation of the statue, with the collaboration of Jose D. Aspiras, who helped restored the belfry. "Apo Caridad" was granted the honor of Canonical Coronation on May 1, 1971 by Apostolic Nuncio Carmine Rocco, the appointed Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines.

The devotion

The devotion to Apo Caridad of Agoo continues to flourish up to this day. Apo Caridad de Agoo's feast day is celebrated every May 4, the traditional feast of Saint Monica, in whose honor both the Basilica Parish and Museum are dedicated. The devotion to Our Lady of Charity proves that Our Lady is always there for us, extending her arms to help us in all our needs, temporal and spiritual to lead us to her Son, the great Consolation of mankind.

References:

Barcelona, Mary Anne, "Ynang Maria: a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines". Ed. Consuelo B. Estampa, P.D. Pasig City, Anvil Publishing Inc., 2004.
Layug, Benjamin Locsin. "A Tourist Guide to Notable Philippine Churches". Pasig City, Philippines: New Day Publishers, 2007.

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