Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Maasin - The Powerful Protectress of Maasin, Southern Leyte

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Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maasin
(altar image)
In the City of Maasin, Southern Leyte, known for its scenic tourist spots, especially for nature lovers, the people are very religious because the people of Maasin developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion.

For centuries, numerous miracles were reported through her intercession, most well known is the protection of her chosen city from different calamities.

The images

There were two images of the Our Lady of the Assumption enshrined in her Cathedral in Maasin City, the original wooden image and the ivory altar and processional image.

The original wooden image of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion is a de tallado image where the Virgin is standing on a cloud with cherubs, has loose yet wavy hair, her right hand is outstreched and her left was on her chest looking upwards. The original yet fragile image is currently enshrined in a special chapel dedicated to her for veneration.

The original image of Nuestra Señora de
The second image was that of a de vestir image where the body was made of wood and her head and hands are made of ivory. The image is vested with a robe and a cloak made from different materials and embroidery styles offered by her devotees. This image presents the Virgin with her arms outstretched upwards and eyes looking upwards. This image sports a crown since it was this image that received Episcopal Coronation. This same image is the current altar and processional image of the Cathedral.

The origins

The Chruch of Our Lady of the Assumption of Maasin, Southern Leyte was established in 1770 and was later consecrated in 1771 by the Jesuits. Following the departure of the Jesuits, the Augustinian fathers took over the parish in 1771 and ordered the construction of the second concrete church a kilometer away from the ruins of the first one which is is the present-day location of the church. Another wave of missionaries came in 1843, this time the Franciscans, and they succeeded on establishing Our Lady of Assumption as the Patroness of the Parish on August 15. Though the origins of the two images were unknown, the two images gained much love and devotion of the populace since their enthronement.

By 1920s until 1930s, the parish was placed in the care of the diocesan priests of Cebu. It was then transferred to the Diocese of Calbayog and Diocese of Palo, until in 1968, it became the cathedral seat of the Diocese of Maasin on August 14, 1968.

The monument of  Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maasin
at the Monte Cueva Shrine
Miracles

The Virgen de la Asuncion de Maasin is known as the Protectress of the city for there were several instances that the Virgin protects her children from different calamities and disasters. One of the most notable ones when the it is said that the Virgin appeared to stopped an incoming storm and most most recently during the ravages of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2014, a mysterious cloud hovered in Maasin City that acts as a protection from the eye of the storm that spared the city from the destructive typhoon and the people attributed this protection to their beloved Patroness.

As an act of perpetual thanksgiving of people of Maasin City to their beloved patroness, two shrines were erected by her devotees as an act of thanksgiving to all the miracles and graces that she gave to her faithful children. The first shrine is located at Jaleca Hills which is said to be the the tallest privately owned shrine in the Philippines. The second shrine is the Monte Cueva Shrine donated by the Chung family to the Diocese of Maasin where a 30-foot monument of the Virgen de la Asuncion based from the original statue can be seen.
The Episcopal Coronation of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion
of Maasin, Southern Leyte
Church Recognition

In recognition of the numerous miracles that were attributed to the intercession of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maasin, on the closing rites of the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Maasin, the altar image received the honor of Episcopal Coronation on August 15, 2018 - the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On August 14, 2020, the Cathedral was declared as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption.

The devotion

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion continues to flourished up to this day. Her feast day, August 15 is kept with much solemnity and the locals continued to flock  her shrine day in and day out to seek her help. The miracles that the Virgin of the Assumption of Maasin is proof our Blessed Mother's powerful intercession where she extends her help to all her children from the moment of her glorious assumption to heaven and took the role of Mediatrix.

References:

Arlu, Edward. "Maasin City Cathedral: Standing with it's Beautiful History and Architecture". Retrieved from edwardlu.blogspot.com. August 14, 2019.
"Maasin City - Simply Marvelous!" brochure; City Investment Promotion & Tourism Office.

Interview: 

Arce Madredijo - Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, Maasin, Southern Leyte

Special thanks to Mr. Lawrence Vidanes and Mr. Arce Madredijo for the photographs of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion de Maasin
+AM+DG+

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