Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia de Siquijor - The lovely Mother of Siquijor province

-
Nuestra Señora de la Divina
Providencia de Siquijor
Siquijor, an island province in the Visayas island group infamously known as island of local witchcraft, sorcery and allegedly a den of "aswangs" - a mythical creature that devours children or induce harm to some people. Despite this unflattering portrayal of the province, the Catholic faith in the province prevailed with the presence of old Churches that are frequented by the locals. One of these chruches is the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia of Maria, siquijor where two know images are enshrined in this parish: the controversial Santa Rita de Cascia image known as "Black Mary" and the beautiful image of Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia, the patroness of Siquijor.

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia is a beautiful de tallado image of the seated Madonna and Child where the Child Jesus seated at the lap of the Blessed Mother. Both image has a sweet and tender expression facing the beholder. The Virgin wears a yellow robe and her head is covered with a pink and blue mantle while the Child Jesus wears a pink robe.

Mater Divinae Providentiae
of Scripione Pulzone
The origin of the devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence

The title of "Mary, Mother of Divine Providence" is often traced to her intervention at the wedding in Cana. Christ's first public miracle was occasioned in part by the intercession of his mother. She helped through her foresight and concern to avoid an embarrassing situation for the newlywed couple. Our Lady of Providence is sometimes also identified as Queen of the Home.

Devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence originated in Italy, and spread to France and Spain. According to tradition, St. Philip Benizi, a Servite preist, prayed to Mary for help in providing food for his friars, and subsequently found several baskets of provisions left at the door of the convent. The devotion was brought to Puerto Rico in the early 1850s by the Servite Fathers.

In 1580, an Italian painter Scipione Pulzone painted the image of "Mater Divinae Providentiae," which depicted the Blessed Mother cradling the Infant Jesus. From here, the story of this devotion will start its connection with the Barnabites Congregation (Formally known as the Congregation of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul (Congregation of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul founded by St. Anthony Zaccaria). The Barnabite connection begain 1611 when one of the Brnabites traveled to Loreto to pray for assistance in finding the financial resources to complete the Church of San Carlo, their motherhouse in Rome. Upon his return, they received the necessary assistance, and the Barnabites began to promote devotion to Our Lady of Providence.

Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia
de Puerto Rico
Pulzone's painting was given to the Barnabites in 1663. It was placed on the altar of a chapel on the first floor of the Saint Charles rectory behind the main altar. In 1732, a copy of the painting was placed in a location adjacent to the main altar of the church of San Carlo ai Catinari in Rome, where it drew many faithful visitors.

In 1774, Pope Benedict XIV authorized the foundation of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Providence that promotes special works of Christian charity or piety. Pope Gregory XVI elevated it to an Archconfraternity in 1839. In 1888, Pope Leo XIII ordered the Canonical Coronation of the image and approved the Mass and Office of Mary, Mother of Divine Providence. The feast of Our Lady of Providence in the Barnabite calendar is set on Saturday before Third Sunday of November.

In the Americas the devotion also got a stronghold in Puerto Rico and Indiana, USA. The devotion reached Puerto Rico in the early 1850s by the Servite Fathers and it gained many devotees due to the numerous miracles attributed to her. Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia was declared the patroness of Puerto Rico by Pope Paul VI on November 19, 1969. Her feast day is celebrated in many Puerto Rican communities. In 1925, Monsignor A.J. Rawlinson, chaplain of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, USA found a replica of Pulzone's image of  "Mater Divinae Providentiae" at Catholic University of America. Msgr. Rawlinson gathered historical information on the devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence and then brought back prints of the painting to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. On May 1, 1925, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence was canonically erected at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods with the purpose of encouraging families to make Mary the queen of their homes.

Nuestra Señora de la Divina
Providencia de Siquijor
The devotion in Siquijor

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia de Siquijor began when the Augustinian Recollects established a parish in Maria (then known as "Cangmeniac"), Siquijor in 1877. The parish was placed under the patronage of Our Lady of the Divine Porovidence. The origin of the image is unknown due to scant information available regaring this image. The virgin under this title gained a significant number devotees in the province and miralces were also reported though her intercession. The parish at present is currently under the Diocese of Dumagete and her feast day is celebrated every May 24.

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia shows us that through her motherly prayers, Mary can influence the design of Divine Providence in our regard. This title celebrates the role that the Lord entrusted to Mary, whose “loving providence is always wise and unfailing.”

Nuestra Señora de la Divina
Providencia de Siquijor
As we end this blogpsot dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia de Siquijor, here is a prayer to Our Lady under this title that is prayed by the Barnabites:

Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of Divine Providence, protect our life and sanctify us with the gift of grace. Obtain for us from the Father of mercy and the God of consolation pardon for our sins, reconciliation with our brothers and sisters, and comfort in the midst of afflictions.

 Renew our hearts that they may be come worthy dwelling places of your Divine Son, Jesus.Help us in our struggles against mediocrity, self-seeking, and pride so we can generously serve our neighbor. We entrust ourselves to you, o Mary, in our pilgrimage in this world.

 We invoke you as our guide and our defense against dangers. In the present tribulations, give us secure refuge. O sweet Mother of Divine Providence, turn your eyes to ward us, you who are our hope on earth. Grant that we may have you as our Mother in the glory of heaven. Amen.

References:

McCammon, Connie, "Bringing beauty into the world". HOPE Magazine. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana: Sisters of Providence, 2009.
"Mary, Mother of Divine Providence", Retrieved from http://barnabites.com/marymotherofdivineprovidence#origin on September 21, 2019.
"Our Lady of Divine Providence Church in Maria, Siquijor", Retrieved from http://www.aroundphilippines.com/2015/11/our-lady-of-divine-providence-church-maria-siquijor.html on September 24, 2019.
"Siquijor: Historical Intro", Retrieved from https://www.mysiquijor.com/facts2.html on September 24, 2019.
Tierney, J. C., "Who is Our Lady of Providence?", Marian Library, University of Dayton, 2010.

Special credits to the owner of the photographs utilized in this blogpost. 
+AM+DG+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Nuestra Señora de la Regla: Cebu's Gracious Lady

-
Image
Nuestra Señora de la Regla de Cebu Aside to the famed Santo Niño de Cebu, there is another devotion that flourished in the island that pilgrims visit through the centuries succor in times of great need - the felicitous Nuestra Señora De la Regla. The miraculous image is venerated widely by the Cebuanos who believe that the prosperity they enjoy is a blessing achieved through the strength of her maternal intercession. The image is currently venerated at The National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Regla in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu. Features of the image The image of the Virgin is patterned to the original located in Chipiona, Spain. The Our Lady of the Rule image carved from the trunk of dark Philippine hardwood, was installed at the her own altar of Our Lady of the Rule Church in Lapu-Lapu City. The Brown Madonna holds the Infant Jesus in a form of offering and showing - as if she is presenting the Child Jesus to the people and telling them to worship his Son -
Read more

Nuestra Señora da la Salud: The Powerful Health of the Sick

-
Image
Nuestra Señora da la Salud Within the confines of modern Quezon City, there is a precious treasure that was once one of great importance of Old Manila's Glorious Past. This principal treasure is the dark image of the Blessed Virgin, under the title of"Nuestra Señora de la Salud" (Our Lady of Health) brought by the Recollect missionaries to the Philippines in 1634. In the olden days, the Virgen de la Salud is one of the most celebrated Marian images in the country with numerous miracles were attributed to this Dark Virgin of Old San Nicolas Church. So numerous and well known that even high government officials of the time are in attendance and one of most awaited in the summer and it somehow rivals that of the Virgin of the Santo Rosario of Old Intramuros (now will be venerated in her new Shrine in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.) However, after the ravages of World War 2, though the image was safe and kept by her custodians, the devotion her seemed to be forgotten by
Read more

The Regal and Miraculous Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor of Bacolor, Pampanga

-
Image
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor (Church image) Bacolor, Pampanga, one of the most historic town one of the most populated in the province that was once the provincial capital of the province bearing the name "Villa de Bacolor" and dubbed as "Atenas de Pampanga" due to its significant role in the history, culture, economy and faith in Pampanga. Bacolor is also famous for its centuries old sunken San Guillermo Church where half of edifice was submerged by lahar during the Pinatubo eruption in the early 1990's and decades later as the church from the iconic ABS-CBN teleserye "May Bukas Pa". Bacolor is also known as one of the main Marian pilgrimage sites in the province and also of Central Luzon because it was in the famed Bacolor Church were the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario - La Naval de Bacolor is enshrined. The Virgin of the Rosary of Bacolor became a silent witness of the colorful yet tra
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

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