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

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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+

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