Nuestra Señora de las Merced de Bacoor - Bacoor, Cavite's "Nana Cedes"

Nuestra Señora de las Merced de Bacoor

In the modern area of Bacoor, Cavite, aside from its thriving commerce and its historical importance in the province of Cavite, it is also the home of some notable churches that are frequented by the locals, the old Parish of St. Michael the Archangel were it enshrines the town's patrons San Miguel Arcangel and Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario and the modern Holy Trinity Parish where the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de las Merced, or "Nana cedes" to her devotees, are frequented by her devotees.

Nuestra Señora de las Merced de Bacoor

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora de la Merced of Bacoor, Cavite is a de vestir image of Our Lady of Mercy where both Mother and Child are vested with simple robes, capes and veil made from different materials. Both Mother and Son are wearing crowns to symbolize their rulership of heaven and earth. The Virgin holds a scepter and a shackle or a chain to symbolize the purpose of her apparition to  the founders of the Mercedarian Order, to liberate Christian captives from the Moors who occupied Spain during the time of the apparitions in 1218.

The beginnings in Bacoor

The devotion to Nuestra Señora de las Merced de Bacoor began in 1854 where the people of Bacoor with the help of Padre Pedro Sancho Santo petitioned the seperation of the town with a new parish and pueblo in  the old Hacienda de San Nicolas de Tolentino composed of the towns of Aniban, Ligas, Mombong, and Nios with permission of the GOvernor Antonio Urbiztondo y Eguia. The proposed new town will be placed under the patronage of Nuestra Señora de la Merced. During that time, the devotion to Neustra Señora de la Merced began to take root.

However, the proposal was turned down the new Governor General at that time Governer General Manuel Pavia y Lacy citing the state of the economy during that time and the small tax revenue that is insufficient for a new town. Consequently, the devotion died down and almost forgotten.

Nuestra Señora de las Merced de Bacoor

It wasn't until August 27, 1999 that this plan did pushed through centuries with the Most Holy Trinity as its titular patron. However, due to a rule of the Cannon Law  which states that "As an intercessor or advocate before God, the patron is a created person, such as the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Angels, a Saint or Blessed. For the same reason, the Most Holy Trinity and the divine Persons are always excluded as patrons.", the parishioners and the clergy began to search for documents that would help choose the parish's patron. Fortunately, they found the 1854 document which states the proposed plan for a new pueblo and parish under the patronage of Nuestra Señora de la Merced. It is unanimously decided that Our Lady of Mercy will be the Marian patron of the parish. The present image was donated by one of the old families in the area and soon gained devotees since her enthronement.

The devotion

After centuries of obscurity, the devotion finally came into fruition  As soon as the enthronement of the image of Nuestra Señora de la Merced of Bacoor, Cavite, the devotion to the Virgin under this title was revived and miracles were reported through her intercession. The feast of Nuestra Señora de la Merced de Bacoor is celebrated every September 24, the liturgical feastr of Our Lady of Mercy. Year after year, devotees of the Virgin increased and more miracles were reported through her intercession.

Reference:

"Nuestra Señora de la Merced Fiesta Souvenir Program 2009.", Most Holy Trinity Parish, Bacoor, Cavite, 2009.
"Patron Saints of Churches", Retrieved from https://zenit.org/articles/patron-saints-of-churches/ on Septmeber 22, 2019.

Special thanks to Mr. Rafael Rubrica for the documents and photographs of Nuestra Señora de la Merced of Bacoor, Cavite.
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