Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao - The Mother and Queen of Marilao, Bulacan

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Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao
Marilao, Bulacan is known as one of the most industrialized municiciplaity of the province of Bulacan and it is famously known for its shrine that is frequented by pilgrims - the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy. Also in this municipality that the old Parish of San Miguel Arcangel is located where two of Marilao's patrons are enshrined: San Miguel Arcangel and Madre de Divina Gracia de Marilao.

Though the devotion to Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao is one of the most recent in the Diocese of Malolos, the devotion to the Marilao's Virgin grew gradually over the years and gaining devotees.

Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao
The image

The image of Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao is a de vestir image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and its presented in her traditonal Filipino depiction: wears a robe and a cape, at times using the palikpik style, her hands are open as if she is ready to accept the prayers and supplications of her children, has loose curly hair, wears a crown and the diagnostic doce estrellas.

The title "Mother of Divine Grace"

The title "Mother of Divine Grace" is one of the ancient titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary that is invoked in the famed Litany of Loreto. In this tile, it puts emphasis on her role as the Mother of God, the Author of Grace. As decreed by divine Providence, she served on earth as the loving Mother of the divine Redeemer, His associate, uniquely generous, and the Lord’s humble servant. She conceived, bore, and nourished Christ; presented Him to the Father in the Temple; and was united with Him in His suffering as He died on the cross.

In a completely unparalleled way she cooperated, by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity, with our Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is Mother to us all in the order of grace’

The Carmelite Order celebrates a feast day dedicated to Mary as Mother of Divine Grace every July 23 which concludes the octave of the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao participating the Grand Marian Procession
in Intramuros, Manila
The devotion in Marilao, Bulacan

The devotion to the the Virgin Mary as Mother of Divine Grace in Marilao, Bulacan is initiated by the Congregacion de las Hijas de Maria of Marilao where the image of Madre Divina Gracia is used for the Flores de Mayo tradition of the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Marilao, Bulacan. One of the former Congregacion's presidents use to have this image join the Grand Marian Procession until the parish took over this task.

When the Parish priest conducted a research regarding to this title of the Virgin, he learned of the feast of this particular title celebrated by the Carmelite Order that it was decided to have this feast to be celebrated.

Since then, Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao now has three celebrations, the July 23rd feast day and the Flores de Mayo celebrations every month of May and her annual participation of to the Grand Marian Procession in Intramuros, Manila every first Sunday of December.

The devotion to Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao continues to grow and develop over the years. Favors granted through her intercession were starting to grow and devotees starting to flock her alter for the graces they need for their every day lives.

As we conclude this blogpost dedicated to Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao, here is a devotion prayer that is being prayed by her devotees that can be adopted by the faithful to ask help to Our Lady under this venerable title:

Ama naming makapangyarihan ng walang hanggang karunungan, sa iyong pagpapala ninais mong ang Mahal na Birheng Maria ay maging tagapagdala nang pinagbubuhatan ng biyaya, at maging kabahagi niya sa pagdudulot ng kaligtasan sa sangkatauhan. Dulutan nawa niya kami ng masaganang biyaya at dalhin niya kami sa kanlungan ng walang hanggang kaligtasan.  Ito ay hinihiling namin sa pamamagitan ni Hesukristo, na iyong anak, na nabubuhay at naghaharing kasama mo at ng Espiritu Santo, magpasawalang hanggan, Amen.

 Madre Divina Gracia de Marilao, ang itinatanging Ina at Reyna ng Bayan ng Marilao, ipanalangin mo kami!

References:

"Our Lady, Mother of Divine Grace", Retrieved from http://ocarm.org/en/content/liturgy/our-lady-mother-divine-grace-m?fb_comment_id=10150723828403458_10153144285853458 on November 20, 2019.

Interview:

Tolentino, Thom - St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Marilao, Bulacan

The photos that are used for this blogpost are courtesy of Madre Divina Gracia Parish Facebook page.

 Special thanks to Mr. Thom Tolentino of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Marilao, Bulacan.
+AM+DG+

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