Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan - The Patroness of Libmanan, Camarines Sur

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Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan
The quiet yet developing municipality of Libmanan in the province of Camarines Sur due to the benefits from the transportation system being offered by the Libmanan River, the railroad and the national highway and its thriving agriculture.

The people of Libmanan owes these abundance through the help of their patrons: St. James the Great of Libmanan Cathedral and its Mother, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan. Although the devotion is relatively new, the Virgin of the Pillar of Libmanan gained much devotees in the municipality that continues to grow over the years.

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar of Libmanan, Camarines Sur depicts the Virgin standing in a pillar with the Child Jesus in her arms. The Virgin wears a red robe and a blue mantle with golden trimmings while the Child Jesus wears a white robe painted in estofado style with gold designs and trimmings. Both Mother and Child wears a set of crowns, an aureola for the Virgin and a rafaga that surrounds the image.

The devotion to Our Lady of the Pillar began when she appeared to St. James the Apostle standing in a jasper pillar. The Virgin promised to convert the Spanish once a shrine will be built in the apparition spot and she left the pillar as a memorial of that visit.

The Canonical Coronation of
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan
The origins and its devotion

The devotion to Nuestra Senora del Pilar of San Isidro, Libamanan, Camarines Sur began when Archbishop Leandro Legazpi established a Shrine dedicated to the Virgin of the Pillar in 1985 as a complementary devotion to St. James the Apostle which became popular in the area. Devotees and pilgrims flocked the Shrine and miracles were reported and duly recorded over the years, especially on her feast day, October 12

Due to the miracles that are attributed to her intercession, the La Pilarica of Libmanan recieved the honor of Episcopal Coronation in 2014. The Virgin later received the honor of Canonical Coronation on October 11, 2015.

Devotion to Mary is something that cannot be dismissed simply with psychological and sociological explanations. This devotion goes beyond collective pride, national identity, and the need to belong. It is something more mysterious, something that transcends time, cultures, and even reason itself.

Let the thought and the image of Our Lady of the Pillar be a reminder that we walk in the footsteps of St. James in following Christ. May she be for us a pillar of faith.

Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan, pray for us!

References:

"Camarines Sur: Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index". Makati City, Philippines: National Competitiveness Council (Philippines). Retrieved October 20, 2019.
"The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Pilar" Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, Libmanan, Camarines Sur, 2016.

Special thanks to Mr. Warren Manuel and Mr. Glenn Innocencio for the photographs of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Libmanan.
+AM+DG+

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