Mater Dolorosa of Taytay, Rizal - The Miraculous Lady of the Creek

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Mater Dolorosa of Taytay, Rizal
In the scenic and historic municipality of Taytay, Rizal, famous for its recreational places, tiangges and it pilgrimage site, the centuries old Parish of San Juan Bautista.

For the locals of Tatay, a chapel in Barangay Dolores is also a important pilgrimage site frequented by the townsfolk of Taytay of all ages because it was in this simple and quiet place that a miraculous image of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay is venerated.

The image

The beautiful image of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay is an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows taht is enshrined in her chapel in Barangay Dolores, Taytay, Rizal.

The de tallado image of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay was carved from stone. She is presented standing, looking upwards to heaven, her hands held together and her face expresses grief yet it is more of a gentle and dignified grief.

Although the image was carved with vestments of a purple dress, a white wimple and blue veil, the Virgin is vested with real clothes and styled similar to how the statue was presented with real cloak and veil and even holds a handkerchief. The Virgin also sports a set of metal accessories from the resplendor to her face and a dagger that pierced her chest.

A painting of the discovery of the Mater Dolorosa of Taytay, Rizal
The origin of the image

The stone image of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay was commissioned by Padre Pedro Silva in 1701 yet for some unknown reason, the image disappeared for 174 years. In 1875, the image was found in an old "sapa" or creek where residents usually wash their clothes. The image is piled among rocks where women place clothes they are washing and hit it with a 'palo-palo.'

On one occasion they heard a lady crying in pain while they were using the 'palo-palo.' To their surprise, when they lifted up one of the rocks they were using, they discovered the stone image of Our Lady of Sorrows. A large group of men lifted the image and brought it to the parish church and was enthroned there during the tenure of Padre Esteban Martinez.

Later, the Dolorosa disappeared to the parish and after a long search, the image was found from the spot near the creek where she was found.  The townsfolk took it as a sign that the Virgin wanted to be venerated on the spot where she was found. Soon after, a "kubol" was constructed located near the creek and through the centuries, the kubol would later develop to a simple yet beautiful chapel where devotees and pilgrims visit the Virgin in her chosen abode and devotion to the Virgin of Sorrows flourished.

Mater Dolorosa of Taytay, Rizal
The devotion at present

The devotion to Mater Dolorosa of Taytay contineues to grow and develop up this day. Pilgrims flock her simple yet beautiful chapel in Baragay Dolores, Taytay, Rizal to ask for her maternal guidance and intercession. The Feast of Mater Dolorosa of Taytay is celebrated every September 15, the Liturgical feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and her chapel would always be full of devotees on her novena masses and on the fiesta day itself and a replica of the image is brought out for a solemn procession.

Why the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is important in our rimes. The Church calls us to ponder the sufferings of the Sorrowful Mother to more deeply appreciate the sacrifice the Virgin of Nazareth endured in order to participate with and under Jesus in humanity’s redemption, and through this suffering, to become the spiritual mother of all peoples, as designated by her crucified Son: “‘Woman, behold your son!’ … ‘Behold, your mother!'”

We too are called to enter into the mystery of the passion of Christ and the compassion of Mary, to join our sufferings with theirs, in order to mysteriously release the graces of redemption for the many spiritual needs of the Church and world.

Mater Dolorosa of Taytay, Rizal, pray for us!

References:

"Maria, Birheng Dolorosa: Tradisyon, Kultura at Pananampalataya", Retrieved from https://taytaynijuan.me/maria-birheng-dolorosa-taytay-rizal/ on February 28, 2020.

Photos:

Dacquiaog, Micahael - Buen Viaje PH
Maria, Birheng Dolorosa of Taytay Facebook page

Special thanks to Mr. Michael Dacquioag of Buen Viaje PH and Maria, Birheng Dolorosa of Taytay Facebook page for the photogrpahs used for this blogpsot.
+AM+DG+

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