Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Cebu - Cebu's Miraculous Lady of the Grotto

Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Cebu 

The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes was one of the last Marian devotions that was introduced in the Philippines during the last years of the Spanish period. The devotion to the Lady of the Grotto was proven to be popular with numerous devotees flock her shrines in different parts of the country, a nationwide membership to the Virgin's archconfraternity where its members are seen in their white and blue uniforms and replicas of the grotto of the Virgin can be seen everywhere in churches, gardens, walls, landscapes, beach shores all over the country.

In Cebu province, the center of the devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes is in her Archdiocesan Shrine in Punta Princesa where it became one of the most frequented pilgrim sites in the province.

The image

The image of Nuestra Señora de Lourdes is a de tallado image of Our Lady of Lourdes based from the depiction that was provided by the visionary St. Bernadette Soubirous:

"She has the appearance of a young girl of sixteen or seventeen. She is dressed in a white robe, girdled at the waist with a blue ribbon, which flows down all along her robe. She wears upon her head a veil which is also white; this veil gives just a glimpse of her hair then falls down at the back below her below her waist. 

Her feet are bare but covered by the last folds of her robe except at the point where a yellow rose shines upon each of them. She holds on her right arm a Rosary of white beads with a chain of gold shining like the two roses on her feet."

For this particular image, the Virgin looks upwards, has a slender silhouette, her veil and opening sleeves and collar were designed with gold estofado trimmings, wears a crown and the diagnostic doce estrellas and a beautiful smile which makes this image unique in numerous depictions of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Philippines.

Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Cebu

The origin of the devotion

The devotion to the Virgin of Lourdes in Punta Princesa, Cebu began in 1930 when the Atillo family brought the image of the Virgin from Manila for family devotion. Soon afterwards, miracles began to take place and the news of these miracles spread out throughout Punta Princesa that a chapel was set up then later to accommodate devotees.

One of the most renowned miracles of the Virgin happened when the daughter of Don Pablo Atillo fell off the porch of the mansion where the Virgin was at.  The family pleaded the Virgin for help and miraculously, the girl was unscathed as of nothing happened. The news of the miracle spread like wildfire and the number of pilgrims who visit the chapel increased.

In a short time, the place became too small for the increasing number of worshipers who flocked to pay homage to the Blessed Mother. The need to construct a church soon became glaringly obvious.  Our Lady of Lourdes Parish was officially and canonically established on January 27, 1957  became a parish then later declared as an Archdiocesan Shrine in 2007.

The Episcopal Coronation of Nuestra Señora de
Lourdes of Punta Princesa, Cebu

Due to the numerous miracles attributed to the Virgin's intercession, the "Rayna ug Señora" was Episcopally Crowned on her feast day, February 11, 2017.

The devotion

The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes continues to grow and develop over the years. Pilgrims and devotees flock her shrine, especially on her feast day, February 11 where the faithful would hear mass, whisper their prayers to Our Lady and join the Virgin in her solemn procession, just like what she instructed to St. Bernadette a century and a half ago.

The apparitions of our Blessed Mother to Saint Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, lead all who go on pilgrimage to the never-failing mercy of God, incarnate in her Divine Son where they experience the profound personal healing that Christ alone gives, the healing that comes from being carried in God’s arms.

May Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Lourdes, lead us to Christ, in order that we may do what He tells us. May our communion with Christ in the Eucharistic Sacrifice uncover for us once again the enduring meaning of suffering and dying in our lives, and strengthen us to care for the suffering and dying, in accord with His mind and heart.

References:

"Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes", Retrieved from https://www.localprayers.com/PH/Cebu-City/197678470347636/Archdiocesan-Shrine-of-Our-Lady-of-Lourdes on February 3, 2020.
LeBlanc, Marie FSSP,, "Marian Apparitions and Devotions", Pauline Publications, New York, USA, 1995.

Interview:

Mendez, Ellis - Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Punta Princesa, Cebu

Special credits to the owners of the photographs used in this blogpost. Special thanks to Mr. Ellis Mendez of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Punta Princesa, Cebu for the narration of the history of Our Lady of Lourdes of Punta Princesa, Cebu.
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