Remembering the lost San Francisco de las Lagrimas of Old Intramuros

San Francisco de las Lagrimas of Old Intramuros

Old Intramuros was known not only as the center of the Spanish empire in the Orient, but also the "Rome of the Pacific" because it was here that the headquarters and mother houses of different religious orders are located in the Walled City. We are all familiar of the numerous images that were venerated inside the seven Churches of the Walled City and we are featuring today is one of the most historical significant yet it became one of the casualties of the Second World War - the miraculous image of San Francisco de Las Lagrimas, the forgotten Seraphic Patron and Protector of Manila.

The image

In this modern world, we see St. Francis of Assisi as a nature lover that he is often depicted with birds and other animals since he was named as the Patron of Ecology. However, in the he image of San Francisco de las Lagrimas, we see him as a penitent because he became a saint, not only as a founder of a very influential religious order, the Order of Friars Minor or more popularly known as Francis and, but also his poverty and humility that helped reformed the Church during the Middle Ages were the Church was challenged with cases of corruption and other vices of its clergy. 

San Francisco de Las Lagrimas

For this image of San Francisco de las Lagrimas, he is depicted as a penitent looking at his ornately decorated crucifix that he holds on his right hand, has an elongated face covered by his curly beard and mustache, his left hand holding the ends of the his order's rope with the Franciscan Crown/Rosary (different from the usual Dominican Rosary) tied on his side and his head decorated with a paragua (an umbrella like halo that is distinct to centuries old images of saints in the country during the Spanish colonial period). He is vested with richly embroidered Franciscan habit, capuche and a cape which was given by devotees since he was given the honor as Manila's Seraphic Patron and Protector.

Origin and Miracles

The miraculous image of San Francisco de las Lagrimas was brought to the Philippines in 1577. The manifestations of this image of St. Francis of Assisi began during the invasion of the Chinese pirate Limahong in 1603, the enemies saw  San Francisco holding a flaming sword and the enemies ran away from this vision. Many have witnessed, sworn and testified that they have seen the appearance of St. Francis of Assisi above the walls of Manila, protecting the City with flaming sword, including 400 prisoners. Interestingly, the 400 prisoners who were condemned to death and actually saw the appearance of St. Francis, begged for baptism and all took the name “Francisco” in honor of so unique a prodigy and manifestation. A painting of the was also made commemorating the miracle was done by some unknown painter and was kept in the cloisters of the Monasterio de Santa Clara. 

As a result of this supernatural event, the Civil and ecclesiastical authorities declared St. Francis of Assisi as the Seraphic Patron and Protector of the City of Manila. They also vowed to celebrate the fiesta and solemnity of St. Francis in all its splendor and solemnity perpetually by the entire folk of Manila and even the suburban populace. However, in the year 1692, some misunderstanding took place between the Civil and church authorities which threatened to bring to a halt the beautiful and meaningful observance and established tradition. The matter reached the ears of His Majesty, who, surprisingly, took the opportunity with his Real Cedula of December 17, 1694, ordering the Audiencia Real to assist in the festive celebration and to effectively comply with the original intention of the past. It can be said that it was during this time that the Toison de Oro was given to the image which can also be seen in the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu.

San Francisco de las Lagrimas

The image of San Francisco de las Lagrimas was originally placed in the church of the Franciscans on August 2, 1578. Later, it was given to the Father Provincial, Pedro de San Pablo, to the Franciscan Third Order Fraternity in the Pueblo of Dilao to be used in the procession known as Procesiones de Cuerda (Procession of Rope) in the year 1619. Sometime in the year 1630, Don Alonzo Cuyapit, an indio principalla of Dilao (now Paco), acquired this image and donated another in its stead to the Franciscan Tertiaries of Dilao.

During the earthquake of 1645, Don Alonso had taken the image to his house with the hope of warding off any serious calamity or destruction and also for the use in the processions of the Franciscan Third Order of the area.  Apparently, the image moved from its place of enthronement to the window, kneeling, facing Manila, and began shedding tears for days. Four times this Alonzo placed the figure back on its place of enthronement and four times it returned to the window shedding its copious tears for the safety of the city. This unusual occurrence so stirred the people of Dilao, that a great multitude began flocking to the house to witness the extraordinary event.

A procession was formed to take the statue back to Manila, at which point the quakes ceased. A wind came up, but the candles did not go out. Amidst prayer of intercession, clamor, rejoicing, bells ringing, praises and acclamations, the Ayuntamiento promised to take part every December 4th in celebrating solemnly for such a gracious favored granted through the intercession of St. Francis with Solemn Masses, sermons and also to provide candles for all the people participating in the festivity.

San Francisco de las Lagrimas at Monasterio de
Santa Clara

The image of San Francisco was declared miraculous and St. Francis of Assisi was named patron and protector against earthquakes. In 1742, when a galleon failed to arrive, this statue, now called San Francisco de las Lagrimas, was taken out in procession, accompanied by the crosses of all the parishes, the orders, the Real Audiencia, and the Governor. Years later, the image was later enshrined in the chapel of Monasterio de Santa Clara as recorded by Rev. Fr. Felix Huerta in 1855.

It was due to these miracles that San Francisco de las Lagrimas was considered as one of the three palladiums of the City of Manila together with Santo Cristo del Tesoro of Colegio de Santa Isabel, and Nuestra Señora del Rosario- La Naval de Manila of Iglesia de Santo Domingo because of their powerful help, especially when the colony is in the middle of a natural, political and economic crisis. 

The tragic destruction

The image, along with its companion Santa Clara image, were destroyed during the war yet interestingly, there were some images of St. Francis of Assisi from some Franciscan Churches, notably in the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Bustillos, Sampaloc, Manila that were patterned after the lost San Francisco de las Lagrimas so that the legacy of this once mighty protector of Manila cannot be forgotten. 

Today, we are living in these dark times in our land and in our Church where much chaos is happening in all aspects in our present society. It is about time to seek the help of Saint Francis once again, in these trying times, just like what He did in the past and keep the memory of his miracles in perpetuity.

San Francisco de las Lagrimas, pray for us!

References:

"Anales Ecclesiasticos de Philipinas", Archdiocese of Manila Archives, Arzobispado de Manila, intramuros, Manila, 1995.

Cortez, O.P., Regino,  "The Story of La Naval". Santo Domingo Church, Quezon City, 1998.

Gutay, OFM, JF. Church of the Our Lady of the Angels in Intramuros, Manila. OFM Philippines Archives. Order of Franciscan Minors in the Philippines. Retrieved 24 November 2014.

Luengo, Pedro, translated by Rosales, Concepcion, The Convents of Manila, Globalized architecture during the Iberian Union, Ateneo de Manila University Press, Quezon City, 2018.

The Philippine Franciscan News, October - December, 1978 issue, Vol. IV No. 4, page 19-20.

Zulueta, Lito (Ed.), "The Saga of La Naval: Triumph of People's Faith". Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City: Dominican Province of the Philippines, Inc., 2007.