The Iconic La Inmaculada Concepcion of Manila Cathedral

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La Inmaculada Concepcion of Manila Cathedral

A trip to Intramuros is not complete without visiting or seeing one of it's famous and prominent landmarks - The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral, the First Cathedral and the Mother Church of the Philippines. Every pilgrim, tourist, or local Manileño would always make it a point to enter the Cathedral to pray, meditate, gaze on the artworks and architecture among others. 

Aside from architecture, one of the most prominent feature of the Cathedral is the beautiful and imposing statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines. The image of the Virgin grabs the attention of the all who visit the Cathedral and be amazed on her other worldly beauty which gives a beholder a sense of heaven here on earth. 

The image

The altar image of La Inmaculada
Concepcion of Manila Cathedral
There were two images of Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception that is venerated at the historic Cathedral - the imposing altar image and the side altar image that the faithful can be venerated by the faithful. Both depictions of the images of La Inmaculda Concepcion depicts the Virgin in a heavenly realm, moments after her creation, the spirit of Mary (in the form of a young woman) looks up in awe at (or bows her head to) God. The moon is under her feet and a halo of twelve stars surround her head, possibly a reference to "a woman clothed with the sun" from Revelation 12:1–2. Additional imagery includes clouds, a golden light, and cherubs, usually wears a white robe and a blue mantle doesn't sport a veil  and her hair flows gracefully with eyes looking upwards. 

A few differences can be noticed between the two images: the altar image's hands are placed at her chest while the side altar image's hands are in prayer position and her dress have traces of pink in some parts of her dress and hair is a bit longer and there were angles at her feet, while the altar image does not have one. 

A look on Manila Cathedral's beginnings

The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the first Cathedral in the country. When the Philippines was separated from the Archdiocese of Mexico and became a new diocese, Manila was chosen as the episcopal seat, and the Church of Manila dedicated to "La Purisima y Inmaculada Concepcion" established by the secular priest Padre Juan de Vivero in 1571 was chosen to become the Cathedral. Hence, the Manila Cathedral is aptly honored as the Mother Church of the Philippines. The cathedral was damaged and destroyed several times since the original structure was built in 1581 while the eighth and current structure of the cathedral was completed in 1958.

The present Manila Cathedral
At present, San Agustin Church serves as the parish church of Intramuros under the advocation of the Immaculate Conception since 1945, after the Seventh Manila Cathedral (1879-1945) was bombed mercilessly along with the rest of the Walled City during the Battle of Liberation.

The basilica has merited a papal endorsement from Pope Gregory XIII and three apostolic visits from Pope St. Paul VI, Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Francis.  It was a motu proprio from Pope St. John Paul II that this Cathedral was raised into the dignity of a Basilica on April 27, 1981, two months after his first visit to the Philippines.

The images

The general thematic of the present Cathedral was inspired to the Most Holy Virgin, to whose Immaculate Conception the church is hallowed. Originally, it was the image of Nuestra Señora de Guia that was enthroned at the Cathedral until it was returned in 1918 to her shrine in Ermita, Manila and a Murillo inspired image of the Immaculate Conception was enshrined until the Liberation of Manila in 1945 where the seventh Cathedral was bombed. 

The original Festejada image of
Manila Cathederal carved by Santiago Santos

During the rebuilding of the Cathedral, another image of the Immaculate Conception was sculpted by Santiago Santos and it was temporarily enthroned at the Cathedral and became the festejada image of the Second National Marian Congress on December 5, 1952. At present, the image is now venerated at a special altar at the Cathedral where people can venerate it up close. During the Grand Marian Procession in Intramuros, Manila, this image is placed at the facade of the Cathedral as if to oversee the whole the procession attended by numerous Marian devotees nationwide.

The present altar image of the Immaculate Conception of at the Cathedral was sculpted from bronze by Vincenzo Assenza based from the famed painting of Bartolome Esteban Murillo - the standard iconography of the Immaculate Conception. The statue of the Virgin triumphs on the high altar, which Mary is represented as the center of human history. It was initially enthroned without an encarna until a few years later it was painted which give the image the signature look that we are all familiar today. 

Festivities

The celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception at the Cathedral is one of the highlights for Marian devotees for the month of December with the annual Grand Marian Procession that is held every First Sunday of December so that the faithful may witness this grand spectacle of culture and faith. The Grand Procession is organized by the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion, Inc. and the Intramuros Administration and it features hundred of different Marian images from different families, organizations, parishes, shrines and minor basilicas in the country. 

The celebrations begin with the Hermanos Mayores Mass at the Cathedral and for the occasion, the Santiago Santos image comes out of the Cathedral and placed at the main entrance where the Hermanos, the Comite de Festejos and clergy would watch and oversee the procession. All throughout the night, the image acts as an overseer of the whole festive night where the participants would also give honor to the country's Principal Patroness. On the actual day of the Solemnity, Masses are offered continuously with the faithful flocking the Cathedral. 

A witness of the past, present and future

The image of La Inmaculada Concepcion of Manila Cathedral became the silent witness to our history from four Papal Visits, high profile weddings, state funerals among others that made a mark in our history and popular culture. The Virgin of the Cathedral continues to inspire many devotees and pilgrims from all over the country as they gaze upon the finest work of God's creation - the Immaculate Mother of the Redeemer.  

Whenever there were victories and tragedies in our nation, she is always present, supplicating for us while guiding us in our lives from the moment Christianity was introduced up to the present. Let us continue to ask the help of our nation's Patroness that she may help us in our way for a better future with her Son reigns in our country.

Reference:

"Artworks of the Manila Cathedral", International Institute of Liturgucal Art, Rome, Italy, 1958.

Aviado, Lutgarda , "Madonnas of the Philippines", Manlapaz Press, Quezon City, 1972.

Barcelona, Mary Anne, "Ynang Maria: a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines". Ed. Consuelo B. Estampa, P.D. Pasig City, Anvil Publishing Inc, 2004.

"Pilgrim's Passport Jubilee of Mercy December 8, 2015 - November 20, 2016", Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, 2015. 

Interview:

Lazaro, Romain - Manila Cathedral

Photos:

Malabanan, James Benedict

The Manila Cathedral Facebook page

Special thanks to Mr. Romain Lazaro of the Manila Cathedral on his help on this blogpost.

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