Our Lady of Penafrancia: The Bicolanos' Pledge of Love and Devotion

I have already posted several articles in the past about Our Lady of Penafrancia. Today I feel again moved to post another article about this topic. The Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of Penafrancia is the patroness of Bicolandia under the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Caceres which includes the suffragan dioceses of Legazpi, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate and Libmanan. The region south of Luzon island in the Philippines is inhabited approximately by almost five million Bicolanos. Bicol is one of the ten major ethnic ethno-linguistic group in the Philippines. The Bicolanos are renowed for their religiousity and devotion to the Catholic Church. Christianity was introduced to Bicolandia by the Franciscans and other Spanish-Mexican Mendicant Orders. Today, it has been 400 hundred years since the evangelization of this region, and indeed by the grace of God the spirit of the gospel has been sown and planted. Historians attributes the successful evangelizatiion of Bicol to the Franciscans. In an account related by Reyes in his book, it says thus: "In 1578 the first Franciscan missionaries who reached Camarines Sur were Fray Bartolome Ruiz and Fray Pablo de Jesus. They were the ones who formally commenced the evangelization of the natives of Camarines. The historical evidence points out that Bicol Christianity was forge not by relentless force of arms by the Spanish conquistadores but by the sweet, self-instilling power of the gospel which the early Franciscan missionaries had brought to the pillaged, scattered villages that remained after the conquest years. To the Franciscans then should go the richly deserved sobriquet of 'Apostles of Bicolandia." (p.109, Bikol Marhalika, By Jose Calleja Reyes, 1992) It was said that when the missionaries preached the gospel, the natives of Bicol embraced Christianity with passion and devotion. They all of a sudden gathered their household idols (anitos) and burnt them in bonfires. A demonstration of grace from God that here a people who had been clouded by the dark religion of paganism for hundreds of years have seen a great light and renounced the power of the evil one. The Bicol Region is known for its religiousity and many devout Catholics live in this region of the Philippines. The devotion to Our Lady is a jewel of a testament and a Divine Gift to the this region.

The Photo above shows the Facade of the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia. Construction of this structure started sometime in the 1960s. The late Archbishop Pedro P. Santos conceived the construction of this modern structure upon observing the increasing number of devotees, of which the old Church can no longer accomodate. The construction was halted sometime due to financial stress but in the 70s and 80s the construction continued until in May 22, 1982 the Church was dedicated with the Late Jaime Cardinal Sin of Manila officiating the rites and with Julio Cardinal Rosales also present. in 1985 the present Archbishop, His Grace Leonardo Z. Legazpi received from the Sacred Congregation of Worship the conferment of the title Basilica Minore to this church. For more of this visit The Basilica of Our Lady of Penafrancia. The structure looks modern but the interior design conforms with the traditional form. The planning of this Basilca was done way back in 1960 before the liturgical revolution, hence the church is design in cruciform and there is the high altar and generous space for the sanctuary designed to accomodate large number of clergies.

The Side View of the Basilica. The Basilica is constructed in a 3 hectare donated lot in Balatas, Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines

The Side walls depict the stations of the Cross and the stained glass windows depicts the 15 mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

The Image of Our Lady of Penafrancia Enshrined in the Basilica. Resplendent in her golden robes holding for us her Child Jesus, as the redeemer and hope of Mankind.

For those of you who wish to read about the history of this Devotion to Penafrancia you may visit this link, The History of Our Lady of Penafrancia by Rev. Dr. Florencio C. Yllana. Fr. Yllana tells us in that article how the Bicolano's devotion to Our Lady and how she imprinted her identity to the Bicolano soul as testament of love. Hence in her official anthem to honor the Virgin, the Bicolano people proclaims, "Let the song of love resound in this region....."

The Miraculous Icon of the Holy Face. Venerated in the Basilica side by side with the Icon of Our Lady.

The veneration that the Bicolanos have for the Holy Face is associated with the devotion to Our Lady. It was related that in 1882 a dreadful cholera broke out in Manila where many died of the epidemic, and soon the epidemic reached Naga. The then Bishop Casimiro Herrera ordered that the image of the Virgin of Penafrancia be moved to the Cathedral so that prayers can be offered to beg our Lady to intercede. Fr. Pedro de la Torre the Vicar General remembered the Divino Rostro and what miracle it wrought in Osa de la Vega and told this story to the people of Naga. from thenceforth the Bishop ordered that a relica of the Divino Rostro be placed in the Cathedral and implore the Lord to stem the tide of the epidemic that was taking the lives of so many people. He made a solemn promise that there will be special festivities that will honor the Holy Face and that it would be honored side by side with the Icon of Our Lady. On the third day the epedimic was stopped. This by a miraculous intervention of Our Lord and Our Lady. For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever. Today year after year Bicolanos congregate to this place to honor Our Lord and Our Lady and to thank them for their love and compassion.

A Cafe and Bookstore to refresh the weary pilgrim.

The Votive Prayer to Our Lady of Penafrancia. Click the picture to read the prayer.

The Church of Our Lady of Penafrancia. This is the old Church that use to house the original copy of the Icon. But because of growing numbers of devotees the original image was transferred to the larger Basilica in Balatas. Thi chuch was originally made of light materials constructed by Fr. Miguel de Covarrubias to honor our Lady and to serve his ministry with the Cimarrones.

The Facade of the Church with the Image of Our Lady beckoning the Pilgrim to come.

A Painting of the Old Church. This is the artist's depiction of how this church looked like in olden times.

The alley at the Back of the Church leading to the Cemetery.

The Cemetery at the Back of the Church of Our Lady of Penafrancia. "Eternal Rest Grant Unto them Lord, and let Thy perpetual light Shine Upon them.