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10/24/2014 0 Comments OUR LADY OF LIGHT AND SALVATION: Her presence in the philippines AND HER ROLE IN THE MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION OF MANKIND (Part 1 of 3)The Image This wooden Image of Our Lady of Salvation made in Calpi Tree (1) has a resemblance on the painting of Our Lady of Light. The Devotion to Our Lady of Light (2) started in Palermo, Sicily in Italy around the year 1722. The Blessed Virgin appeared to a pious lady, together with Father Giovanni Antonio Genovesi SJ (a famous Jesuit Priest and Superior of the Novices in Sicily, Italy and died in the year 1734) and requested that a painting be commissioned and venerated under the title of Maria Madre Santissima del Lume (Mary Most Holy Mother of Light). In August 25, 1976, as a culmination to the Bicentennial year of Our Lady of Salvation, Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin of Manila crowned the Lady of Salvation while the shrine in Joroan was proclaimed as a Diocesan shrine and Saint John Paul II, blessed the images of Salvacion, together with INA Penafrancia during his Apostolic Visit in Legaspi City, Albay in the year 1981. The Calpi Tree According to the written accounts of Fulay, In the 1770s, a certain haciendero named Don Silverio Arcilla assigned a tenant called Mariano Dacoba in one of his vast estates in Joroan (formerly known as Cagnipa). On a certain day, while the tenant was clearing parts of the hacienda, he chopped off a big Calpi tree. Although already severed in the base for a period of time, the leaves did not wilt and maintained its life and freshness. The tenant informed Don Arcilla about it, and the latter consulted with the Friar Pastor of Buhi In Buhi, a certain sculptor by the name of Bagacumba was commissioned by the Friar Pastor to have an image carved from the Calpi trunk found by Don Arcilla's tenant. A total of three images were produced: the Our Lady of salvation, the Our Lady of Solitude, and St. Anthony of Padua.On August 25, 1776, the image of the Lady of Salvation was lent to Joroan with the condition that the residents construct a chapel at the center of the barrio. Consequently, a certain Sotera Cababag was assigned as the chapel's Hermana Mayor who will take care of the image. The 1853 agreement The huge Calpi tree was found in Joroan, but the owner of the land, Don Arcilla, was a native of Buhi. Moreover, the Calpi trunk was given by Don Arcilla to the parsh priest of Buhi, who in turn commissioned a sculptor, who is also from Buhi, to carve the image of the Lady of Salvation from it. Thus, Buhi is the rightful owner of the image. However, on January 21, 1853, an agreement between Buhi and Joroan will permanently cement Joroan's claim to the image. Representing Buhi were its parish priest, Fray Antonio Guadalajara and its Gobernadorcillo, Mariano Buenaflor; while the barrio lieutenants of Joroan represented their people. In accordance with the agreement, Buhi will give up all its rights in the image if the people of Joroan made an offering of fifty pesos, and an additional twenty-five pesos for the bell. Miracles Joroan, according to Fulay, was a common target of Muslim marauders due to its proximity to the sea. In an event of an attack, the residents of the barrio would flock to the image of the Lady of Salvation and offer their prayers to the Blessed Virgin for protection. It is said that every time the Muslims attacked Joroan and attempted to burn their houses, the torch would not ignite. This phenomenon, according to tradition, is considered as the first wonder attributed to the Blessed Virgin. Miracle of Hermana Tiray The second miracle is when a Hermana Mayor named Tiray was captured by the Muslims in one of their raids. On a certain day, after one year of being held captive by the raiders in Sulu, she fell into a deep sleep and upon waking up, she realized that she was no longer in her quarters but instead she was now standing in an unknown forest where she saw a peculiar white deer. Out of curiosity, she followed it through the mountains but soon lost track of it. Tiray would later find out that she had already been miraculously transported in Legazpi. She was now only 38 km away from Joroan. After this incident, the people of Joroan transferred the chapel further away from the sea to a higher plane in the mountains to avoid another desecration in an event of another Muslim raid. Marian apparition The third miracle was an apparition of the Blessed Virgin in the likeness of the Lady of Salvation. On a certain occasion, four devotees from Catanduanes went on a pilgrimage to Joroan. They brought along with them a set of candles made of beeswax which they intend to offer to the Lady of Salvation in Joroan. Upon reaching the shore, three of them decided to detour to Buhi and light candles for St. Anthony, while the other was left to guard the boat. While the man who was left behind was promenading at the shores, a woman carrying a child approached him, and asked from him a candle so that she can light her way to her house in the mountains since it was already getting dark. The man refused since the candle was not his. The lady on the other hand insisted and promised that she would return the candle in the morning if he would come to her house uphill. Out of generosity, the man gave in to the lady's favour and was told that he can inquire from the town lieutenant of Joroan where she lived the next day so that she can return to him the candle. On the next day, the man went to the town and asked about the mysterious lady who lived in the mountains. The lieutenant was not knowledgeable about the certain mysterious lady he was describing so he referred him instead to the Hermana Mayor. The Hermana was also of no help in his search, but advised him instead to visit the chapel of Our Lady of Salvation for him to seek guidance in his search. Upon arrival at the chapel, he was surprised when he saw the exact candle which he had previously given to the mysterious lady on the foot of the image unlighted and unused. What was more surprising was when he realized that the image looked like the woman whom he was looking for. At that moment, he was filled with compunction and did not dare get the candles anymore. He prostrated himself in front of the image, and asked from the Blessed Virgin to pray for his sins. The Last Muslim raid The fourth phenomenon attributed to the Lady of Salvation was during the years of a certain Hermana named Dominga de los Reyes, the successor of Tiray. The Muslims, while in one of their raids, retracted almost immediately after having a vision of an army of heavily armed men. According to tradition, the vision terrified them so much that that raid was considered as the last Muslim attack on the shores of Joroan. Miracle of the Boat In 1884, in the eve of the fiesta of the Lady of Salvation, a group of people from Partido was sailing to Joroan when a whirlwind attacked the boat. Giant waves swallowed them and they were almost outbalanced. As they were expecting their deaths, the boat suddenly recovered its balance. What was very strange was that, even though they were almost dumped into the sea, their clothes were completely dry as if freshly ironed. The people in the boat attributed the miracle to the Lady of Salvation. THE PARTS OF THE IMAGE a.) THE REPENTANT SINNER This is a very important feature, yet the most misunderstood of all. The sinner, believe it or not, is actually a full grown man. Almost all replicas, however, feature a child or an angel instead. b.) THE ACT OF SALVATION The Lady of Salvation is in itself full of symbolism that reflects her role, according to Catholic doctrine, as Co-Redemptrix of Human race. Hence, her right arm is gestured as depicting her saving power by holding in his wrist a repentant sinner who is about to fall to the devouring head of the devil. c.) THE DEVIL If the repentant sinner is the most misunderstood, then the devil is the most dismissed. Many people fail to understand the importance of this devil in the image, and most even dismiss it as something horrifying and unworthy to be part of the image. This is the reason why people would hide the devil under the manto. The devil is actually the reason why the image got the name 'Our Lady of Salvation'; the Virgin Mary is giving the repentant sinner 'Salvation' from the devil. Remove the devil and and the image ceases to become a representation of the Lady of Salvation. d.) THE BASKET OF BURNING HEARTS This is sometimes (ridiculously) mistaken as a basket of fruits. Like the other features, this one is also unique to the image of the Lady of Salvation. It is a representation of mankind being offered to Christ. e.) OPENED HANDS Another important feature; it shows that the offering has been accepted. (In the next blog post, you will know more about the Origin of the Icon of Our Lady of Light in Palermo and her Presence in Cainta,Rizal, Philippines) Footnotes and Sources:
(1) An Kasaysayan kan ladawan ni Birhen de Salvacion (Fr Lamberto S. Fulay: 1919 - 1935) (2) Pagdedebosyon at pagsisiyam sa Kabanal-Banalang Ina ng Kaliwanagan, Patrona ng Cainta (Michael J. Delos Reyes - 2007)
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