Our Lady of the Good Success
| Our Lady of the Good Success Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso | |
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| Location | Parañaque, Philippines |
| Date | 1580 |
| Type | wooden statue |
| Holy See approval | September 8, 2000 by Pope John Paul II |
| Shrine | Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso (Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew, Parañaque City, Philippines) |
| Patronage | City and Diocese of Parañaque |
| Attributes | Holding the infant Jesus |
The Our Lady of the Good Success (Spanish: Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso) is a statue of the Virgin Mary enshrined at the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew in Parañaque City, Metro Manila in the Philippines.
History
The history of Our Lady of Good Success in Parañaque was based on the writings of Father Nicolás de San Pedro, O.S.A., the vicar of St. Andrew's Parish (now the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew).
The Augustinian fathers brought the image from Spain in 1580 as a gift from the King to Filipino converts. The Augustinians stayed in Palanyag (now Parañaque) and established St. Andrew's Parish that year. The image was left untouched and covered with dust until Catig, a poor native from Don Galo, saw this and asked the sacristan if he could take the statue home. The sacristan obliged and Catig enshrined it in his home, lighting candles in its honour.
As Catig lay dying later on, his neighbours called a Fr Juan de Guevarra to administer Last Rites. Upon blessing Catig, Fr. De Guevarra saw the statue standing near the bed and asked if he could buy it for PHP 24 (note: the peso was of higher value during the Spanish Period). Catig initially refused, but then changed his mind, knowing that it would be revered by the people. Fr. De Guevarra took the statue and placed it in his own room after Catig had died.[1]
According to Fr. De Guevarra, he saw the image emit a mysterious light and heard glorious hymns, leading him to conclude the image as being miraculous. Fr. De Guevarra reported the miracle immediately to the Augustinian Superior Fr. Alonzo de Mentrida.
Enthronement
Upon hearing Guevarra's words, de Mentrida ordered that the icon be transported to St. Andrew's church. On August 10, 1625, a great procession was held, and the image was enshrined in the altar.
Not knowing what to call the image of Virgin Mary, Fr. Alonzo asked the other friars to write the name of all the famous titles of the Blessed Mother in Europe on strips of paper and placed them in an urn. A young child was asked to draw the name and for six consecutive times, the title "Our Lady of Good Success" (Buen Suceso) was picked, so they named the image as such.[2]
Archbishop of Manila Miguel García Serrano and colonial officials based in Manila arrived and venerated the image. Archbishop Serrano is credited with instituting the novena and reconstructing the altar. After the reconstruction, another feast was celebrated on February 22, 1626 attended by townsfolk and those from neighboring provinces.
Canonical Coronation
The image of Our Lady of Good Success was canonically crowned "Patroness of the City of Parañaque" on September 8, 2000 (the Feast of the Nativity of Mary). Many joined in the celebrations aside from parishioners, like local government officials including then-Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The image was crowned, and the people shouted "¡Viva la Virgen!" before carrying it in procession.[3] Our Lady of Good Success is patroness of the Diocese of Parañaque along with Andrew the Apostle, to whom the cathedral is dedicated. On September 8, 2010, an official replica by Tom Joven was blessed by Msgr. Manuel Gabriel during the solemn High Mass, as were the Book of Sacrifice, the Petition Box and Thanksgiving Box.
Diocesan Shrine & Patroness of Parañaque City
On August 10, 2012, celebrating her 387th enthronement anniversary and feast day, a decree of Pope Benedict XVI, with approval of Jesse E. Mercado, D.D., the Bishop of the Diocese of Parañaque, stated that the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew would be the "Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso".
On her 12th canonical coronation anniversary on September 8, 2012, the Diocese of Parañaque declared Our Lady of Good Success as the official Patroness of the City of Parañaque. The Mass was attended by Parañaque City government officials and lay people.
Feast day
St. Andrew's Cathedral Parish celebrates two main feasts. From the end of World War II until 2004, it was celebrated on November 29, but since 2005 it is also observed on August 10 to commemorate the image's 1625 enthronement. The activities were later abolished.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Parañaque. |
- ↑ Nobena sa Karangalan ng Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, October 7, 1996, pg. 5-6
- ↑ Ramon FVelasquez (2013-0318). "File:ParañaqueCathedraljf0121 02.JPG". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved on 2014-04-21.
- ↑ The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso.
Bibliography
- Nobena sa Karangalan ng Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso. October 7, 1996
- The Solemn Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso
- Siyam na Araw Para sa Karangalan ng Mahal na Birheng Buen Suceso. 2001
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Coordinates: 14°18′00″N 120°35′35″E / 14.300°N 120.5930°E