Our Lady of Aranzazu

Our Lady of Aranzazu
Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu
The Canonically Crowned (Spanish: Coronada) Image of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu currently vested and enshrined
Location San Mateo, Rizal
Philippines Philippines
Date June 11, 1469 (Oñate, Spain)
Witness Rodrigo de Baltzategui
Type Marian devotion from Oñate, Spain
Holy See approval Pope Francis
Shrine Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu
Patronage Against natural disaster and calamities, San Mateo, Rizal Philippines

Our Lady of Aranzazu (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu) is a Roman Catholic title of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines. The image is widely known due to claims of miraculous healing and flood safety. Pope Francis granted the image a Canonical coronation on 31 May 2017.

History

The church where the current image is enshrined.

The history of Christianity in San Mateo, Rizal dates back to the early Spanish era of 1596, when the Augustinians friars built the first settlements in the place.

On 29 August 1596, the first parish was built under and in honor of the patron Saint Matthew.

On 6 December 1696, the Jesuits came and gained control of the town. The history of the Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu (also known as Birhen ng Bayang San Mateo) in San Mateo, Rizal dates back to the early Spanish era of 1705.

A Jesuit priest, Father Juan de Echazabal, started the devotion to Our Lady of Aranzazu from Spain and changed the patron of the town from St. Matthew to Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu.[1]

In 1716, a new church was constructed on the site of the current church and placed the church of San Mateo under the patronage of the Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu. The first image of the Virgin of Aranzazu was brought to the Philippines by a Spanish captain from the Basque region.

In 1732, the Dominican Order of Letran in Intramuros made effort in spreading the devotion to the Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu among Filipinos during the Spanish era.

The church was proclaimed as Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu on 16 July 2004.

Description

Mary, holding the Christ Child, is vested in imperial regalia, and holds an apple symbolising her role as the "New Eve" (La Nueva Eva). The image depicts the 1469 apparition, with the Virgin standing on a thorn bush with a small quadrilateral bell hanging from it. It includes the statue of Rodrigo de Balzategui in a kneeling position.

The image is known for its controversial artistic posture. While the original image in the Sanctuary of Arantzazu in Oñate, Spain, is a seated Madonna, the image in San Mateo is depicted standing up.[2] A similar reconstructed once more in 1990, when its controversy was officially settled by the Diocese of Antipolo in 2012 by the decision of the Bishop-Emeritus Gabriel Reyes. The image retained its standing posture, as per local custom and wishes of its devotees.

Veneration

The image was granted an Episcopal Coronation on 9 November 2013 by the Bishop of Antipolo, Gabriel V. Reyes, while the coronation ceremony was officiated by Reverend Francisco M. De Leon, D.D.

The image being crowned by Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo in behalf of Pope Francis

The Canonical Coronation of the image was granted in response to the petition made by the community through the late parish priest + Reverend Fr. Lawrence C. Paz with documents prepared by the Cofradia de Nuestra Señora de Aranzau. The decree was promulgated on 17 June 2016 by Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the sacraments, Cardinal Robert Sarah. The coronation was held on 31 May 2017. With Reverend Francisco M. De Leon, D.D as the mass celebrant, and Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo as the crowning prelate in behalf of Pope Francis

Devotion

The feast day of the image is celebrated every September 9 and is known for holding annually the parade of rice cakes with singing and dancing In honor of the image.

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://sanmateo2016.wordpress.com/2016/02/24/church-of-nuestra-senora-de-aranzazu/
  2. ↑ https://traveleronfoot.wordpress.com/tag/national-shrine-of-the-nuestra-senora-de-aranzazu/

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