Our Lady of Good Success

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Our Lady of Good Success, also called as Our Lady of Good Events (Spanish: Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso; Filipino: Ina ng Mabubuting Pangyayari) is the one of the titles of Blessed Virgin Mary. This title is shared among numerous images around the world — a number of images in Spain, one in Quito, Ecuador, and one in Parañaque, Philippines. All images have different origins and miracles but only of Quito's gave an apparition - to Mother Mariana de Jésus Torres.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Spain

Our Lady of Good Success in Madrid, Spain
Our Lady of Good Success in Madrid, Spain

Two Spanish brothers, Brothers Gabriel de Fontaned and Guillermo de Rigosa traveled to Rome to meet the Pope for the approval of their order (The Order of Minims for the Service of the Sick or The Order of Saint Francis of Paola)[1]. As they were passing through the town of Traigueras (under the jurisdiction of Tortosa in the Principate of Cataluña), a furious storm occurred. The brothers prayed for God's guidance and help. Soon they found a mysterious light coming from a cave high up in a cliff. They entered the cave and discovered a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus in her arms. The ambience was very strange - shimmering lights and flowers with fragrant scents which were extraordinary. The two decided to bring the statue along their way since no one claims it and they hope that the Blessed Mother will help in approving the brothers' order.

On arriving in Rome, the brothers were nervous for their excuse might not get their consent. Pope Paul V upon hearing the story of their journey, knelt before the statue and placed his pectoral cross around the image's neck. As he embraced and kissed the statue, he exclaimed,

“ “Look Brothers! She is smiling! Why does she smile so? What good success you have had on this journey! There is no doubt that Our Lady has deigned to protect and support you in your work. Therefore it will not be me that will go against Her. May all of your desires have good success!” [2] ”

He then blessed it and christened her Our Lady of Good Success. The image was placed in the Royal Hospital of Madrid. Here, the image became famous "for the numerous favors granted by Heaven through her".[1] In 1641, Philip III ordered the construction of the Sanctuary of the Puerta del Sol. This enshrines the image renowned among the churches of Madrid. Soon, as its popularity and devotion spread, the image is replicated and placed in different places in Spain: Orduña, La Puebla de Gordon, Tudela, Abla, and among others.[3]

[edit] Quito, Ecuador

Our Lady of Good Success in Quito, Ecuador
Our Lady of Good Success in Quito, Ecuador

Five religious sisters traveled from Spain to Quito, Ecuador to start the first convent. Mariana de Jésus Torres, one of the young nuns, saw the Blessed Mother herself. She was her if she would be willing to offer her life for the sins of the Twentieth Century. She was also given the choice to stay in heaven or earth. Mariana decided to stay.

On February 2, 1594, as Mariana was praying to the Blessed Mother, she appeared again to her and stated:

“I am Mary of Good Success, whom you have invoked with such tender affection. Your prayer has pleased me very much. Your faith has brought me here. Your love has invited me to visit you.…." [4]

Mary told Mother Mariana some prophecies which will happen in the Twentieth Century, particularly about the corruption, oppression and unavailability of the sacraments and also crisis in the clergy.

On January 16, 1599, Our Lady of Good Success commands a statue to be made to her likeness stating:

“…now I ask and command you to have a statue to be made for the consolation and preservation of my convent and for those faithful souls of that epoch during which there will be a great devotion to me, for I am the Queen of Heaven under many invocations…With the making of this statue I will favor not only my convent, but also the people of Quito—and all the people throughout the centuries.” [5]
Mother Mariana, The Lily of Quito
Mother Mariana, The Lily of Quito

Our Lady of Good Success also told Mother Mariana that this statue was to be made, for these reasons:

“First so that men in the future might realize how powerful I am in placating Divine Justice and obtaining mercy and pardon for every sinner who comes to me with a contrite heart. For I am the Mother of Mercy and in me there is only goodness and love.”
“And second …when tribulations of spirit and sufferings of the body oppress them and they seem to be drowning in this bottomless sea let them gaze at my holy image and I will always be there ready to listen to their cries and soothe their pain. Tell them that they should always run to their Mother with confidence and love...” [6]

Over the course of ten years Mother Mariana struggled with the issue of the making of the statue. Many obstacles prevented the sculpting of it. One obstacle was a fear of idolatry on the part of the native people in Quito. Another was Mother Mariana’s personal fear of not being believed and putting the convent in jeopardy. There was already an upheaval in the convent caused by an unfaithful and rebellious sister who incited some of sisters against Mother Mariana and sisters who were faithful to the rule of their order. This sister was known as “La Capitana” (the Captain). This sister because of her evil ways was headed straight for hell. Mother Mariana was mystically informed of the horrible eternal plight of this sister. She desired to save this soul from eternal damnation—the only solution given to Mother Mariana was that she, herself, was to take on the suffering and punishments of hell that this sister would have to endure for eternity had she not been spared by Mother Mariana. This she was to bear for five long years. Mother Mariana agreed to this sentence. She was the picture of virtue during this time and no one but her confessor knew of the tormented life she led at this time. As a result of Mother Mariana’s years of suffering “La Capitana” converted. She lived the rest of her days in repentance for the sins she had committed.

In the year 1610, she asked the permission of the Bishop to create the statue. He agreed for he dreamt for his sooner doom. The statue of Our Lady of Good Success was assigned to be sculptured by Francisco del Castillo. This sculptor was chosen for he was good in sculpturing and had deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. He worked long and hard on this statue. When he was about to put the last coating of paint to the statue, he went out and searched for paints which will suit best to the faces of Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus.

[edit] Miraculous completion of the statue

Our Lady of Good Success completed the statue together with the archangels and St. Francis of Assisi
Our Lady of Good Success completed the statue together with the archangels and St. Francis of Assisi

While the sculptor was away, Mother Mariana and the other sisters went to the choir loft to implore Our Lady to keep her promise. Later, the sisters left Mother Mariana leaving her alone praying in the choir loft. Suddenly, Our Lady of Good Success appeared with the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael along with St. Francis of Assisi. The archangels bowed down to Mary and chanted a prayer:

"Hail to Thee, Mary Most Holy Daughter of God the Father” (St. Michael)
"Hail to Thee, Mary Most Holy Mother of God the Son” (St. Gabriel)
”Hail to Thee, Mary Most Holy, Most Pure Spouse of the Holy Ghost” (St. Raphael)
“Hail to Thee, Mary Most Holy Temple and Sacrarium of the Most Holy Trinity” ( 3 Archangels) [7]

With this, the statue of Our Lady was completed. The statue became animated as Mary walked into the statue itself. Our Lady of Good Success began to sing the “Magnificat”. This occurred on the morning of January 16, 1611 at 3:00 AM. A choir of heavenly spirits began to sing “Salve Sancta Parens” which awakened the rest of the convent. The sisters rushed to the choir loft and found the statue transformed and surrounded by a heavenly light.

The statue of Our Lady of Good Events was blessed on February 2, 1611. On that day, she was placed above the seat of the Abbess chair at her own specific request as a sign to all that she was the one who governed and watched over the convent. Her official title being that of “Mary of Good Success of the Purification”.

[edit] Burning out of Sanctuary Light

Our Lady of Good Success appeared to Mother Mariana
Our Lady of Good Success appeared to Mother Mariana

On February 2, 1634, 23 years after the first apparition, Our Lady of Good Success appeared again to Mother Mariana. As Mother Mariana was praying in the upper choir loft before the Blessed Sacrament, as she often did, the Sanctuary lamp went out. Mother Mariana was left in complete darkness. This sign shows that terrible things would happen during these times.

Our Lady of Good Success was quite clear on what would be the demise of the Catholic Church—the general theme--a lax and perverse clergy. Certain members of the Catholic clergy would become as thieves stealing that Tabernacle light which is rightfully ours by virtue of our baptism in the Catholic Church—our Faith. They would rob us of Doctrine, Dogma and Tradition—ransacking the Church as it were leaving us in total darkness without even as much as the light of the Sanctuary lamp. Our Lady of Good Success went into great detail to explain what the five reasons were for the extinguishing of the light.

  • The first reason why the lamp was snuffed out was because in the end of the 19th Century and the 20th Century, heresies would prevail not only in Ecuador but universally. “As these heresies spread and dominate, the precious light of Faith will be extinguished in souls by the almost total corruption of customs.” [8]
  • The second reason was that in these times the Conceptionist community would shrink and even be infected with bad attitudes and false charity as a result of the pervading situation of the Church at the time. Many vocations would be lost as a direct result. “The faithful souls would suffer a continuous and slow martyrdom, weeping in secret and imploring that such dire times be shortened.” [9]
  • The third reason the lamp failed was because during this century a worldwide campaign against the virtues of chastity, and purity would succeed in ruining the youth. Our Lady of Good Success affirmed, “There will be almost no virgin souls in the world”[10]
  • The fourth reason the lamp was put out was to demonstrate how the Masonic and other secret sects would have so much influence on society and even the Church. “During these unfortunate times,” she foretold, “evil will invade childhood innocence. In this way, vocations to the priesthood will be lost, resulting in a true calamity.” Our Lady of Good Success could foresee that there would still be some good, faithful religious that would be willing to suffer all for the salvation of souls and sustenance of the Holy Catholic Church. “The secular clergy will leave much to be desired because priests will become careless in their sacred duties. Lacking the divine compass, they will stray from the road traced by God for the priestly ministry, and they will become attached to wealth and riches, which they will unduly strive to attain. How the Church will suffer during this dark night! Lacking a prelate and a father to guide them …many priests will lose their spirit, placing their souls in great danger.” [10]
    The poor priestly souls that would be left to uphold the Church would suffer greatly. “Against them the impious will rage a cruel war, overwhelming them with vituperations, calumnies and vexations in order to stop them from fulfilling their ministry. But they, like firm columns, will remain unswerving and will confront everything with a spirit of humility and sacrifice with which they will be vested, by virtue of the infinite merits of my most Holy Son, Who will love them in the innermost fibers of His Most Holy and Tender Heart. Our Lady of Good Success implored that the people of this time should “clamor insistently” to the Heavenly Father for an end to ‘these ominous times’ sending to the Church a prelate and father who would restore the spirit to the priests”. [10]
  • The fifth reason the lamp went out was due to those who have the financial means to help the Church but do nothing. Because of their uncaring attitude toward God and His Church, they would have allowed evil to seemingly triumph.

After seeing the visions, Mother Mariana fainted and remained unconscious for two days. The doctor almost declared her death to be near but she woke up miraculously and regained her health.

[edit] Parañaque, Philippines

Our Lady of Good Success in Parañaque, Philippines
Our Lady of Good Success in Parañaque, Philippines

The history of Our Lady of Good Success in Parañaque was based on the writings of Father Nicolas de San Pedro, OSA, the vicar of St. Andrew's Parish (today Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew).

The Augustinian fathers brought the image from Spain as a gift from the King to the converted Filipinos who were former non-Christians. The Augustinians stayed in Palanyag (Parañaque) and built St. Andrew's Parish in 1580, the same year the image was delivered. Her image was left untouched and covered with dust. Catig, a poor native from Don Galo, saw this and he asked the sacristan for her. He brought her to his small house, lighting candles to honor her.

When Catig was nearly dying on his bed, some of his neighbors called Fr. Juan de Guevarra for the native's final blessing. Upon blessing Catig, Fr. Guevarra saw the her beautiful image sitting near the bed. He asked Catig for the her in exchange of PHP 24 (Note that peso was costly during the Spanish era in the Philippines.) At first, the native disagreed but he changed his mind knowing that she would be adored by the people. Father Guevarra took the image and placed it in his cell after the owner died. [11]

In the cell, according to Fr. Guevarra, a great miracle happened: a mysterious light emanated from her image, and he heard glorious hymns. Fr. Guevarra concluded that the image was miraculous. [12]

[edit] Enthronement to the altar

Father Guevarra reported the miracle immediately to the supreme of the Augustinians, Father Alonzo de Mentrida. Upon hearing the words of the friar, he ordered the image to be placed on the altar of St. Andrew's Parish. On August 10, 1625, a great procession was done - her image was placed on its respective place.[12]

The people of Palanyag assembled and voted for her title. Each wrote the suggested name in a rolled piece of paper and dropped to a box which was held by an eight-year-old boy. The name Buen Suceso was called six times and it was named to her.[13]

The first feast day was held on November 29, 1626. Archbishop Miguel Garcia Serrano and some of the officials of Manila joined to venerate the Lady's image. It was said that Archbishop Serrano is the first one to create the novena and reconstructed the altar. After the reconstruction, another feast was celebreted on February 22, 1627. Many went to the celebration, not only the ones who live in Parañaque, but also the neighboring provinces.

[edit] Canonical coronation

The image of Our Lady of Good Success was canonically crowned as the "Patroness of the City of Parañaque" on September 8, 2000, the same day of the feast of the Virgin Mary's birth. Many joined in the celebration: the parishioners, the local government officials, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, before she became president. After the Lady was crowned, people shouted, "Viva la Virgen!" (Long live the Virgin!) After the mass, a procession was done together with the statue of Our Lady. [14] Now she also serve as the new patroness of the newly established Diocese of Parañaque. Seconded by St. Andrew, the Apostle the patron of the Cathedral Parish of the said Diocese

[edit] Feast

In Ecuador and Spain, her feast day is celebrated on February 2, the day Our Lady of Good Success appeared to Mother Mariana along with the archangels and St. Francis of Assisi (thus coinciding with the Feast of the Purification). In Parañaque, the original feast day falls on November 29. Monsignor Manuel Gabriel moved the feast day to August 10 when the statue was enthroned to the altar.

[edit] External links

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Urrate, José (2003). Introduction to the Novena to Our Lady of Good Success.  Trans. Horvat, Marian Theresa.
  2. ^ Montes, Carlos. La Sonrisa de la Señora - Historia de la Virgen del Buen Suceso.
  3. ^ Horvat, Marian Theresa. Our Lady of Good Success - Quito, Ecuador
  4. ^ Our Lady of Good Success Novena and Prayer Booklet, Prologue, pg. 13
  5. ^ Our Lady of Good Success –Prophecies for Our Times,1st Edition, pg. 44
  6. ^ Stories and Miracles of Our Lady of Good Success, pg. 25
  7. ^ Stories and Miracles of Our Lady of Good Success, pg. 55
  8. ^ Our Lady of Good Success –Prophecies for Our Times,1st Edition, pg. 50
  9. ^ Our Lady of Good Success – Prophecies for Our Times, 1st Edition, pg. 51
  10. ^ a b c Our Lady of Good Success –Prophecies for Our Times, 1st Edition, pg. 52
  11. ^ Nobena sa Karangalan ng Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, October 7, 1996, pg. 5-6
  12. ^ a b Nobena sa Karangalan ng Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, October 7, 1996, pg. 6
  13. ^ Nobena sa Karangalan ng Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, October 7, 1996, pg. 7
  14. ^ The Canonical Coronation of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso.