Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga

Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga also known as Indu Ning Capaldanan is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with a carved wooden image venerated by the Roman Catholic faithful in Pampanga, Philippines.^[1]

Under this particular title, Mary is officially designated as the Patroness of Pampanga and was granted its official title and given a Canonical Coronation by Pope Pius XII through a Papal Bull dated 15 July 1956, while its official feast is celebrated on the Feast of Nativity of Mary.

The paired devotion alongside with a crucifix called Santo Cristo Perdon is highlighted in a prayer apostolate known as Crusaders for Penance and Charity, a prayer group started by women which focused on Catholic social justice for the poor and the destitute and was once instituted to combat Fascism and Communism.

History

In the 1950s after the Second World War, the province of Pampanga was plagued with Fascism and Communism which threatened both the Catholic religion and social order in the Philippines. The lower and the middle class laity conflicted with wealthy landowners which caused much political conflict in the region.

The Bishop of Pampanga at the time, Cesar Maria Guerrero decided to foster a Marian devotion to pacify the problems encountered by his people. Guerrero, who was originally from the town of Malate was already aware of a similar image of Our Lady of Remedies already venerated in Malate, Manila dating from the Castillian period when the Philippines was still a colonial territory of the Kingdom of Spain.

Guerrero requested an image of the Immaculate Conception, already venerated as Our Lady of Remedies from Baliti, Pampanga to be borrowed in San Fernando to help with a new apostolate do towards peace and reconciliation, called Crusaders of Penance and Charity. Great piety and monetary donations were garnered, primarily due to the wealthy noblewomen and widows who contributed into the religious group, along with the consistent religious processions and recitations of Rosary which made the devotion popular among the masses. A systematic bylaws for the apostolate was created, making the group organized and much more official for growth and ecclesiastical recognition.^[2]

By 1954, the people of Baliti, Pampanga became adamant in requesting that their image be returned to their town. As a result, Bishop Guerrero commissioned the Santero artist Victoriano Siongco to carve out a larger image of the Immaculate Conception for the official use of the Crusader apostolate, while the Baliti image is to be returned to its original parish.

Pontifical approbation

The Papal bull issued for the Canonical coronation of Virgin of Remedies of Pampanga.

On 11 February 1956, Bishop Guerrero submitted a petition to Cardinal Federico Tedeschini, who at the time was the Apostolic Dataria to Pope Pius XII requesting to grant a canonical coronation. On 15 July 1956, Pope Pius XII issued the pontifical decree on the Canonical Coronation of the image which occurred on 8 September 1956, the same day of its current feast.^[3]

Religious iconography

The Virgen de los Remedios of Pampanga is known for its unique iconography which has varied over the years. The most notable among these are her hands, which is often shown as open in equal proportion, causing in many theories ranging from a gesture of offering or simply loosening of the arms. The image is known for her high cheekbones and elongated nose, which enhances the look of regalia associated with the Virgin.

Former depictions of the image included rings on her fingers and a six pointed star in her forehead called an Atocha. In prior years, an enlarged moon and an immaculate heart of Mary adorned the front base of the statue. Similar to the Our Lady of Remedies in Malate, the garment of the Pampanga image features a cape that runs under both arms of the Virgin.

Feast and veneration

The Feast of Virgen de los Remedios of Pampanga is celebrated each 8 September, the Nativity of Mary. In the United States, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, California crowns a replica of the image each year at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.^[4]

See also

• Our Lady of Guidance
• Santo Niño de Cebu
• Santo

References