Mary’s intercession highlighted in feast

CEBU, Philippines - Yesterday’s feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a reminder of the powerful intercession of Mama Mary in the Christianization era and even during recent disasters.

This was the point raised by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma in his homily during the pontifical mass celebrating the feast of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cebu City.

Palma reiterated the importance of yesterday’s religious occasion and its relevance to the Philippines and Cebu.

“December 12 is the apparition of Mary... She appeared not as an Israeli woman but as Aztec brown to be one with the people of Mexico. It’s a beautiful gift and reminder of the successful evangelization after a failed attempt three years prior. That it was only after the apparition when Aztecs were converted to Christianity and dropped,” Palma explained.

The prelate further discussed that the Philippines, the only Catholic country in Asia, is a “daughter” of Mexico, being the first Latin American diocese, which was instrumental in spreading Christianity in Cebu and the rest of the country.

The Our Lady of Guadalupe, apart from the miraculous Sr. Sto. Niño, is the patroness of Cebu. The Our Lady of Guadalupe is also the patroness of the Philippines.

Palma then linked Mama Mary’s intercession to the recent Bohol earthquake specifically the phenomenon that restored the faith of Boholanos in the town of Talibon.

“We brought the Papal Nuncio to earthquake-damaged churches in Bohol. Together with me were the Bishop of Talibon, Tagbilaran, and Bohol governor. We visited the damaged churches where images of Mama Mary survived while church did not,” he said.

The prelate was referring to the two images of Mama Mary in two churches in Bohol—Our Lady of Light in Loon town and Sta. Cruz parish in Maribojoc town.

Further, he cited the fire that razed the Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion parish in the southern town of Oslob in Cebu whose altar was burned down but the image of Mother Mary remained intact.

“What do these phenomena tell us? It is that in the midst of calamity, Mama Mary stands and her image erects with us. She is not just the mother of Jesus but a mother to us all especially those who love, who cry to her, and have confidence in her,” Palma said.

A day prior to the official feast day of the Archdiocesan Shrine in Guadalupe, Cebu City, hundreds of devotees participated in a solemn foot procession down Andres Abellana Street, M. Velez Street, and V. Rama Avenue.

In the Catholic calendar, the feast of Immaculate Concepcion of Mama Mary was also observed on December 8. — Jessa J. Agua/JMO (FREEMAN)