Our Lady of the Good Event (Parañaque) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of the Good Event of ParañaqueNuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag |
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| Location | Parañaque, Philippines |
| Date | 1580 |
| Type | wooden statue |
| Approval | September 8, 2000 by Pope John Paul II |
| Shrine | Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag (Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew, Parañaque, Philippines) |
| Patronage | City and Diocese of Parañaque, Sick, Afflicted |
| Attributes | Holding the infant Jesus |
Our Lady of the Good Event of Parañaque is a special statue of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. It is kept in St. Andrew's Cathedral in Parañaque, Philippines. The statue's name in Spanish is Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Parañaque. In Filipino, it is called Ina ng Mabuting Pangyayari ng Parañaque.
Sometimes, people mistakenly call it "Our Lady of Good Success." This is because the Spanish word "suceso" means "event," not "success."
Contents
The Story of the Statue
The history of Our Lady of the Good Event of Parañaque comes from writings by Nicolás de San Pedro. He was a priest at St. Andrew's Parish in the 1700s.
How the Statue Arrived
In 1580, some Augustinian priests brought the statue from Spain. It was a gift from the King to the Filipino people who became Christians. The Augustinians settled in Palanyag, which is now Parañaque. They started St. Andrew's Parish that same year.
The statue was left untouched and covered in dust for a long time. Then, a poor local man named Catig from Don Galo saw it. He asked the church helper if he could take the statue home. The helper agreed, and Catig placed the statue in his house. He lit candles to honor it.
A Priest's Discovery
Later, when Catig was dying, his neighbors called a priest named Juan de Guevarra. The priest came to give Catig his Last Rites. While blessing Catig, Father de Guevarra saw the statue near the bed. He asked if he could buy it for 24 pesos. Back then, a peso was worth much more than today.
Catig first said no, but then he changed his mind. He knew that many people would honor the statue if the priest had it. Father de Guevarra took the statue and placed it in his own room after Catig passed away.
Father de Guevarra said that he saw the statue glow with a mysterious light. He also heard beautiful hymns. This made him believe the statue was miraculous. He immediately told the Augustinian leader, Alonzo de Mentrida, about the miracle.
The Statue's Special Day
When Father de Mentrida heard the story, he ordered the statue to be moved to St. Andrew's church. On August 10, 1625, a big parade was held. The statue was then placed on the church altar.
The priests did not know what to call the statue of the Virgin Mary. So, Father de Mentrida asked them to write down names of famous titles of the Blessed Mother from Europe. They put these names on strips of paper in a jar. A young child was asked to pick a name. Six times in a row, the child picked "Our Lady of Good Event" (Buen Suceso). So, that became the statue's name.
The Archbishop of Manila, Miguel García Serrano, and other important officials came to honor the statue. Archbishop Serrano helped start a special prayer called a novena. He also helped rebuild the altar. After the altar was finished, another celebration happened on February 22, 1626. People from Parañaque and nearby areas attended.
Special Honors for the Statue
Pontifical Coronation
Pope John Paul II gave the statue a special honor called a Canonical Coronation on December 18, 1999. This means the Pope officially recognized the statue's importance. The coronation ceremony happened on September 8, 2000.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who later became the Vice President of the Philippines, attended the event. Our Lady of the Good Event is now a special patroness of the Diocese of Parañaque. She shares this honor with Andrew the Apostle, who the cathedral is named after.
On September 8, 2010, a copy of the statue was blessed. This copy was made by a Filipino artist named Thomas Joven.
Patroness of Parañaque
On August 10, 2012, the statue celebrated its 387th anniversary of being placed in the church. On this day, Pope Benedict XVI approved a decree. This decree, with the approval of Bishop Jesse E. Mercado, made the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew the "Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de Palanyag." This means it is a very important church for the statue.
On September 8, 2012, which was the 12th anniversary of its coronation, Our Lady of the Good Event of Parañaque was declared the official Patroness of the City of Parañaque. City officials and many people attended the special Mass.
Feast Day
The Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew celebrates the statue's feast day on August 10. In the past, people called the statue "Nana Ciso" with love. Her feast day was celebrated on different dates.
For example, it was celebrated on February 22, which was approved by the Archdiocese of Manila in 1626. It was also celebrated in May, October, and December 1. From 1892 until World War II, it was celebrated on December 1. This was the day after the parish's patron saint, St. Andrew the Apostle, was celebrated on November 30.
After World War II until 2004, the feast was on November 29. But since 2005, it has been celebrated on August 10. This date remembers when the statue was first placed in the church in 1625. It is now her official feast day.
See also
In Spanish: Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso (Parañaque) para niños
