Prepared by: Richard G.

Pazcoguin UST Institute of Religion

We Filipinos are known for our great love and devotion to the Mother of God. Hence we are called pueblo amante de Maria, people who love Mary. Even the triumph of a political event like the EDSA revolution is attributed to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin.

In the Philippines, Mary is known by many titles. In Pangasinan, she is Our Lady of Manaoag. In Cagayan, she is Our Lady of Piat.In Antipolo, she is Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. In Bicol, she is Our Lady of Peafrancia. In Quezon City, she is Our Lady of La Naval.
Many titles- one great lady- Mary the Mother of God. Who is this woman? What exactly did she do for us?

CCC No. 489: Throughout the Old Covenant, the mission of many holy women prepared for that of Mary. EVE received the promise of a posterity that will be victorious over the evil one, as well as the promise that she will be the mother of all the living. SARAH conceived a son in her old age, proving that nothing is impossible with God. HANNAH, DEBORAH, RUTH, JUDITH, ESTHER they were among the women whose faith and obedience were instrumental in carrying out the plan of God.

Though God did not have an absolute need for Mary, in His plan of salvation, He wanted the free cooperation of a creature to bring forth the incarnate Son into the world. Just as it was through the disobedience of a woman that sin entered the world, it was through the obedience of a woman that salvation came in. The knot of Eves disobedience was untied by Marys obedience. What the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith. St. Irenaeus

As she presented Jesus to the temple, Simeon prophesied that a sword shall pierce her heart. Mary was there at the foot of the cross, sharing in the agony of her Son. She participated in a very real sense in Jesus saving mission by suffering with him.

By entrusting John to Mary, Jesus made Mary the Mother of the Church. Just as Eve was the mother of all the living, Mary is the mother of those to whom Christ has given new life by virtue of His death and resurrection.

CCC No. 964: This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation was made manifest from the time of Christs virginal conception up to his death. No. 965: After her Sons ascension, Mary aided the beginnings of the church with her prayers

Mary is Mother of the Church. She is our mother in the order of grace. She is our model in faith and charity. Because of the uniqueness of her role and her closeness to God, Marys prayers for the church are powerful and efficacious.

Council of Ephesus, 431

Jesus is one person with two natures: human and divine. While it was the humanity of Jesus that came from Mary, this human nature of the Son was hypostatically united to His divinity. Since there is only one Jesus, and Jesus is both God and Man, then the Blessed Mother is truly the Theotokos or God-bearer. She is mother, not only of the human Jesus, but of the Christ who is both human and divine.

Pope Pius IX, 1854

The Church teaches that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the very first moment of her existence, had been preserved by God from original sin. This privilege of Mary was a consequence of her being the Mother of God. Jesus was fully human and fully divine in one person. The human nature of the Son came from his biological mother. In order for the Son to be the spotless lamb who will atone for the sins of humanity, his human nature would have to be unblemished. His human mother, therefore, must be free from sin.

VIRGINAL MOTHERHOOD Marys conception of Jesus ws not through relations with man, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was willed by the Father that while the Son assumes the human nature through his human mother, he remains to be the Fathers natural son. EVER-VIRGIN While the motherhood of Mary was extended to all men at the foot of the cross, Jesus is Marys only son. Mary remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him. A virgin in carrying him, a virgin in nursing him at her breasts, always a virgin. St. Augustine

Pius XII, 1950

Because she was preserved from original sin, Mary cannot suffer the decay in the tomb. Rather, when the course of her earthly life was over, she was taken up body and soul into heaven. While the assumption was a unique privilege given to Mary, it is for us a manifestation of what will happen to us at the end of time: body and soul will become one to enjoy fully the glory of heaven.

Because we acclaim Christ as the King of the Universe, we honor the Blessed Mother as the Queen Mother, the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

The Kingship of Jesus was exemplified in his selfless service to others. When we look at Mary as queen, we do not simply look at her as a ruling monarch, but as someone who, like her Son, spent her life in serving others.
Until now, Mary, our queen, is always at our service, ready to intercede for us before the throne of God. She is the one who prays for us now and at the hour of our death.

CCC No.971: All generations shall call me blessed!. The Churchs devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship. The church rightly honors The Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times, the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of Mother of God to whose protection the faithful fly in their dangers and needsThis very special devotiondiffers essentially form the adoration which is given to the Incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration. the liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an epitome of the whole Gospel, express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Twice in Philippine History, Marys powerful intercession brought about the salvation of the Filipino people, first from Protestant invaders, and then from a tyrannical government.

LA NAVAL DE MANILA 1646

EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION 1986

In the 17th Century, a Dutch fleet threatened to invade the Philippines, and thus propagate the Protestant religion.

Our ancestors vowed that if they win the naval battle against the Dutch (considering that the Filipinos and Spaniards only had two galleons and no war ships), they will go on a pilgrimage to Sto. Domingo where the image of Our Lady of the Rosary is enshrined. In 1646, the battle was miraculously won, and the yearly celebration of this victory (Second Sunday of October) has since been known as LA NAVAL DE MANILA.

The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution is famous for its being unbloody and peaceful. During the four glorious days of February 1986, EDSA was filled by people from all walks of life, praying the rosary together and celebrating the Eucharist. The victory of the Filipino people in putting to an end the twenty year rule of the dictator was attributed to the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Peace. To commemorate this victory, a shrine was built in her honor, known as the EDSA Shrine. This became the venue of another People Power Revolution in 2001.

Everywhere in the country in churches, chapels, and oratories, the Blessed Mother invites all Christian faithful to rpay devoutly The Virgins role for us Filipinos is wide: she is recourse of those in need, comforter of the afflicted, our patron in all our needs or problems, the consolation of the sick.
The Filipino Way of Holiness 60-61 CBCP 1999

There is no doubt that we are a matriarchal society. Our natural warmth, kindness and sweetness with our earthly mothers are easily transferred to our heavenly mother: the Blessed Virgin Mary From the beginning, Mary has always been part of our history. It appears as though our seasonal celebrations are incomplete without her. This honor is probably similar to the place given to Filipino Mothers who always have a role in the life of their children. If there is something outstanding in the spirituality of the Filipino Catholic, it is probably our approach to Christ through Mary. In fact, all over the country, the most effective means to bring the good news of Our Lord Jesus Christ is through the devotion to the Blessed Mother. This devotion is one of the strongest factors that maintain our faith. Mary is like the nourishment in the ground that makes the soil ready for planting the seeds of the Kingdom of God.
The Filipino Way of Holiness 86-87 CBCP 1999

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY under her title

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Is the principal patroness of the PHILIPPINES

Saking paglalakbay Sa bundok ng buhay, Sa ligayat lumbay, Maging talang gabay. Mariang ina ko, Ako riy anak mo. Kay Kristong kuya ko, Akayin mo ako. Kay Kristong kuya ko, Akayin mo ako.

Maging aking tulay sa langit kong pakay. Sa bingit ng hukay, tangnan aking kamay. Sabihin sa Kanya aking dusa at saya. Ibulong sa Kanya, minamahal ko Siya.

CBCP Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education (trans) CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (English translation for the Philippines) Manila: ECCCE and Makati: Word and Life Publications, 1994 Catherine Fornier FEAST OF THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY www.domestic-church.com Catholic Information Network MARY: THE FAITH-FILLED MOTHER / ASSOCIATE OF THE REDEEMER www.cin.org THE FOUR MARIAN DOGMAS www.signumcrucis.net