Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia
Marian devotees and Bicolano Catholics celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. Fondly called “Ina.” The story of Our Lady of Peñafrancia can be traced back to the year when Simon Vela was born in 1401 to a wealthy family in Paris, France. Simon eventually donated all his wealth to charity. While praying in a church, one day, he lost consciousness but was awakened by a voice telling him to travel to Peña de Francia (Rock of France), where he would find the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tradition said that for five years, Simon traveled west, and came to a hill where he saw the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms. There, he did some digging with the help of five men in a nearby town. On May 19, 1434, they uncovered the same image he had seen in his dream.
The veneration to the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Peñafrancia began in 1712 in the Bicol region, when Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, the son of a Spanish government official, suffered from a serious illness. While severely ill, he implored his healing from the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, and promised that if he recovered he would construct a shrine in her honor. Miguel recovered from his sickness. After a few years, he was ordained a priest in Naga City. He fulfilled his promise and began his plans to construct the shrine for the Blessed Mother. He also ordered that a Marian image be made, similar to the one he prayed to while sick. Unfortunately, the local artisans had run out of red paint. It was said that a dog was killed and its blood was used to coat and paint the image. The dead dog which was thrown into the river began to swim to the surprise of hundreds of people who had witnessed the incident.
The traslacion last September 7 was witnessed by thousands of Bicolanos. Other events have been organized for the celebration but the highlight is the fluvial procession in honor of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia today. The fluvial procession is dubbed as Asia’s biggest Marian pilgrimage according to the mayor of Naga City.
As we celebrate the Feast of the Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, let us remember that Mary is not only a mother to Jesus but to all who follow her Son. She will always protect, and provide comfort to us all, her children. May our prayers be heard through the intercession of the Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, our “Ina.”