By Rachel Curry
Chants of “Viva la Virgen” (Long live the Virgin) and a blur of blue and gold brightened St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday, 17 September, as the Perth Filipino community celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia.
Also known as Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia, Our Lady of Penafrancia is an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary located in the Bicol region of the Philippines, whose reputation for performing miracles attracts five million pilgrims each year.
The devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia, who is the Patroness and Queen of Bicol and endearingly addressed by Bicolanos as Ina (Mother), began in 1710 and has since spread to many parts of the world.
Attended by some 900 people, the Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral was celebrated by Assistant Priest, Father Jeffey Casabuena, and sponsored by the Western Australian Oragon Group.
A novena was held before the Mass and a procession with the image of Our Lady of Penafrancia concluded the celebrations.
During his homily, Fr Casabuena reflected on the history of the devotion, which began in the 15th century in Spain, when the Blessed Virgin Mary spoke to a holy man called Simon Vela and asked him to find her shrine in a place called Pena de Francia.
Simon searched for five years before finally finding Pena de Francia, where Mary appeared to him and instructed him to dig in the ground.
Simon dug up the image of Our Lady of Penafrancia and it was there that the devotion began, before later being brought to the Philippines by a Spanish family.
“What is so interesting about the history of this devotion is the fact that the place Pena de Francia, which is a hill, was not a nice place at all, as it is described in the history that many outlaws and those in conflict with the law might have used it as a refuge or a hideout,” Fr Casabuena said.
“And this brought me to reflect that, of so many places where our Lady would reveal herself, why such a place?
“And I reflected that perhaps, the Blessed Mother wanted to reveal herself to that place to emphasise her role as mother of God’s children, who welcomes both saints and sinners and brings them back to God.
“And secondly, she was true to her title as the Great Refuge of Sinners who, like her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, welcomes those who need God, as He comes not for the righteous but for the sinners.”
Through her love, Mary shows us that God comes to encounter us wherever we are, despite our sinfulness, Fr Casabuena continued.
“The Blessed Mother has always been and will always be the instrument of God’s love, as we experience with her the very same love she has for His Son, Jesus our Lord,” he said.