The History of the Feast of Nuestra Sra. de la Candelaria

Candlemas is the feast celebrated every 2nd of February to commemorate two major events in the New Testament – the presentation of Jesus in the temple and the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Ex. 13:2, Lk. 2:22-38, Lev. 12:1-8)

In history, Candlemas (known as 40th day of Epiphany) was already celebrated in Jerusalem as early as 400 A.D., until it spread in the Eastern Empire in Constantinople, this, called as Hypapante; and into the Western Empire where the procession of the lights believed to be of pagan Roman origin was institutionalized in the 11th century.

From being a Christological celebration, the Candlemas evolved into a Marian-centered feast probably because “the procession in both East and West terminated at a Marian church.” In later centuries, the creation of an icon showing Mary as the “bearer of the light of lights” has further solidified the Marian character of Candlemas – such is our celebration of the feast of Nuestra Sra. de la Candelaria.

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The devotion to the Nuestra Sr. de la Candelaria journeyed and was welcomed in many town churches in the country since the early 1600s. Jaro was one among the nine pueblos who advocated the Virgin in 1904. She became the center of the Candelaria devotion in the Philippines, where devotees from all over the region and farther make pilgrimage every February 2, until she was proclaimed the Patroness of Western Visayas.

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There were many stories that tell the origin of the stone statue of Nuestra Sr. de la Candelaria. Many of these stories were passed on from one generation to the next; such stories became legends that all the more stirred the popular devotion to the Virgin.

The most recent story was narrated by our late Archbishop Alberto J. Piamonte, D.D., who commissioned Engr. Jose “Tantoy” Locsin to transfer the statue to a new niche for the visit of the Pope in 1980. Tio Tantoy found it difficult because the chains broke several times as the workers tried to bring her down. Suddenly, an insight dawned on him that sine they were dealing with a Queen, as Queen, she must be attended to, “dapat tambungan.” With this, Msgr. Piamonte dressed in full regalia and personally directed the transfer; this time, the chains did not break and the Virgin was installed into her new niche where she is not at present.

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Nstra. Sra. de la Candelaria proved to be a mother as she nurtured and nourished the faith of the people of Jaro, as a pueblo until she was elevated into a diocese in 1865 under Bishop Mariano Cuartero; and finally, into an Archdiocese in June 29, 1951 under Archbishop Jose Ma. Cuenco.