Message of our Mother to the Ilonggos

The Church in the Philippines- February 15-21, 2009
Message of our Mother to the Ilonggos
(Taken from Panay News, Thursday, February 12, 2009; contributed by MAMO – Marian Associations, Movements, and Organizations

ILOILO City – The International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima is arriving for the third time in the Archdiocese of Jaro today (February 12) at 5 p.m. During her visits, many graces are given to the faithful.

According to its official custodian, it takes about 10 years for the statue to return to the place it had visited, making Iloilo very special. The icon had been here in 2002 and 2003.

This means the Blessed Mother is calling all Filipinos, especially the Ilonggos, to do something special.

In his circular letter 230/25/2008, Jaro Archbishop Msgr. Angel Lagdameo wrote: “Let the parishioners be the Praying Army as our country faces the challenges or crises of our time.” The intention of this visit is for world peace, sanctification of the clergy and faithful of the archdiocese as we face the uncertain future.

Our patron, the “Our Lady of Candles”, based in Jaro, signifies the vocation of Iloilo which is to be the light of hope that would enkindle faith and love for our country and hopefully, the whole world as we enter into the greatest trials and darkness of all time.
For this reason, we are calling on all the parishioners to respond to the call of our Archbishop to offer prayers and penance during these days, February 12-14 – declared by our Archbishop as “Days of Prayer and Penance.”

The pilgrim statue will stay at the Jaro Cathedral up to the 14th of February, 10 a.m.

Iloilo, the Ilonggos and residents of the whole Archdiocese of Jaro, are indeed fortunate to be visited by Our Lady of Fatima through her miraculous icon. It is said that the face of this International Pilgrim Statue bears a striking likeness to the actual facial features of Our Blessed Virgin Mary as seen by the young Lucy when our Lady appeared to her and to Francesco and Jacinta at Fatima, in Portugal.
For this reason, this particular icon has been approved personally by Lucia herself for public veneration. What message does Our Lady’s third visit to Iloilo in so short a time - less than ten years, in fact - bring to us? Is she telling us to be more prayerful? Is she warning us of our defiant ways that have displeased her Son Jesus? Is she preparing Iloilo, the Ilonggos, and the entire Archdiocese of Jaro their future important role in her mission as the Immaculate Heart of Mary? Are we prepared to accept and assist in this mission for the triumph of Her Immaculate Heart.

Many stories have been read in the national dailies of statements made by both Fr. Stefano Gobbi and Sr. Lucia herself, when she was alive, about Our Lady telling them, separately, of the special role of Iloilo in her mission as the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let us, then, Ilonggos, prepare for this role in our hearts and minds. Our Lady could be giving us this mission anytime soon.

So many difficulties are befalling us – typhoon Frank; the erratic weather conditions due to global-warming; the growing joblessness due to the on-going economic recession; the rampant and routine trend of mysterious murders in our local society; the drug problem; the disintegrating moral values and the permissiveness in society, media, and government; the routine government corruption; the decline of faith among lay people in some quarters; crisis in religious vocations; and secularization of the consecrated life in some congregations. Perhaps, Our Lady, seeing our helplessness in all these, has come to visit us personally all too soon, in behalf of her Son, Jesus, our Lord. Our Lady sees the urgency of this her 3rd visit to Iloilo. Shouldn’t we do our share by preparing our hearts and minds for her? We need to go to Confession; Jesus needs committed our hearts and hands for His Church, our Church. Do we see eager hands being raised and willing to assist?

with commentary by Armando A. Suñe