Our Lady of Peῆafrancia

Venerated in Roman Catholic church

Spanish: Nuestra Seῆora de Peῆafrancia,

Nuestra Seῆora de la Peῆa de Francia or

Virgen de la Peῆa de Francia

Major Shrine  Peῆafrancia
Basilica
 St. John the
Is a wooden statue of the
Evangelist
Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in  Metropolitan
Cathedral of
Naga City, Bicol, Philippines.
Naga
 Peῆafrancia
The image comes from the Shrine
original image enshrined in  San Francisco
Church, Naga
Salamanca, Spain. It is currently Feast Third day of
housed at the Peῆafrancia September

Basilica where every September

is held for the novena festivities
Attributes Wooden statue
in honor of the image as the Aureola with 12 stars
principal Patroness and Queen of crowns for the
Blessed Mother and
Bicol. the Holy Child
“Manto” or the cloak
opened wide.
Patronage Bicol Region, Espirito
Santo, sick people,
afflicted people
Pope Pius XI granted the image a
Major History
Canonical coronation on
Canonical  September
September 20, 1924 via his
coronation of the 20, 1904-
Apostolic delegate, Monsignor image “Patroness of
Bicolandia”
Guillermo Piani. On December 3,
 Monsignor
2015, a mosaic image of the Guillermo
Piani-
Virgin Mary under this title was
officiated it
officially enshrined at the Theft of the image  August 15,
1981
Vatican Gardens for the 14th slot
Sipocot,
at the pontifical mandate of Pope Camarines
Sur- massive
Francis. The ceremony was search for
attended by then President of the image a
policeman was
the Philippines, Benigno Aquino killed and a
III who unveiled the image with police
lieutenant
honors. wounded when
their jeepney
was ambushed
by armed men.

Recovery  Rev.
Monsignor
Florencio
Yllana- the
image was
returned to
him.
 to the Our
Lady.
 Events are
open in public.
Fluvial Procession  End of novena
Events of the image's  Farewell
service
feast  The image is
carried
Novena to the Divino  Brought in through the
Rostro procession to streets and in
old Penafrancia pagoda on its
Shrine journey return
 Miss Bicolandia to Basilica.
 September 8 Festival Sunday  Festival masses
“Nativity of held on the 3rd
Mary –marked Sunday of
by masses in September at
the old shrine the Peñafrancia
Traslación  Image of Our Minor Basilica
Lady of mark the
Penafrancia is official
transferred termination of
down to her old the festivities.
home in the Masses are
afternoon. held all day
 After long to
procession, accommodate
community the millions of
thanksgiving people
mass is attending on
celebrated. such an
Novenario to the  9 day novenario important day
Our Lady of inside of celebration
Peñafrancia Metropolitan of Bicol
Cathedral Naga Catholics.
City.

Parades and  Different

celebrations parades are
held during the
nine-day novena
 In Salamanca, Spain
On September 4, 1401, in the city of Paris,
capital of France, a child was born to pious
and religious parents, Rolan and Barbara.
He was christened Simon. The family was
quite well off, and their property was more
than sufficient to maintain a family of four.
Early in his youth, however, Simon despised
wealth although his parents could well
afford his wishes. When his parents and his

History of Our only sister died, Simon inherited all their

property. To avoid trouble, which he thought

Lady of
might ensue from his possession of such
wealth, he sold his patrimony and donated
the proceeds to the Church, the poor and
Peñafrancia the destitute, as well as to charitable
institutions. He then applied for a position
as a chamber boy in the convent of a
Franciscan church in Paris.

Simon would frequently visit the church and

spend hours in prayer before the altar of
the Virgin Mary. Many times, in his deep
meditation, he would ask the Holy Virgin to
inspire him in what he might do to please
her. Once, while he was absorbed in spiritual
contemplation of the beauty of the Holy
Mother, he lost consciousness. His prayer
was answered for he heard a clear voice
that tried to rouse him from slumber:
“Simon, wake up; be on the watch…. From
now on your name will be Simon Vela. Go to
Peña de Francia west of this country, and
there you will find the shrine of the Blessed
Virgin Mary".
 mentioned. He then begged the man to guide
him to the place called Peña de Francia but
For five (5) years Simon Vela traveled far
for some reason the latter refused to do so.
and wide among caves, hills and mountains, in
search of Peña de Francia but he could not
find the place. He wanted to give up the
Simon traced the road through which he
search, and was in fact already on his way
thought the man has passed. He then
back to Paris, when one night he heard the
reached a villa called San Martin de
same voice once more saying: “Simon, do not
Castañar on May 14, 1434. He went to
give up the search; do not give up what you
church and after the mass, he asked a man
have begun. Persevere and your labors will
to kindly indicate where Peña de Francia was.
be recompensed.” This suddenly buoyed up
The man took Simon Vela to a place some
his spirits and so he resumed his search the
distance from the church and pointed to him
next day.
a hill in the far distance saying that the hill
was the Peña de Francia he was looking for.
Simon was very grateful and thanked God
Simon went to the Church of Santiago de
for having found the man who showed him
Galicia. And while he was passing the market
the place of his dream.
place of Salamanca, he saw two men
quarreling. One was seriously wounded and
fell at Simon’s side. The offender was
Simon then set out for the place indicated
caught by the crowd who milled around them
and, after a long weary journey, came to a
and he brazenly remarked: “Had I killed my
steep rocky hill. By this time, his supply of
enemy, I would have escaped to Peña de
provisions had been depleted and he was
Francia where no one, not even the king,
beginning to feel the pangs of hunger. The
could find me.” Simon was overjoyed when he
climb over the hill had considerably
heard this for now he knew that such a place
weakened him, but he was not disheartened
did actually exist.
because he knew deep within him that God
had not forsaken him to a fruitless and
useless search. And indeed how right he was
Several hours afterwards he resumed his
for on the road otherwise abandoned he
way to the church of San Martin. On his way
found a packet containing a loaf of bread
he met a man selling charcoal. Simon asked
and piece of meat. This relieved him so much
the man where he came from, and the man
until night overtook him and he sought
said he came from a place called Peña de
shelter in a cave. Inside he prayed for
Francia. This was the second time that
guidance and soon he was lost in deep
Simon heard the name of the place
slumber.
 come to pass as it has been the wish of my
child.” Then the Lady suddenly disappeared
Early in the morning of the next day, Simon
and Simon was left standing alone and
began the search for the shrine in every
rooted in the spot with wonder and awe.
cave where he had slept the night before.
He felt distressed and discouraged for his
seemed as distant as it was when he started.
On the morning of May, 1434, on the spot
He knelt and prayed for strength and
where the apparition of the Holy Virgin
courage.Soon, he heard the same voice he
disappeared, Simon began the work of
had previously heard resounding clearly
digging and excavating. He, however, heard
through the cave: “Simon, be awake: do not
the same voice again saying: “Simon, do not
sleep.” Simon continued the search with
attempt to undertake that big task alone.
more zeal in the morning of the next day. At
Undertake it in the presence and with the
a distance on a rocky hill, he saw a glaring
help of two, three, or more persons.”
and dazzling light filling the place with its
Evidently this was to avert any doubt or
brilliance. Trembling with joy, he approached
suspicion from people as to a veracity of the
it and there he found the Virgin Mary with
miracle and the credibility of Simon. So
the Child Jesus in her arms sittings on a
Simon went to San Martin del Castañar, a
golden throne. He Knelt before her and
nearby town from the spot, and asked five
prayed with all the fervor of his soul. The
men to help him. They were Anton
ecstatic Simon said, “Oh, Lady, the dream of
Fernandez, Pascual Perez, Benito
my soul, the inspiration of men and women!
Sanchez, Juan Hernandez and Antonio
My labors are now ended. Many years have I
Sanchez, the parish scribe of the place.
traveled far and wide to seek you and to
drink in the beauty of your eyes! Do not
forsake me: be my protection.”
These men thought that they were digging
for hidden treasure but they were informed
that they were going to dig for objects
In sympathy for Simon, the Lady answered:
worth far more than any worldly goods their
“Simon, rejoice! Your constancy will be
hearts could cherish. They dug unceasingly,
rewarded. Your dream will be realized. Your
clearly following directions from divine
labors are now ended. Take heed and keep in
inspiration. Finally, on May 19, 1434, after
your heart what I wish you to do. Dig in this
removing a huge stone, they found
spot and take what you can see and place it
embedded among the rocks, the most
on the summit of this rocky hill. Build on this
coveted image of the Holy Virgin with the
hill a beautiful dwelling. You are to begin it
Child in her arms.
and others will come to finish it.. This must
 Stories of miracles surrounding the image
began circulating immediately, beginning
According to locals in what is now Naga City, with the account of a resurrected dog. The
a Spanish colonial official from Peña de animal was killed for its blood, which was to
francia, Spain (a native of San Martín de be used in painting the newly carved image
Castañar) settled with his family in Cavite in of Our Lady, and the carcass was dumped
1712. One day, Miguel Robles de into the Bikol river. The dog suddenly came
Covarrubias, a son of the official and a back to life and began swimming; hundreds
seminarian studying at the Universidad de allegedly witnessed the event. News of many
Santo Tomás in Manila, fell seriously ill. He other miracles spread quickly, as did public
and his family prayed to Our Lady of devotion to the image. A letter sent by
Peñafrancia, whose picture Miguel clutched Miguel to the Dominicans in Salamanca,
to his breast as he hoped for recovery. Spain in 1712 reported numerous miracles
Miguel vowed that if cured, he would out of through the intercession of Our Lady. The
gratitude construct a chapel on the banks of number of devotees eventually increased
the Pasig River in Manila. beyond the Diocese of Nueva Cáceres, which
comprised the Bicolandia and Marinduque,
and in modern times the devotion has
Miguel was miraculously cured, and ordained reached other parts of the world along with
a priest not in Manila but in Ciudad de the Filipino diaspora.
Nueva Cáceres (now Naga City) by Bishop
Andrés González. To fulfill his vow, Miguel
(who was the first diocesan priest ordained The image is known to devotees by the title
in Naga), did two things. Ina, a local term for "Mother".

 First, he mobilized natives along the

slopes of Mount Isarog to build a
chapel from the local nipa and
bamboo, at a site by the banks of the
Bikol River and not the Pasig as he
earlier desired.
 Second, he ordered a local artisan to
carve an image patterned after the
picture of Our Lady of Peñafrancia
that he always carried with him.