SJTPWB Peñafrancia 2017 Supplement (September 14, 2017)

PEÑAFRANCIA 2017 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Viva la Virgen! means freedom from oppression

T

he Himno a Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, popularly known as “Resuene Vibrante,” composed by Fr. Maximo Juguera, c.m., in 1924, has a third strophe which people don’t usually sing. It is the most melodious and, perhaps, the most sophisticated part of the Himno, and its lyrics, the most poignant and most poetic.

It says: Los pobres y tristes te buscan con fe te miran llorando les miras tambien.

Al punto sus lagrimas se truscan en bien y a casa gozosos les vemos volver. which roughly translates to: The poor and the burdened seek you with faith.

They gaze at you with tears and you look at them too.

Your own tears blend with theirs and they return home filled with joy.

In this third strophe, Fr. Juguera describes, in a rather narrative manner— as compared to the first two estrofas, which are in lyric form, an essential character of the Peñafrancia Devotion: Marian preferential gaze at the poor and the oppressed. It is a short story of the lowly, coming to Our Lady’s presence, seeking her mercy and charity, her hope and faith, because they knew what graces can be obtained from her Son through her aid.

A little more than 200 years already since it was introduced in Bikol, Fr. Juguera, saw the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia in 1924 as something more than just a mere tradition—nostalgic, romantic, sentimental, a pledge to fulfill or celebrate annually; he saw it as an opportunity for earnest colloquy with Christ, through her Blessed Mother. /NEXT PAGE

The SJTP Parish Weekly Bulletin is published by the Archdiocesan Parish and Parish St. of Jude Thaddeus, located at St. Jude Village, Cocepcion Grande, Naga City; Mobile number: 0946.592.4709; Email: stjude.naga@gmail.com.

viva la virgen!

Perhaps, Fr. Juguera, at the moment of writing the lyrics of the Himno, recalled the many points in the long history of the devotion when Mary came to the assistance of those who needed liberation—from the call of Simon Vela, to the prophecies of Juana of Sequeros, to the miracles received by Simon’s companions during the discovery of Ina’s image, to the answered prayers of her devotees in San Martin de Castañar, to the miracles received

by Fr. Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, to the dog brought back to life, to the consolation of the Cimarrones at the foot of Isarog, to the healing received by the countless who sought her help, to each of those moments when we utter “Turn to me, thine eyes, O most loving Virgin of Peñafrancia...”

What good then would be Peñafrancia devotion if it is mainly a fiesta— merriment, pageantry, spectacle, merchandising, tourism—and not a significant moment of reflection, prayer, and communion with Christ, through his mother, Mary? What good then would it be when there’s no room to inquire about what oppresses his people and makes them poor?

What good then would there be in Traslacion if its coverage in the local media would be constrained only to the whereabouts of Ina’s image and that of El Divino Rostro’s? Should we not discuss and reflect on social justice because it is, first and foremost, the core of this devotion?

Should we not want to hear that amid the noise and stink of men carrying the image of Ina from her Shrine to the Cathedral, thousands have already been murdered amid the state-initiated War on Drugs? Should we not want to hear that as devotees cry “Viva la Virgen!” (I presume without even knowing its meaning in our own language!), many are also crying out of despair, hunger, poverty, injustice, violence, and other forms of oppression?

Should we not want to hear that as we join thousands to express confidence in our Blessed Mother, our trees are thoughtlessly cut, wastes are dumped into our seas, our air continues to be poisoned? Should we not want to hear as we wait for Ina’s image to pass by our homes that our government is teeming in corruption and that the taxes that we’ve been paying with faith are ending up in the pockets of very, very few?

Fr. Juguera’s words are precise and profound: “The poor and the burdened seek you with faith./ They gaze at you with tears and you look at them too./ Your own tears blend with theirs/ and they return home filled with joy.”

We only have to remind ourselves: Viva la Virgen means pursuit of social justice and liberation from oppression. 4 ­— Vic Nierva

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