Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe spans generations

Thousands of devotees wave and shout “Viva Guadalupe” during the fiesta Mass celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu with its newly renovated altar. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

SHE was only five years old when her father first brought her to the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Barangay Guadalupe to attend the Mass in celebration of the fiesta of the Virgin Mary under that title.

Since then, they would go every year, without fail.

Today, at 53, Maringuran is passing the tradition to her four children and her 4-month-old grandson.

Maringuran, her husband Leo and their grandson, were inside the parish church yesterday along with thousands of devotees who attended the 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

“This has been part of our family tradition to attend Mass here during the fiesta. I have been blessed with good health, family and a peaceful life,” she told Cebu Daily News in Cebuano.

Her family also makes it a point to visit the Langub or cave of the Our Lady of Guadalupe in Barangay Kalunasan.

“I could still remember that we passed the waters from the creek before just to reach the cave,” Maringuran told CDN.

Langub, as it is popularly called, is also among the most visited religious sites in Cebu City.

There is a story that the Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared before some locals in Kalunasan.

Another devotee, 43-year-old Vilma Vijic, from Barangay Liburon, Carcar City, also attended the Mass and sold candles to other devotees.

Vijic has been a devotee of Our Lady of Guadalupe for 23 years and has always prayed that her son would finish his studies.

Now she prays harder because her son is now a trainee at the Central Office of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“I always pray to her to help me raise my children and let them finish their studies and for them to find work,” Vijic said in Cebuano.

Popular devotion

“We are the daughters of Mexico in terms of Diocese, that is why it is important. It is the most popular devotion in pilgrim visits,” Palma said.

There are nine parishes in Cebu that have Mary as their patroness.

“Whatever title the Mother Mary has, the important thing is that we have the devotion. We join the Universal Church in thanking God because of Our Mother’s grace, the Mother of all,” Palma said during his homily.

The devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe started in Mexico.

It was Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer, who brought the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Cebu in 1521.

Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who was archbishop of Cebu in 2002, declared Our Lady of Guadalupe as the principal Patroness of Cebu.