21/09/2025
This celebration, known for its devotion and vibrant festivities, draws countless pilgrims who seek her intercession. The image of Our Lady, fondly called 'Ina' by her devotees, symbolizes faith, hope, and maternal love.
Although the devotion to Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia has withstood the test of almost 300 years in the Philippines, it remains relatively unknown to the rest of the world. The devotion started in Paris and spread to Spain, before finally becoming one of the most popular Filipino Marian devotions.
The devotion to Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia originated in Paris with Simon Vela, a nobleman born in 1384 to a wealthy Parisian family. He gave all his riches to the poor and the church and devoted his life to Christ. After spending hours in prayer at church one day, contemplating the Blessed Virgin Mary, he lost consciousness for a short while. He was suddenly awoken by the majestic and graceful voice of a woman who said: "Simon, vela y no duermas! Stay awake and do not sleep! Go to Peรฑa de Francia and search for my image. You will find it in a cave, and once there, I will tell you what you must do."
After years of searching, he found the image of the Blessed Mother and Child Jesus in a cave in the mountains of Peรฑa de Francia in Salamanca, Spain, on May 19, 1434. After miracles were reported, a chapel and later a larger church, the Santuario de Nuestra Seรฑora de la Peรฑa de Francia, were built. This shrine was entrusted to the care of the Dominicans.
Fr. Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, a Dominican priest assigned at Nueva Caceres (now Naga City), was a key figure in bringing the devotion to the Philippines. A century after the devotion was established, Bishop Francisco Gainza, O.P., arrived in Naga in 1863 and made the spread of the devotion one of his priorities. He institutionalized the Traslaciรณn and fluvial processions, establishing the framework for the annual festival that still takes place today.
Decades later, another Dominican, Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, took possession of the Archdiocese of Caceres in 1984. He was instrumental in petitioning Rome to have the newer church of Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia elevated to a minor basilica in 1985.
Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia, pray for us.
Viva la Virgen!
