Our Lady of Peñafrancia Church – One of Largest Marian Sites in Asia

OUR LADY OF PENAFRANCIA CHURCH

Photo from: http://rammmpa.blogspot.com/2015/04/via-crucis-churches-bicolandia-bicol-2.html

The Peñafrancia Minor Basilica or the Minor Basilica of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica located on the outskirts of Naga City—also known as the Pilgrim City and Queen City of Bicol—in the Bicol Region of the Philippines. It is one of the largest Marian Pilgrimage Sites in Asia. The Image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is enshrined in this sanctuary.

It is the only Basilica in the Bicol Region and the whole Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pe%C3%B1afrancia_Basilica

By Interaksyon – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20904943

Our Lady of Peñafrancia is a wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in the Bicol, Philippines. The image comes from the original image enshrined in Salamanca, Spain. It is currently housed at the Peñafrancia Basilica where every September is held for the novena festivities in honor of the image as the principal Patroness and Queen of Bicol.

Pope Pius XI granted the image a Canonical coronation on 20 September 1924 via his Apostolic delegate, Monsignor Guillermo Piani. On 3 December 2015, a mosaic image of the Virgin Mary under this title was officially enshrined at the Vatican Gardens for the 14th slot at the pontifical mandate of Pope Francis. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III who unveiled the image with honors. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Pe%C3%B1afrancia

Photo from: http://inapenafrancia360.weebly.com/nuestra-senora-de-penafrancia.html

Region V or the Bicolandia is not only world- famous for its mouthwatering and spicy cuisines. The nature loving people of Bicol is also a picture of holiness and sanctity with their ardent and indescribable devotion, to the Our Lady of Penafrancia. The Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia is a miraculous wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin, which was an exact replica of Spain’s Pena de Francia. Due to her countless miracles, millions of devotees, pilgrims, local and foreign tourists alike, visit Naga City every year during the month of September in celebration of the nine-day festivity in her glorious honor. To show the Blessed Mother their unconditional love and unwavering faith, the Bicolanos sweetly address her as “INA”. This article will let you know how the Our Lady of Penafrancia, came to be and how it had changed and touched the lives of the Bicolanos; and of all those people who had sought her divine intercession for their daily physical, temporal and spiritual needs. Read More: http://driftwoodjourneys.com/the-miraculous-our-lady-of-penafrancia/

Photos below from:

https://foursquare.com/v/our-lady-of-pe%C3%B1afrancia-basilica-of-naga/4c9348f32bf7b60c9495690a