Fr. Giovanni Antonio Genovesi, SJ (1684-1743) was a missionary in Sicily, who wanted to have a special picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary that he can carry with him in his missions. He sought the help of a pious woman, known to have visions of Our Lady. On November 21, 1722, the Virgin Mary appeared to the woman at the sanctuary of the church of S. Stanislao Kostka al Noviziato, and told the woman that she wanted to be called “Madre Santissima del Lume” (Most Holy Mother of Light). However, since neither the priest nor the woman was able to guide the painter commissioned to do the painting, the Virgin Mary did not give any sign of approval on the work done. After some time, Our Lady appeared again to the woman, this time in the studio of the painter. Although it was only the woman who could see the Virgin, the latter guided the hand of the painter. Hence, the completed painting was faithful to the vision and the Virgin Mary blessed it.
The new devotion was introduced in Cainta in 1727, while Fr. Bartolommeo Cavanti (al Gavanti), SJ (+1729) was the minister. The Virgin came to be known as Nuestra Señora de la Luz or Lumen, and became the Segunda Patrona of Cainta, with her feast celebrated on December 1, after that of the Patron Principal, San Andres Apostol. The latter became the first patron of the town due to the traditional belief that the first Mass in Cainta was celebrated on November 30, 1571, after its conquest by Captain Juan de Salcedo on August 21, 1571. A secondary feast day is observed every Thursday after Pentecost Sunday. As the devotion to the Our Lady of Light grew and became widespread, she became the titular of the parish church by 1884, or even earlier. Unfortunately, the original painting of the Patroness brought by the Jesuits in Cainta was destroyed when the church burned during the Filipino-American War in March 1899. In 1950, while Fr. Joseph Flameygh, CICM was parish priest, the parish commissioned Maestro Fernando C. Amorsolo, the first National Artist, to make a new painting of Our Lady of Light. This was initially enshrined in the makeshift chapel, and later in the Virgin’s own chapel in the reconstructed church.
One popular form of devotion to the Virgin Mary at present is the visits of her image to homes, churches or chapels, schools, offices, etc. This was seen in the pastoral practice of Fr. Genovesi before, who would always carry with him the picture of the Madre Santissima del Lume in his missions. Each time the people of a certain place would know that he and the picture were coming, they would wholeheartedly prepare their chapel or church, and the altar on which the holy picture will be enshrined. The arrival of the priest and the picture was always met by many people holding flowers or lighted candles. According to tradition, the visitation of the picture would always result to great love and devotion to the Virgin, thereby making it very difficult for the people to part with the picture. This started the practice of leaving a faithful copy of the picture in the chapel or church of the place visited by Fr. Genovesi.
A similar devotion to Our Lady of Light, the DALAW KALIWANAGAN, was initiated in the parish in 2015 by the Ministry of Worship and Liturgy. A small replica image of Our Lady of Light visited the 7 chapels within the parish during the Siete Sabados period from October to November. In 2016, an official replica was commissioned for the Dalaw Kaliwanagan, which this time went around the parishes in the Vicariate of Our Lady of Light. In 2017, the visits went to the other parishes in the Diocese of Antipolo: St. Jerome Parish (Morong), St. Joseph Parish (Baras), Transfiguration of Christ Parish (Antipolo City), San Isidro Labrador Parish (Balanti, Cainta), St. John the Baptist Parish (Taytay), Sta. Ursula Parish (Binangonan), and St. Clement Parish (Angono).
The 2018 Dalaw Kaliwanagan that has just concluded, was special and significant since it is part of the preparation for the Pontifical Coronation of Our Lady of Light on the feast day of the Virgin on December 1. The Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome granted on December 6, 2017 the petition the the painting of Our Lady of Light be crowned “in the name and by the authority of Pope Francis.” The visits this time went to the churches outside the diocese and started a week earlier in late September, in view of the final preparations for the pontifical coronation in November. The churches visited were Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish (Santolan, Pasig City), Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Pasig City), St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Parañaque City), Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace (EDSA Shrine), Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned (Marikina City), San Roque Cathedral (Caloocan City), Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Aranzazu (San Mateo, Rizal), and the Basilica oft he Black Nazarene (Quiapo, Manila). In each visit, a small replica of the painting of Our Lady of Light and a copy of the devotional booklet are bequeathed to the church visited.
Truly, the Dalaw Kaliwanagan has not only served as one way of promoting the devotion to Our Lady of Light, it is a form of devotion itself. Like St. Elizabeth, whose child in her womb leapt upon hearing the voice of the Virgin Mary, who visited her, may the visitation of Our Lady of Light move us to know her Son Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly. After all, “what the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 487).
Ad Iesum per Mariam!
