Divino Amor Shrine: The Baclaran of Southern Tagalog

The Divino Amor Monastery of the Madres Adoratrices
closed down 1936

Over the years, the city of Lipa has been known and acknowledged as the "Little Rome of the Philippines."  This is primarily due to the fact that it is the center of Roman Catholicism in the region, it being an  Ecclesiastical province, a Metropolitan See whose territory encompasses a large portion of the Southern Tagalog provinces.

But more than being a center of Catholic faith,  Lipa is also known for the piety and religiosity of its people and for their love and devotion to the Blessed Mother.  Credit that to the many religious houses, churches, convents, seminaries and monasteries found all throughout the city.

Presently, there are 21 congregations of men and women religious, 11 parishes, 1 chaplaincy and 5 monasteries in Lipa City.  Among the many churches and houses of worship is the Redemptorist Church of Divino Amor - a church dedicated to the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Mother of Perpetual Help.

The shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a sanctuary and a place of retreat for people who are burdened by the concerns of everyday life and who are seeking for guidance, care and understanding only a mother can provide.  Every Wednesday, armed with their novenas and rosaries, people come in throngs, from places near and far, to seek refuge in the maternal protection of Mary their mother who never fails to intercede for them.  As they come out of the church after attending mass or participating in the novena, or just after uttering some prayers, or just spending some quiet time, devotees feel a certain kind of relief, knowing that the Mother of God, and their mother too, has listened to their prayers. They come out with renewed strength and vitality to face the challenges that life presents, no matter how difficult it is, knowing that they have their mother who wraps them with the mantle of her motherly love and protection, who never ceases to pray for, and with them to her Son, Jesus.  

The many lighted candles that burn in the Church all day long is a testament to the unwavering faith and confidence of the devotees as well as their close attachment and affection to their mother, their greatest intercessor.  

In the church of Our Lady, the devotees experience divino amor - the divine love of the Father for them, through their mother, their most powerful intercessor - Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  

Who are the Redemptorists?

The Redemptorists belong to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer  (CSSR), a world-wide congregation of priests and brothers founded by St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori in Scala, Italy on November 9, 1732.  They are a missionary society whose members "strive to imitate the virtues and examples of Jesus Christ, our redeemer, consecrating themselves especially to the preaching of the word of God to the poor".  Their labors consist principally in missions, retreats, and similar exercises.

Faithful to their mission and inspired by their founder, St. Alphonsus, they direct their ministries to the socially underprivileged, wherever they are found.

In 2019, there were approximately 5,500 Redemptorists in 82 countries throughout the world.

The Redemptorists are especially dedicated to the propagation of the devotion to the Mother of Perpetual Help, a mandate the congregation received from Pope Pius IX in 1886 who admonished them to "make her known" throughout the world. 

The Redemptorists in the Philippines

The Redemptorist missionaries from Australia and Ireland first came to the Philippines in 1906 in response to the plea of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines for English speaking missionaries due to the lack of priests in the different parishes all throughout the country. Such problem was aggravated by the presence of many non-Catholic sects with the arrival of protestant missionaries coming from the United States.  The Redemptorists established a community in Opon (now Lapulapu City), Cebu, the first Redemptorist community not only in the Philippines, but also in Asia. From here, several other Redemptorist communities were established elsewhere in the country, including Lipa.

The Redemptorists' work in the Philippines has been marked with a dedication to mission, retreats, and parish ministry, fostering a deep connection with the local people.  

Redemptorists in Lipa: Early Beginnings

It took time before the foundation in Lipa was realized.  It was Bishop Petrelli who first requested for the presence of the Redemptorists in his Diocese but such request was denied because of lack of personnel.  In 1917, Bishop Verzosa, his successor, made another request, but again, the request cannot be accommodated.  In 1933, Bishop Verzosa sent his vicar general, Msgr. Obviar to Baclaran to again ask for a foundation in Lipa.  This time, the response was positive.  In his letter to the Superior General of the Redemptorists, Bishop Verzosa said that he "does not want the Redemptorists to take charge of a parish, but to conduct missions and retreats and other apostolic work in accordance to their Rules and Constitutions."  

The pioneering Redemptorist Community of Lipa with 
Bishop Alfredo Verzosa

The Redemptorist Church of Lipa or the Church of Divino Amor, traces its beginnings from the first foundation of the Pink Sisters in the Philippines which was canonically established in Lipa in 1923.  The Madres Adoratrices, as they were called at that time, transferred the monastery to Baguio because of its relatively cooler climate.  The sisters were unable to adjust to the heat in Lipa and were getting sick so they decided to move to Baguio in 1936.  The house was turned-over by the Bishop to the administration of the pioneering Redemptorist community of Lipa comprising of Fr. O'neil, Fr. O'Donnell, Fr. English, Fr. MacDonald and Fr. Taylor, the local superior.  

Immediately, the Lipa community set to work with the leadership of Fr. C. Taylor. They were asked by the bishop to give retreats to the different parishes in the diocese to prepare the faithful for the 33rd International Eucharistic Congress which will happen in Manila in February 1937.  Meanwhile, renovations in the house and the church commenced in December 1936 such as the reflooring of the church, painting of the walls, improvement of the church's patio, acquisition of seats, and the construction of a confessional.  By February 1937, almost all the renovation work was completed.  

The church was not spared with the ravages of the Second World War.  It is said that Lipa was among the most devastated places in the country, next only to Manila in terms of war damages.  During the American liberation, like most of the houses in Lipa, the house and the church were levelled to the ground and in ruins.  The community has to settle in a make-shift house for the meantime.  

Post-war Reconstruction Up to the Present

The present  church structure was completed out of the generous donations of the members of the 11th U.S. Airborne Division. It also serves as a memorial for the division's fallen comrades who featured in the rescue of prisoners in the Los Banos Internment Camp.  Other benefactors also contributed for the completion of the house and the church such as the locals of Batangas and the people of the Diocese of Bendigo in Australia.  

The foundation stone of the present church was blessed by Bishop Alfredo Verzosa, first Filipino bishop of the Diocese of Lipa on October 31, 1948.  The Divino Amor Church was blessed and inaugurated by Bishops Verzosa and Obviar.  The picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was enshrined above the high altar according to the plan approved by Rome on January 3, 1951.   

Cognizant of its mission of continuing the work of Jesus the Redeemer, the community engages in the following ministries: Evangelization, helping parishes in setting up BEC's, retreats, ministry to migrant workers, and other apostolates in order to help people experience the dream of the Father, "fulness of life" in Jesus in whom is found plentiful redemption.

The Miraculous Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

The icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the most venerated Marian images in the Catholic Church.  It has a history rich in tradition, devotion and miraculous associations. The icon dates back to at least the 13th or 14th century, tracing its origins in the Byzantine era.  Its style is consistent with the Eastern Christian "Our Lady of the Passion" type, where Mary is depicted holding the Christ Child while angels present the instruments of the passion.

Although the icon's history remains obscure, it is believed that it was painted in Crete, a center of iconography during the period.  Tradition has it that the icon was brought to Rome by a merchant who, upon his deathbed, instructed that it be placed in the church for public veneration.  It was eventually enshrined in the Church of San Matteo on Via Merulana in 1499.

For almost 300 years, the icon was venerated in San Matteo, becoming known for the numerous miracles and for drawing numerous pilgrims.  However, when the church was destroyed during the Napoleonic occupation of Rome in the late 18th century, the icon was hidden for safekeeping and its location eventually forgotten.  

In 1866, after considerable research and advocacy of the Redemptorist Fathers, Pope Pius IX ordered that the icon be returned to public veneration.  He entrusted it to the Redemptorists and commanded: "Make her known throughout the world."

The icon was then solemnly enthroned in the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, where it remains to this day.  Since then, devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help has spread worldwide, especially through Redemptorist missionary work.  The image has become a focal point of Marian devotion in places like the Philippines, India and Latin America. 

Today, the icon continues to inspire countless devotees to seek Mary's intercession and draw them closer to Christ through her perpetual help.

The Perpetual Help Novena

The Perpetual Help Novena, a nine-day prayer devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, originated in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, in 1922.  It was further developed by Fr. Henry Sutton in 1924, who introduced a participatory format where people would sing and pray alongside the priest.  The name "Perpetual Novena " was suggested in 1928, emphasizing the nine-day cycle that can be repeated continuously. 

It was the American soldiers from Boston, USA who brought the Novena to the Philippines.  The first novena was held in St. Clement's Church, Iloilo on May 12, 1946.  A year later, on June 13, 1947, Fr. Gerard O'Donnel, introduced it to Lipa after witnessing the immense acceptance and popularity of the perpetual novena among the devotees in Iloilo when he visited there.   On June 23, 1948, Fr. Leo English introduced the novena at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran. 

Ever since its introduction in 1946, the Wednesday Perpetual Help Novena (which used to be done on a Monday) continues to draw throngs of devotees all throughout Lipa and in the neighboring towns and provinces.  There is a strong attachment that binds the devotees to the Blessed Mother whose unfailing help and intercession they implore in all their needs.  

For the devotees, the novena provides a sacred space for bringing personal intentions, expressing gratitude, and seeking intercession.  The weekly novena becomes a spiritual anchor to them, especially in times of struggle, loss or uncertainty.  The messages within the prayers  centered on mercy, compassion, and trust in divine providence - instill a sense of hope.  Devotees are reminded that they are not alone in their burdens, and that Mary, as a loving mother is always ready to intercede on their behalf.

Furthermore, the novena fosters a sense of community.  Devotees gathered in the church form a spiritual network bound by shared faith and devotion.  This communal aspect of the novena reinforces the values of empathy, charity and support. 

Every Wednesday, people from all walks of life would gather at Redemptorist for the Novena.  The Divino Amor Church has become a sanctuary for people to find consolation in times of sorrows, peace in times of trouble, assurance in times of doubt.  Their mother, the Virgin Mary of Perpetual Help is always there to make them feel and experience her motherly care and protection.

May the mother of of Jesus, Our Lady of Perpetual Help continue to intercede for us in all our needs.

Sources:

"Apostolate" retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redemptorists 

"Lipa Redemptorist Community celebrates 75 years of Novena" retrieved from https://www.cssr.news/2022/07/lipa-redemptorist-community-celebrates-75-years-of-novena/

Redemptorists. The Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help retrieved from https://www.cssr.news

Catholic News Agency.  Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  Retrieved from https://www.catholic newsagency.com

"The Redemptorist Missionaries in Lipa" retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/514346361/History-THE-REDEMPTORIST-MISSIONARIES-IN-LIPA-for-exhibit-usb

Photos:  CTTO