To Our Queen of Peace

Last week, a student of mine gave me an image of the famed Virgin of Antipolo. Actually I asked her to buy me one when I learned that she and her family will be visiting the miraculous shrine with the agreement that I'll just pay her when she returns. However she later told me that she will just give it to me for free (God Bless her), sigh, I guess this one of the perks of being a teacher.  Anyway, my last visit to Antipolo was eons ago. I was then a Grade 4 or Grade 5 student I guess, I already forgot how the Church looks like. But the beauty of the image of the Virgin of Peace and Good Voyage still appeals to me. There is something in her brown complexion and her innocent child like eyes that speaks to me, telling me that everything will be alright. The love of her devotees can never be matched by any silver nor gold, however since they still want her to be honored to the fullest, the Virgin whom they believed as their own , a Brown Madonna, lowly as she is was dressed as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. 

Here is my picture of the statue given to me.

 

Besides her are images of St. Ann and St. Joachim, her parents. On top is her Divine Child. The Santo Nino of Cebu, another Pinoy Favorite. With the Child King is his foster father, The Good St. Joseph and the Prince of the Heavenly Host, St. Michael the Archangel, both are protectors of the Catholic Church.

As long as these images are gloriously venerated and adored in this country, we are assured that the Philippines will remain a faithful daughter of the Church!  May God answer our petitions through our veneration of these powerful icons. Long Live the Virgin of Antipolo! Long Live the Queen of Peace!