GMP2014: The Three Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude) Images

Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad or Our Lady of Solitude is a title of the Virgin Mary depicting Mary on her most devastating moment. This is the time between Jesus’ horrible death on Good Friday and His glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. She has been widowed by St. Joseph and has just witnessed Her Son’s Passion, Crucifixion and Death. MarianMessanger.ph described it as sad yet meaningful title. Generally, Our Lady of Solitude is portrayed by three venerated icons, the Nuestra Señora dela Soledad De Porta Vaga (Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga) in Cavite City, Nuestra Señora dela Soledad De San Isidro (Our Lady of Solitude of San Isidro) in Nueva Ecija and Nuestra Señora dela Soledad De Manila (Our Lady of Solitude in Manila) in Binondo. Interestingly, the 35th Grand Marian Procession was so special that all these three venerated icons participated the event.

Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad De Porta Vaga – Probably the most venerated, most popular and most honored Our Lady of Solitude icon. Known for her miracles, this image was canonically crowned by then Apostolic Nuncio Bruno Torpigliani, DD in solemn rites on November 17, 1978. Last November, her devotees just celebrated her 36th Anniversary of her coronation (see Feast of Our Lady of Porta Vaga). The image has miraculously survived and remained intact after a lightning bolt hit and burned its hermitage in 1830. It also escaped unscathed from the floods of 1856. In 1857, a Spanish frigate caught in a violent storm in Albay was also saved after its crew prayed to the icon of Porta Vaga. On March 16, 1984, the icon of the Virgin was sacrilegiously stolen from its altar. After tedious months of search, it was recovered on August 15, 1984, albeit divested of all its original gilding and precious stones. Every effort was made by devotees to restore the image to its former glory, and on August 19, 1984, it was re-enshrined in the altar amidst much rejoicing.

Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad De San Isidro Nueva Ecija – This image of Our Lady of Solitude was venerated in Nueva Ecija (enshrined in San Isidro Labrador Church in particular). Like the Image of Porta Vaga, Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad De San Isidro is also a miraculous icon. In 1982, the image mysteriously vanished. It was thought to have been stolen but no police record exists to support this. Sometime after its disappearance, the image found its way to an antique dealer in Manila and was purchased by a private individual. It was later surrendered by the the antique shop owner after an old sacristan gave an exact description of the image. Unlike the image of Porta Vaga, Our Lady of San Isidro is notable for having a cloak adorned with metal stars. The silver boat-like pillow below the image of Mary also makes the icon more distinctive.

 Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad De Camba – The image is venerated in a little chapel, a few meters from C. M. Recto Avenue in Manila, is another version of the Soledad. Though not much is known of the image, it is said to have been honored since 1884. Miracles have also been attributed to this mysterious icon. It is said that the entire neighborhood where it resides has always been protected from the fires which gutted the Binondo area many times. The Camba district has also been spared from other kinds of calamities and even the ravages of wars. Soledad de Camba’s feast day is every January 1.

[Source: MarianMessenger]