Spirits Among Us

Statue Virgin

Do icons create miracles?

Story no.1

Many stories have been told about statues and icons of the Virgin Mary. What have she done or created so that these tales abound? The family of my in-laws had their own tale to share. Their family name is Azarcon and they hail from Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines.

The Azarcon clan has a legacy from their forefathers. For about 50 years, their ancestors had prepared the statue of Virgin Mary for a procession. Together with  Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary icon is paraded around the old city. People hold candles during the procession.

When the statue becomes old, a new one is created. Every 5 years, a new gown is sewn, ready for the procession every Resurrection Sunday. As luck would have it, 50 years ago, the statue was handed down to my mother-in-law's family.

A week before Holy Week, a big wooden cart would be prepared, cleaned, polished and connected with electric bulbs and decorated with flowers. The Virgin Mary would be dressed in Her newest gown.

The whole family wakes up in the wee hours of the morning of Resurrection Sunday to bring the cart to the church. (The immaculate Conception Church in Roxas City is one of the oldest churches in the whole Philippines.) The other family in charge of the Risen Christ brings their cart so that the Mother meets the Son.

Every Holy Week this is the ritual followed by 2 families. It is a heartwarming, meaningful experience for the faithful who join the procession.

The question would be: What miracle has Virgin Mary created? In the year 1984, Roxas City, Philippines was hit by typhoon " Undang ". Roxas City was in the eye of the typhoon. Many houses had their roofs blown away, trees were uprooted, and the wind was so strong that a human being could be blown away.

The residence of the Azarcon's had its roof blown away. The wonder of it was that two roofing sheets only remained. In the house of Mike Azarcon was the big cabinet where the Virgin Mary was placed. On top of the cabinet were two boxes bearing two costumes of the Virgin Mary. The costumes were dry and the statue inside did not get soaked.

Everybody expected all of Her things to be wet. The rains were not falling down but were blown sideways due to strong wind. This was not natural!

The explanation is simple. The rain would destroy her costumes. The family could not afford to sew a new one, much less three costume, which was the requirement for the Virgin Mary.

Her second miracle came to the Azarcon family in year 2001. There were ten Azarcon siblings, who tried their best to finish their studies. Only one did not finish his education, due to his inability to read. This is Raymond, the eldest son. At the start of his marriage, he held a job in the furniture shop closed down and Ray became jobless. His wife, Alicia, is a bookkeeper in their aunt's hardware store. They have three boys, Ian, Earl and Paul.

Their mother Marietta, an Australian pensioner, built Ray a big house so as to accommodate the other siblings who migrated to Australia. The brothers and sisters would come for a visit to Roxas City. Only one sister, my mother-in-law, stayed here in Davao City Philippines.

To Ray's credit, he would prepare the big cart in time for the procession on Holy Week. His wife Alicia and their three boys would pitch in the required tasks.

Ray had been doing this task faithfully for 50 years.  He and Alicia accepted the responsibility without question.

On February 26, 2001, one sister passed away. Cynthia died of breast cancer at the age of 50. The family was brokenhearted!

By the middle of March 2001, came the good news that Alicia won the first prize in the TV program "Eat Bulaga" in Manila. Alicia bought 100 pesos worth of Squibb's Vitamin E and was entitled only one raffle ticket. Since an aunt was the owner of Pharmacia Benjamin, Alicia received two raffle tickets instead. These stubs she placed in the raffle box to be shipped to Manila.

The prize was a brand new Ford Expedition worth 1.3 million pesos at that time. We all thought Cynthia must have interceded for Ray's behalf. It is the Virgin Mary's way of compensating Ray for all his faithful work.

He and Alicia decided to sell the Ford to a relative for 1 million pesos. The couple was able to send their children through college. Ian is now a civil engineer, Earl and Paul became male nurses.

Not only Ray and Alicia were blessed with this fortunate event. The other siblings of Ray were grateful for what transpired. As what was happening before, Ray was dependent on his old mother for his family needs. A large part of Australian pension was used up every month for their subsistence. Alice's salary as bookkeeper was not substantial.

There is no other explanation. The Virgin Mary wanted the old mother to be relieved from Ray's dependency. Their old mom had suffered enough rearing 10 children.

A priest quoted this: "God governs us all." When our human efforts, no matter how great and voluntarily offered with no condition becomes too much to bear, the Divine Will takes over. He removes the yoke from our neck, without further ado. He creates events that surpass our human expectations and all our gratitude we offer to Him even insufficient. He is full of blessings to His children.

About the Author

 

 

COLLEGE EDUCATION

 

 

Holy Cross of Davao College, Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City                                                                                

• Graduated March 1997
• Diploma( B.S. in Commerce, Major in Management)

Davao Medical School Foundation, Davao Medical School Drive, Bajada, Davao City

• Graduated March 2003
• Health Caregiver Certification

Birthdate: December 09, 1974

Age: 36

Country: Philippines

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