along with the boom of the sugar industry of the philippines specially centered in
iloilo several churches and schools are constructed in the nearby town of jaro
jaro cathedral or the national shrine of our lady of the candles was originally dedicated to saint
elizabeth of hungary it was built in 1864. The year the district was named a diocese by pope pius ix
by order of peace grace mariano cuartero the first bishop of jaro the cathedral was completed in
1874 it features a romanesque revivalist design measuring 46 meters long and 16 meters wide
the church has a cruciform plan with the central nave and side aisles separated by two rows of
columns made of stone and landrilo or bricks unfortunately the cathedral and belfry was badly
damaged by the january 1948 lady caycay earthquake the second strongest earthquake in the country
it was restored by the order of his excellency jose maria cuenco the first archbishop of jaro in 1956.
it was during this time that major interventions to the church architecture appeared thus becoming
a victim of several unfaithful additions cuenco ordered the addition of a grand portico on the
northeast facade a staple in many english and american mansions at the turn of the 19th century
a decade later in 1961 he authorized the construction of two bell towers with a
mix of neo-gothic and neo-classical motifs on both sides of the church
the coup de grace came when cuenco's over-eager successors prompted by the upcoming visit of pope
john paul ii on february 21 1981 oversaw the construction of a neoclassical twin staircases
leading to a permanent balcony on top of the portico from there the pope celebrated mass and
personally crowned the 16th century limestone image of the nuestra senora de la candelaria
or our lady of the candles proclaiming her patroness of the western visayas
for the faithful the unfaithful construction has become a pilgrimage site a memorial shrine
to commemorate the historic event and honor mary the lady of the candles is perched on the glass
and case shrine carved out of the facade the limestone is said to be continuously growing
and in fact had become too large to fit into its original niche just above the present one
her shrine is visited often by many devotees who believe the statue to be miraculous
this 400 year old image is the focus of an annual jaro fiesta held every february 2nd the feast
itself originated from the virgin mary's rite of purification after giving birth to jesus christ
this event also commemorates the presentation of christ at the temple the devotion to the senora
is very much apparent by the attendees of the mass and the number of candles lit in her honor
the lit candles are said to provide protection in times of disasters
today the feast is considered to be a huge part of the ilongos rich culture
and religious devotion in january 2012 the catholic bishops conference of the philippines
approved the cathedral as the national shrine of our lady of the candles
the first marian dedicated church or cathedral to receive such status in visayas and mindanao
so that's it for the history of the jaro cathedral and the lady of the candles until
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