MANILA, Philippines - The Our Lady of Montserrat, enshrined in a basilica run by Benedictine monks up in the Catalonian mountains in Spain, celebrates her feast day today.

I had a chance to see her in July 1997 when I traveled with the group of Sally Maddatu, and in October 2004 when Adam?s Travel took me there. In our group were some pilgrims from Cebu.

There was only one word to describe the experience: awesome. Especially when I slowly climbed the stairs to touch Our Lady and pray to her. Some of the prayers I whispered to her for other people were answered. Like for a woman who could not conceive after 14 years of marriage and later did. She and her husband now has a healthy boy.

My physical healing started to take place. At the time, it was difficult for me to walk, because I was 25 lb overweight. I found out later that an enlargement of my heart caused edema to form in my stomach and legs.

Dr. Erwin Carabeo, an internal medicine specialist and then chief of doctors at the Parañaque Community Hospital, prescribed for me five kinds of medicine, including a diuretic. He also put me into a strict diet of no meat, no eggs and no coffee. After four months, I eventually lost the 25 lb of water and it never came back. Now I feel healthier and stronger.

Popular pilgrimage

A rugged mountain not far from Barcelona is home to one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in Spain: the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th century, pilgrims have been drawn to the mountain to venerate the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta). In 1996, 2.6 million visitors came to Montserrat.

According to Catholic tradition, the statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat was carved by St. Luke around 50 AD and brought to Spain. It was later hidden from the Moors in a cave (Santa Cova, the holy grotto), where it was rediscovered in 880 AD.

Legend relates that in the 13th century, the statue was discovered by shepherds. They saw a bright light and heard heavenly music that eventually led them to the grotto and the statue. The Bishop of Manresa, present at the discovery, suggested that it be moved to Manresa, but the small statue was discovered to be so heavy that it could not be venerated there. It seemed that the Virgin wanted to remain in Montserrat.

Due to the great number of pilgrims that flocked to Montserrat throughout the Middle Ages, the monastery was enlarged from its original humble size. In 1592, the grand basilica of Montserrat was consecrated. In 1881, Montserrat?s Black Madonna was crowned in accordance with Canon Law and proclaimed patron saint of Catalonia by Pope Leo XIII.

Adam?s Travel is bringing pilgrims to Montserrat and other Marian shrines, including Lourdes, France, on Oct. 7. Call 5211651 or text Ana at 0918-9083676.

St. Expeditus fiesta

Hundreds of devotees attended the Healing Mass of Fr. Diwane Cacao last April 19 at the St. Andrew Cathedral in La Huerta, Parañaque. Four vans of devotees from Los Baños drove over to the church. Listeners of the St. Expeditus program in Radio Veritas every third Sunday of the month were also there.

Rosanna Gonzalez and Daisy Zapanta took photos of the memorable event. Present were board members of the Society of St. Expeditus such as Francisco Vecin, chairman; Milagros Gonzalez, founding chairman; Nida Lopez, president; Nanett Sinco, vice president; Ofelia Poblete, secretary; Aro Pardo, treasurer; and members Gloria de Leon, Matt Magpantay, Dra. Julie Dizon, Niña Liboon and Jean Salvador.

Thanks to Toots Espiritu for arranging the Triduum of Masses and Healing Mass, and to Msgr. Manny Gabriel, parish priest, for welcoming the group. Miguela Lomotan from San Miguel, Bulacan, came for the healing when she read about it in this column.

St. Joseph fiesta

Novena Masses in honor of St. Joseph the Worker are ongoing in the St. Joseph Cathedral in Tagbilaran, Bohol, until April 30. Fiesta Mass is on May 1, 10 a.m. Parish priest is Msgr. Jeffrey Malanog. Sponsor for the Novena Mass on April 29 is Sol Alturas-Yu, who runs the popular Villa del Sol resort in Tagbilaran.

M/V Carmela movement

April 11 marked the sixth year of the maritime tragedy that befell M/V Maria Carmela, a cargo-passenger ship owned and operated by Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc.

On that tragic day, fire gutted the vessel, resulting in the deaths of 29 persons and 84 others, mostly children.

To mark the tragic event and ease the trauma suffered by the more than 400 survivors as well as pray for the 113 souls of those who died, especially for the 84 passengers whose bodies were never recovered, M/V Carmela Movement Inc. (MCMI), a fraternal association of survivors, victims? relatives, friends and sympathizers, attended the 8 a.m. Mass at the Nuestra Señora de Guia Shrine in Ermita.

A candlelight procession followed from the church to the Supreme Court to pray for divine intervention, so justice might be served.

Sunduan sa La Huerta

One hundred young ladies will be fetched from their homes by their escorts during the fiesta of San Nicolas de Tolentino in La Huerta, Parañaque, on May 4, 2:30 p.m. Dressed in Filipiniana made by Manila?s popular designers, the ladies and their escorts will gather in front of the church of San Nicolas de Tolentino. A street party will follow at 6 p.m.

In the morning of May 4, Bishop Francisco de Leon will officiate the concelebrated Mass at 8 a.m. As early as May 3, there will be a paseo ng banda at 4 p.m. followed by a serenata at 6 p.m. Toots Espiritu is sunduan chair, while Malou Lopez is overall coordinator. The Department of Tourism will cover the festivities.

Marian exhibit

The Immaculate Conception Parish in Balayan, Batangas, will hold its first Marian exhibit on May 3, according to Vicky Lopez-Tuason. Holy Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m.