THE image of Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba, also known as Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba, was brought to Cardona, Rizal Province from Pakil, Laguna on Friday.

The Virgin Mary’s image visitation to other churches is a reminder of her role as a guide to the people that should be humble and welcoming, and share the joy of Christ with others. 

It also serves to pray for unity and to welcome Mary and the Holy Trinity into our lives. 

The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary hosted a Holy Mass, which was followed by a procession that included singing and dancing to the hymn Awit sa Birhen ng Turumba. 

Our Lady of Turumba will be at Cardona town until February 9.

The nine-by-eleven-inch icon of a weeping Virgin Mary with a knife pierced right at her heart, known as Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba (Tagalog: Mahal na Ina ng Hapis ng Turumba), was captured by local fisherman floating on Laguna de Bay in 1788.

The icon is at present enshrined at the Saint Peter of Alcantara Parish Church in Pakil. The second image of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows is a replica of the image of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua, Siete Dolores y Compasión from Spain, while the Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Cardona “La Virgen de Sapao” – Protectress of Cardona, Rizal.

The Franciscan Missionaries’ arrival in Sapao, the former name of Cardona, marked the beginning of the devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Sapao. 

In 1608, the Franciscans founded a Visita honoring St. Francis of Asssi. The visita, which the people referred to as “Nuestra Senora de Sapao,” housed a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A miraculous spring, called “Fuente Bendita”, was located near the visita where the faithful would bathe in the water and venerate the image of the Virgin.