Tuesday, September 16, 2014

NOTE ON THE NINA MARIA

I was notified by a member of the family who gave the statue of the Nina Maria to the Cathedral for use at this year's novena that they have decided to take it back. I have received many comments about the statue and questions about its origins as well as its reported former use which I have decided not to publish. While devotion to the child Mary is legitimate, given its apocryphal origins it is mostly a matter of private devotion and probably should stay that way. By the way, does anyone know which saint is the actual patron saint of Agana?

25 comments:

  1. Saint John the Baptist

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  2. The Patton Saint of the city of Agana is Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Like many things before WWIl this fell out of practice. How come people are not protesting about having a St Ignatius feast day? Why are people complaining about a statue that was donated by a family? How come people are not protesting about not having a St. Ignatius feast day? It's a shame!

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    1. People are not protesting because people probably don't know about St. Ignatius. If anyone should have known and promoted it, it should have been Archbishop Apuron since he is the official "pastor" of the Cathedral, or at least he is listed as such.

      No one I know is complaining about the donation of the statue by a family. They are complaining about its sudden introduction without proper documentation and information. It appears the archbishop, on the word of a single person, has not just accepted the history of the statue, but on an impulse, elevated it for veneration.

      The issue is not the credibility of the story nor of the person who related it, the issue is that the archbishop has a grave responsibility to do his own research and procure possible documentation before promoting a devotion to the entire diocese. The same is true for liturgical practices and other things under his purview.

      The only shame is this willy-nilly approach to Catholicism we seem to be subjected to in this diocese, always implementing the latest fad or whim, or in this case, an extremely esoteric devotion, which immediately escalated into a radical problem since here we are speaking of the patron of the mother church.

      While the child Mary is certainly worth emulating, there are significant problems latent in the veneration of the image, not the least of which is a perceived equality with the veneration of the Christ Child.

      BTW, I am all for the restoration of a devotion to St. Ignatius as the patron of Agana.

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  3. St Ignatius...is the original patron saint of Agana.

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    1. St Ignatius is one of the statues located in the wings of the Cathedral.

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    2. St Ignatius is the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). San Vitores was a Jesuit so I am sure this is why Cathedral's patron is St Ignatius.

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    3. Ok 4.01pm. This is really nice that a great saint like Ignatius is patron of Agana. Is there a statue of St. Ignatius in the Cathedral? Do we Celebrate St. Ignatius day. This is all well and good. No one would object to this tradition. People only object if you fool them or should I say insult them, by informing people of devotions, or teaching that is not the theology of the Catholic Church. Make sure what is taught in the cathedral is the tradition and teaching of the Catholic Church. Apuron is informing people teachings which are not Catholic and this is unacceptable to loyal and dedicated members of the Church.

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  4. Well said Tim. Nina Maria is best described as a private devotion. Suspect it only created interest because Apuron gave attention to the statue. Today we have to evaluate every word he speaks to make a truth check. Reality now everything he states must be evaluated for truth.

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  5. Tim is so correct in what he says. The issue is not the saint or a particular devotion. The real issue here is that Apuron out of the blue attempted to fool the cathedral people by selling this product to them with an unfounded and undocumented knowledge. Someone had obviously sold him the story of the Nina Maria and he accepts the story and forces the story on the people. The same thing he does with the neo. This means anyone can sell a devotion or a way to Apuron, he buys it and forces on the cathedral. Same old story. The last one who places a thought in his head is the one who wins the way. No substance to this man at all. Brain dead what ever you tell him he buys.

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    1. Hmm...maybe there was some documentation hidden in one of those boxes that got returned from the museum. Ah, ...but we'll never know now, we'll we?!!?!!? Enough, AAA!!!

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  6. Just to add two points.

    1. Certainly no mention of Nina Maria in the Bible like Sto.Nino.
    2. Our Lady was graced by God from the moment of her conception. hence 1950 dogma of the immaculate conception.

    Issue here is why would Archbishop Apuron who is already surrounded in clouds of disaster add further clouds of disaster by speaking on this issue. Or does he just say these things to get reactions from people. Suspect the latter is the reason why. He wants attention.

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    1. Dogma Immaculate Conceptiom 1854. Assumption 1950. I think in this case AAA's reason is different. But will let it go...for now.

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  7. I wish we also celebrated the feast day of San Francisco de Borja, patron saint of the Marianas. They celebrate it in Rota but not down in Guam (at least as far as I have seen). He was the 3rd Superior General of the SJ and played an important role in the spread of Christianity to the western hemisphere which led (shortly after his death in 1572) to the first Jesuit mission to the Philippines in 1581. Borja laid the groundwork for the mission to the Philippines which eventually led to the San Vitores-led mission to Guam. Moreover, Borja provides wonderful model for a devout layman, devoted husband and father, and later, a smart and compassionate religious who rejected wealth and power. Plus his story -- given that he was closely related to Alexander VI and the rest of the infamous Borgia clan -- is just super interesting.

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    1. 3.02Am. Interesting comment Thank you for reminding readers of San Francisco de Borja

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  8. I can only assume the family who gave the statue to the cathedral do did so out of pure love and generosity. So I sincerely hope they are not reclaiming it because of hurt feelings. I can not imagine that anyone is actually objecting to the statue it self. It seems more like there is a fear about Marian Kamalen being replaced, and I am sure the family would not want that to happen.

    I can not help but think how sweet young children just might identify with its likeness and be happy to befriend it when they visited the church.

    I see no reason for not leaving the statue in the church. However it is obvious the archbishop yet again does not have a clue how to do some things and is insensitive to members of the church . Had he only introduce the new statue and honored the family who graciously donated it.and used the familiar on it would have been fine, Rather than be his arrogant self, saying "we are using this statue now.. We did so before the war and we will now." How very sad. It is almost like the generous family were pawns to suit his needs I do not know how he can continue to be so thoughtless and offensive..

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    1. Anonymous @6:51, I agree with you. Replacing the Dulce Nombre de Maria statue amid the statue disappearance at the Santa Rita church, the changes at the Barrigada church, the 'almost' $ 200,000 A/E for Ordot, is quite insensitive! Yes, the new administration could bring on major changes....Keep Kiko away from Santa Marian Kamalin !!!!!!!

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  9. Earthquake Tim, will you blame the Archbishop with this too? You turd! Hahaha

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    1. 4:33pm, Archbishop can NOT cause the earth to shake, but Almighty God, in His anger, CAN! Beware how you call other people names and then laugh at the unpredictable "acts of God" lest you enter into His wrath!!

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    2. I decided to do some research on Saint Ignatius of Loyola. He turned out to be Basque. I found his life very interesting. He was obviously a scholar, but first he was a military soldier, before he became a spiritual soldier. I think that it might be a good idea to bring Saint Ignatius feast day back into the church.

      How uncanny is it that Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the cathedral's recognized patron. And that he is Patron saint of soldiers. Yet we can even get a mass said at the veterans cemetery for our own soldiers when die.

      Definitely bring his feast day back. This church is in great need of mentors and soldiers. He definitely was a great warrior, and we need warriors.

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    3. He's actually the patron of Agana. The patron of the Cathedral is Our Lady under the title of Sweet Name of Mary (Dulce Nombre de Maria)

      Patron of the City of Agana : St Ignatius (San Ignacio)
      Patroness of the CHURCH of Agana : Dulce Nombre de Maria

      See: http://paleric.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-patronon-hagatna.html

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  10. @4:33, I will blame Tony the Lion for the earthquake! He is too be blame, 3 days after the Dulce Nombre De Maria Feast day, the earthquake! Are you dumb not to notice what we are getting bad weather & earthquakes, today is not the only earthquake we had one couple of months ago. Tim is not the only who will blame your master Tony the Lion, many others! Hahaha!

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  11. Just to let you know that after the 5:45 AM Mass Sunday, the old man and the altar server who were so dedicated to serving and opening the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (for 5:45AM daily mass) for so many years, decided to turn in their keys. Some of the techas who lead the rosary and other prayers before the 5:45AM mass have also moved. Guess Ike Camacho will now be entrusted with the key and he can start opening the doors. As for the techas, maybe the NEO newbies can practice saying the rosary and other prayers in Chamorro.

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    1. Wow, it's really sad to hear that 5:45 am mass group of devoted Cathedral parishioners, the old man who I know & the altar servers are slowly leaving Cathedral. I don't blame them as I too left to follow Jesus James & Jesus Christ to a parish where I can really practice my true Catholic faith. They should have not turn in their keys, because Fr. Mickey is tasked with changing the locks every week. He's really good jack-of-all trades!

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  12. Hafa Adai Tim,

    I'm not sure if this requires its own post, but it may answer the question of whether the NCW is a sect/cult or not. After writing the Tim of The Jungle lyrics, I thought it would only be fair to find a song for Pope Kiko the Deceiver. I believe I finally found the perfect one because many of the lyrics fit Kiko almost perfectly. The song is called The Cult of Personality by Living Color. Tell me what you think.

    Look in my eyes, what do you see?
    The cult of personality
    I know your anger, I know your dreams
    I've been everything you want to be
    I'm the cult of personality
    Like Mussolini and Kennedy
    I'm the cult of personality
    The cult of personality
    The cult of personality

    Neon lights, Nobel Prize
    When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies
    He won't have to follow me
    Only you can set me free
    I sell the things you need to be
    I'm the smiling face on your T.V.
    I'm the cult of personality

    I exploit you, still you love me
    I tell you one and one makes three
    I'm the cult of personality
    Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi
    I'm the cult of personality
    The cult of personality
    The cult of personality

    Neon lights, Nobel Prize
    When a leader speaks, that leader dies
    He won't have to follow me
    Only you can set you free

    You gave me fortune
    You gave me fame
    You gave me power in your god's name
    I'm every person you need to be
    Oh, I'm the cult of personality
    I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of
    I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of, I'm the cult of personality....

    Funny how none of the lyrics were changed, but they fit Kiko so well...scary.

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  13. Google search Guam Nina Maria..... you will know the answer!

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