BY NELJOY GALIGAO
ILOILO City — As thousands of devotees marked the Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria yesterday, the Catholic Church in Iloilo cautioned the faithful against reducing Marian devotion to mere ritual, stressing that the celebration must ultimately lead believers to Jesus Christ, the “true light of the world.”
Monsignor Meliton Oso, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC), delivered the reminder during his homily at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral here, emphasizing that the Blessed Virgin Mary is honored not as the light herself but as the Light Bearer who leads the faithful to Christ.
“Understanding Maria’s role is crucial,” Oso said. “She is not the light herself; rather, it is Jesus, whom she lovingly cradles, who is the true light of the world.”
The Candelaria fiesta – or Jaro fiesta – is one of the biggest religious fiestas in the country. Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles) is the patroness of the Catholic-dominant Western Visayas.
Oso explained that Mary’s role in salvation history is rooted in love, compassion, and sacrifice, serving as a bridge that draws believers closer to Christ rather than away from Him.
In his sermon, Oso underscored the core message of Marian devotion through the phrase, “To Jesus through Mary,” clarifying that devotion to Mary should deepen, not distract from, one’s relationship with Christ.
He added that Marian devotion goes beyond outward observances, urging the faithful to reflect on Mary’s life as a model of discipleship and obedience to God’s will.
“Mary represents the stewardship of life itself,” Oso said, calling on the faithful to respect life as a sacred gift “from conception until death.”
He further reminded the congregation that every human life carries a divine imprint. Each person, he said, is endowed with a “breath of the Divine” and a “spark of the Divine,” which gives life its meaning and purpose.
Oso stressed that true stewardship requires aligning one’s life with God’s guidance, a commitment that fosters love, compassion, and service not only within the Church but also in everyday life./PN
