The Itbud Reporter

Nuestra Senora de la Medalla Milagrosa Church

Nuestra Senora de la Medalla Milagrosa

ITBUD, Batanes - (Nov. 28, '04) Well it's the day after the fiesta. I can say that all had a good time. Some had a better time than others, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. If there was a bad spot in the whole fiesta it was the weather. It was raining with heavy wind gusts, along with cold. Just plane miserable conditions. But, the spirit of Itbud came shining through, and a good time was had by all that attended. The town was packed with people.

Proposed Shrine to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

I have been asked, and I'm happy to do this, and that is ask you all that live outside of the town for donations to help with the construction of the new church. As of right now construction has come to a stop because there is no more money. The main church in Basco was heavily damaged in the earthquake, and is being enlarged and rebuilt. But, there are no funds available to help poor Itbud. So I'm asking you to think of your poor town, and send a few dollars donation for the rebuilding of our beautiful church. Even good Christian men must feed

I tried to put up a canopy about a week before the fiesta, but the wind took it down. Then the day before we were able to get it up and anchored well enough to allow people to stand under it during Mass, and then we used it for seating of guests that came by to see us, the high and the mighty, and the low and the humble. They all came and we fed them all, and gave them drink, and conversation. I think I can say that is what is different about the fiesta in Itbud when compared to others. A stranger is welcomed into my house and given nourishment,

and allowed to pass, but in other places the rule of thumb is: "If I don't know you don't come in, or knock at the door."

I have been told the story of "Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal" and the town has erected a statue and shrine up on the hill overlooking the town, and provided lights to shine on the shrine at night. First Mass was at "Oh dark thirty" (4:00 am) and the church was packed! All three masses were packed and over flowing. The spirit of Christian fellowship fill the town, and I think that is the miracle of Itbud.

their families. God has given us the rock and sand, and a lot of labor has gone unrewarded, but even though we have reached a stopping point, we feel that we will complete our beautiful church.

[Note: Father Young will be replaced by a new priest so you may send funds to:
Itbud Church Rebuilding Fund, C/O Parish Priest, Itbud Church.]

At this time we have only raised about a tenth of the funds needed for completion, so please send your donation to the Itbud Church Rebuilding Fund, care of Father Young here in Itbud. God bless you, and dios mamahes.

Some projects for the town that are in planning stages only for now are, a community area to the east of town, refurbishing of the old school building in the center of town, and lights for the town's basketball court. There was talk, and only talk, of widening of the road from the Ivana / Uyugan line to Imnajbu.

As you can well guess by now, I have had to start construction of my own house. As a rather large American, I don't fit into small rooms well. Those of you that have visited Itbud since the earthquake have seen the small house and lanai in front of the church and right now that is the place I'm living in, but we should break ground soon on the expansion project and I expect completion sometime late summer of next year. I also expect all of you to stop by a visit with me when you are here. All are welcome, and none will be turned away!

More sad news, Elpedio Cobico has passed away, we will all miss him and extend our heart-felt sympathy to his family. Although he had been sick for a long time, it is still sad to lose someone. Chris Cobico - Elpedio's nephew, has asked me, and I quickly accepted, to be the godfather of his new born son. So we see that the passing of one is the beginning of another. So life will go on.

God bless you all, and I hope to see you soon. Mike Griffin, The Itbud Reporter

LA MEDALLA MILAGROSA
(The Miraculous Medal)

The Miraculous Medal Story and Its Meaning

Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria!
Hail, Mother of mercy and of love, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

Our life, our sweetness here below, O Maria!
Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

To thee do we cry, poor sons of Eve, O Maria!
To thee we sigh, we mourn, we grieve, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, O Maria!
Towards us thine eyes compassionate, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

When this our exile is complete, O Maria!
Show us thy Son, our Jesus sweet, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

O clement, gracious Mother sweet, O Maria!
O virgin Mary we entreat, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

The Medal of the Immaculate Conception, popularly called the Miraculous Medal, was manifested to Sister (now saint) Catherine Labouré. This took place in the chapel of the Motherhouse of Daughters of Charity in Paris on November 27, 1830.

Her feet rested on a white globe... I saw rings on her fingers... Each ring was set with gems...The larger gems emitted greater rays and the smaller gems smaller rays. Catherine heard an interior voice: These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them. The gems from which rays do not fall are the graces for which souls forgot to ask.

An oval flame formed around the Blessed Virgin, and within it in letters of gold Catherine read the words: O Mary Conceived Without Sin, Pray For Us Who Have Recourse To You. The voice spoke again: Have a Medal struck after this model. All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck. Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence.

Catherine continued: The tableau seemed to turn, and I beheld the reverse of the Medal: a large M surmounted by a bar and a cross; beneath the M were the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the one crowned with thorns, the other pierced with a sword.

The front of the Medal represents Mary standing on the earth, her foot crushing the head of a serpent, and her hands outstretched to all who ask her assistance. The prayer encircling her contains one of her most precious titles: O MARY CONCEIVED WIYHOUT SIN, PRAY FOR US WHO HAVE RECOURSED TO YOU. The rays of light from her hands symbolize the graces which she is only too eager to bestow upon those who wear the Medal and pray to her.

The "Miraculous" Medal

With approval of the Church, the first Medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her Medal. It was freely circulated and in a short time was worn by millions. In its wake followed innumerable wonders. Health was restored, sickness banished, blessing bestowed. Before long people were calling it the "Miraculous" Medal. And in 1836, a Canonical inquiry undertaken at Paris declared the apparitions to be genuine.

There is no superstition, nothing of magic, connected with the Miraculous Medal. The Miraculous Medal is not a "good-luck charm." Rather, it is a great testimony to faith and the power of trusting prayer. Its greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance, and faith. God uses a Medal, not as a sacrament, but as an agent, an instrument, in bringing to pass certain marvellous results.

Hail, Holy Queen
(Traditional Hymn)