Basilica of Our Lady of Piat
| Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Piat Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Piat |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Piat, Cagayan, Philippines |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Country | Philippines |
| Year consecrated | June 22, 1999 (as a Minor Basilica) |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Minor Basilica |
| Status | active |
| Heritage designation | "Shrine of the Black Virgin Mary Our Lady of Piat" |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Basilica |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Completed | 1875 |
The Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat (Spanish: Basilica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Piat) is one of the twelve Minor Basilicas in the Philippines. It is located in the outskirts of Piat in the province of Cagayan. The shrine is dubbed as the Pilgrimage Center of the North, and a home to the 407-year-old Black Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Piat.
The history of Our Lady of Piat dates back in 1604 when a black image of the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus on her left arm was brought to the Philippines from Macau by the Dominican friars. It was originally called the Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario (Our Lady of the Holy Rosary). A small sanctuary for the religious image was built in 1604 by the local Itawis. The image was brought to Lal-lo, Cagayan(then the Episcopal See of Nueva Segovia) to be known by the Cagayanos. The image was also brought to Piat, and Tuguegarao in 1622. During the visitation, it was replaced by a more beautiful image from Manila but the people demanded that the original image be returned to them so it was brought back to Piat and was enthroned in the small sanctuary.
During the feast of St. Stephen, December 26, 1623, the image of Our Lady was solemnly brought to the Ermita from Piat with the people following in devout procession. The people of Tuao did likewise marching in procession towards the Ermita to welcome Our Lady with great rejoicing and happiness. The following day the Ermita was blessed and a very solemn Mass was officiated by the deacon with an attendance of more than 10, 000 people ("pasaban de diez mil personas") who came from all the neighboring towns. The priest noted that, it was amazing that such a large multitude would have gathered there, considering that the area was no thickly populated, and that the work of evangelization had been going on for only 25 years. The lady started the first Christians of Cagayan. According to the same historian, Fr. Aduarte, the crowd that attended the dedication of the new shrine of Our Lady of Piat was really impressive. Aduarte adds to this effect, by way of an explanation "...So the holy Image moved the natives ("indians") to love, esteem and revere her." An important woman from Piat (belonging to the "principalia." Or local aristocracy as indicated by the honorific title of Doña) Doña Ines Magui'abbun took upon herself the responsibility of looking after the Ermita and became the first camarera (caretaker of Our Lady). For this purpose, she decided to open up a new field ("sementera") and built a house near the shrine so she and her servants could visit the sacred place often. Besides, she placed a votive lamp, that kept always burning before the venerated Image and thus became the first shrine of the Lady.
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Wikipedia