Filipino Catholics marked the 401st feast of “Our Lady of Good Success” (Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso) on August 10, with Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula reminding the faithful that Marian devotion is not about seeking good fortune but about being led closer to Jesus Christ.
Cardinal Advincula delivered the message during the Mass for the feast and enthronement of the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso at St. Andrew Cathedral in Parañaque City, south of Manila, on August 10.
“Mary does not bring us good fortune in the sense of luck. Mary brings us Jesus. Jesus is our true ‘Buen Suceso,’” the cardinal said.
The celebration also marked the culmination of the Jubilee Year commemorating 400 years of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the beginning of its 401st year.
Cardinal Advincula said devotion to Mary does not mean the faithful are spared from suffering and trials.
Instead, he said, it calls Catholics to remain steadfast in faith even amid unexpected hardships, disappointments, and circumstances beyond their control.
“A life of faith is a life in which God remains with us through everything,” he said, urging the faithful to trust in God “despite everything.”
The cardinal noted that what may appear as failure can be part of God’s greater plan, pointing to the crucifixion of Jesus, which ultimately led to the Resurrection.
“Sometimes we pray for God to change our circumstances… But at other times, God changes us in the midst of our circumstances,” Cardinal Advincula said.
The image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso was brought to Parañaque in 1625 and entrusted to the Augustinians. The devotion later spread among Filipino Catholics, with the Blessed Virgin Mary becoming the patroness of Parañaque.
Fr. Lamberto Legaspino, rector of the shrine and parish priest, also encouraged devotees to turn to Mary amid what he described as the prevalence of lies and corruption in Philippine society.
“Mary is the Mother of Truth, the Mother of Jesus Christ,” Fr. Legaspino said.
He said Marian devotion ultimately leads believers to Jesus Christ, whom Christians recognize as the source of truth and authentic life.
The 401st feast thus opened a new chapter in a centuries-old Filipino devotion centered not on promises of worldly fortune but on faith, perseverance, and a deeper relationship with Christ.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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