Basilica of Our Lady of Piat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Piat Basilica | |
|---|---|
| |
 Basilica facade in 2025 | |
.svg)  Piat Basilica Location in Luzon .svg) Piat Basilica Location in the Philippines | |
| 17°47′13″N 121°28′48″E / 17.78698°N 121.48013°E | |
| Location | Poblacion, Piat, Cagayan |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Minor basilica |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Piat |
| Dedicated | April 19, 2024 |
| Consecrated | June 22, 1999 (as a minor basilica) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | "Shrine of the Black Virgin Mary Our Lady of Piat" |
| Architectural type | Basilica |
| Style | Romanesque |
| Completed | 1875 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Tuguegarao |
The Basilica of Our Lady of Visitation in Piat is Roman Catholic basilica located in the Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao. Located at Poblacion, Piat, in the province of Cagayan, the shrine is dubbed as the "Pilgrimage Center of Northeast Luzon" and is home to the centuries-old brown Madonna Our Lady of Piat.
Pope John Paul II raised the shrine to the status of Minor Basilica via his decree Conspicuum Templum Hoc on 10 March 1997. The decree was signed and notarized by Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
The history of Our Lady of Piat dates back to 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.[1] It was originally called the Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario (Our Lady of the Holy Rosary).[2] A small sanctuary for the religious image was built in 1604 by the local Itawis.[3] The image was brought to Lal-lo Church in 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 on December 26, 1623, the image of Our Lady was solemnly brought to the Ermita from Piat with the people following in devout procession.[4] The people of Tuao likewise marched in procession towards the Ermita to welcome Our Lady with great rejoicing and happiness.[4] 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.[4] The priest noted that, it was amazing that such a large multitude would have gathered there, considering that the area was not thickly populated, and that the work of evangelization had been going on for only 25 years.[4] The lady started the first Christians of Cagayan.[4][clarification needed] 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."[4] "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.[4] 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.[4]
In the 1700s, the people built a more spacious church of more durable materials on a hill about a mile from the parish church of Sto. Domingo.[3] A new sanctuary was built by Rev. Fr. Diego Pinero and later restored by Fr. Jose Gurumeta in 1875.[1][3][1][5] It was the first basílica menor in the region and the fourth in the Philippines. The rites were officiated by Vatican representative Antonio María Cardinal Javierre Ortas.[3][6] A santacruzan was also sponsored by the Department of Tourism in celebration of the basilica.[3] Week-long special prayers and services were also held in 29 parishes in the province, a Marian choral contest at the St. Paul University Philippines in Tuguegarao, medical mission, grand procession of all the images of patron saints and the Our Lady, and a cultural show on the documented miracles of the Virgin of Piat.[3]
Location
The Basilica of Our Lady of Piat is located in the town of Piat, 41 kilometers (25 mi) northwest of Tuguegarao City or about 30 minutes by land transportation. This pilgrimage site attracts a large number of devotees especially from June 23 to 39 when the Sambali Festival is celebrated and July 1 and 2 for the feast of Our Lady of Piat.[2]
