Quezon City—Devotees of Nuestra Señora de la Salud and Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, together with the faithful, solemnly commemorated La Fiesta Tradicional, a Marian feast in honor of Nuestra Señora de La Salud celebrated on the Third Friday of Lent.
According to historical accounts, it was once considered one of the greatest religious celebrations in the Philippines, marked by the active participation of numerous faithful, penitents, and devotees.
However, due to unfortunate events such as wars and the safekeeping of the image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud away from the public eye, the traditional feast was gradually forgotten over time. In recent years, the devotion has slowly been revived through the efforts of devoted members of the Cofradia Del Transito de Nuestra Señora. Although it may be far from the grandeur described in historical records, it still holds significant meaning in our Lenten journey, reminding the faithful of penance, repentance, and spiritual renewal.
The revival of La Fiesta Tradicional and the Penitential Procession also forms part of the preparations for the upcoming 400th anniversary of Nuestra Señora de la Salud in the Philippines in 2034. Little by little, the penitential procession hopes to replicate and revive the ostentatious and well-attended procession of the old San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Intramuros, which in the past gathered countless devotees in a profound public expression of faith.
This year, La Fiesta Tradicional was preceded by Triduum Masses from March 3 to March 5, 2026, which gathered devotees in prayer and preparation for the feast. These days of reflection invited the faithful to look to Mary as a guide in their journey of faith, encouraging them to see others with compassion and to perform good works out of love for God, for the Church, and for one another. Former Spiritual Directors of the Cofradia, namely Fray Rommel Rubia, Fray Niño Cesar Ruiz, and the current Spiritual Director, Fray Robin Ross Plata, presided over the three Masses leading to the Fiesta Mass on Friday.
On March 6, 2026, the feast day itself drew an even greater number of faithful who gathered at San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish in Quezon City to participate in the solemn celebration with Fray Bernard Amparado, Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, as Fiesta Mass presider.
After the Solemn Fiesta Mass, devotees came together to pray the Stations of the Cross in silence, with some even walking barefoot as a sign of penance. Through these acts of devotion, they renewed their faith and expressed their deep reverence for Nuestra Señora de la Salud and Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno during this sacred Lenten observance.
While the liturgical calendar eventually fixed her principal feast on November 17, the memory of Her traditional feast remains alive in the hearts of her devotees. The Third Friday of Lent continues to be a meaningful moment to recall the rich heritage of this devotion and to renew our filial trust in her loving protection.
This feast is not only a revival of tradition but also a reminder for the faithful to reflect and perform good works out of love, guided by the example of Mary and the mercy of God. The celebration did not simply revive an old tradition; rather, it rekindled the flame of devotion that encourages the faithful to carry their own crosses and follow the path that Christ has set before them—a path that leads to hope and a brighter future.
The voice that calls us out of death